Scents that make staying in feel like a winter wonderland

Winter makes its presence felt in quieter ways. Evenings arrive sooner, the city softens under festive lights, and homes naturally become places to linger a little longer. It is during this shift that candle season truly begins.

Candles are among winter’s most enduring decorative elements. They bring warmth effortlessly and create an atmosphere that feels both considered and relaxed. Whether placed on a coffee table, a windowsill, or beside the bed, they lend a sense of calm and familiarity to everyday spaces. This holiday season, a few well-chosen candles can transform a home into one that feels inviting, comforting, and gently festive, making staying in more like the natural place to be.

Bengal Bamboo & Fig Candle by Veeda, ₹3,600

This candle smells like a soft escape. Bamboo keeps things airy and composed, fig leaf adds that lush, and somewhere in between, ginger lily slips in like a detail only the observant notice. It's the kind of scent that makes a room feel quietly well-travelled. 

Fragrance notes: Bamboo, green fig, and hints of ginger lily

Best for: Late-night brooding that somehow feels chic instead of concerning.

Olaf Snowman by Doft, ₹2,199

Yes, it’s adorable. And yes, it does smell good. Olaf Snowman is the candle you light when you want your space to feel lighter. When December feels heavy with deadlines and expectations, Olaf brings a little levity back into the room. Proof that not everything festive needs to be scented like pinecones.

Fragrance notes: Pine, palo santo, cedarwood

Best for: Tree-decorating, early mornings, and people who want their home to smell like a tasteful cabin scene, minus the frostbite.

Wild Lotus by Dhyanam, ₹3,300

This is the candle equivalent of a deep breath. Ideal for meditation, post-shower calm, or those afternoons between Christmas and New Year when time loses meaning, and you briefly consider reinventing your entire personality. Very main-character-in-her-healing-era energy.

Fragrance notes: Wild lotus (Exactly one note, and it’s doing all the work)

Best for: Pretending your nervous system is regulated because the room smells like inner peace.

The Botanist’s Secret Candle by Rad Living, ₹1,099

It opens with lychee, and vetiver keeps things grounded, like a friend who does not let you make bad romantic decisions. Light this when you’re hosting or pretending you are the protagonist in a holiday movie. It’s botanical, but make it gossip.

Fragrance notes: Lychee, red currant, and a hint of vetiver 

Best for: Wrapping gifts, writing cards you may never send, or dramatically staring at a lit tree like you’re in the final scene of your movie.

Victorian Tea Rose Valeno Glass Scented Candle by Veeda, ₹2,000

This one is unapologetically romantic. Light this when the weather is particularly unforgiving, and you need to believe in tenderness again. The 32-hour burn time feels like a commitment, but is worth every minute.

Fragrance notes: Plump velvety roses, hint of dewy rose petals

Best for: Falling in love with the idea of romance rather than the men currently available.

Winter Candy Apply by Bath & Body Works, ₹3,499

The holiday flirt who shows up loud, sweet, and impossible to ignore. Winter Candy Apple is December in full technicolour: bright, nostalgic, and cheerfully excessive. Light it, and suddenly your living room feels like a holiday montage with fairy lights on. It’s the candle equivalent of biting into a glossy candy apple: sweet and slightly chaotic in the best possible way.

Fragrance notes: Red apples, crisp pears, and candied oranges

Best for: Turning an ordinary evening into a full-blown festive mood swing in under five minutes.

Pine & Eucalyptus by Jo Malone London, ₹6,300

This is the candle that wakes up your house before you do. Pine and eucalyptus cut through winter’s heaviness with something brisk and clean. It is the kind of fragrance that makes you open windows in December. Where most winter candles lean into indulgence, this one brings balance. It is the best in the morning, when you want the house to feel awake but not frantic, when coffee is brewing and the day feels full of promise rather than obligation.

Fragrance notes: Pine, eucalyptus (Yes, exactly what it says on the label)

Best for: Festive mornings, last-minute guests, and anyone who wants their home to smell like December.

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