I’ll be honest: there’s not much that can compare to the sheer joy that comes with lighting a scented candle for the first time. I’m not somebody who has them lit all year round; I see them as more of a winter thing, so when the festive season arrives, I like to go all out.

Call me a cliche, but I love to have a candle lit when it’s dark, cold and probably rainy outside. The low-lit lamps are on (because we love some ambience around here), the blankets are out and I’m about to hit play on any one of my go-to comfort films. In an ideal world, I’d have just been out for a roast dinner, there’d be a glass of red wine on the go and I’d probably have a boyfriend and a log fire in the vicinity, but let’s not get too carried away here.

But even when that dream set-up isn’t possible, I still love to light scented candles. Maybe it’s a way to romanticise my life, but I have one burning as I type this (Nest’s Pumpkin Chai and it’s every bit as delicious as it sounds) and I have a cupboard full of unlit jars that I’ve collected over the years that I’m slowly making my way through.

There’s just something so comforting about a flickering flame and the all-consuming scent of Christmas that slowly fills the room. It feels nostalgic and instantly puts me in a good mood. I genuinely think candles are one of life’s little joys that we should all enjoy, so if you want to take a leaf from my book and embrace the Christmas season in its entirety, here are a few of my go-to favourites that I wholeheartedly recommend…

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