Chill out and burn a candle this winter
A seasonal salve for those craving comfort
There are few remedies for a cold winter night, although a thick woollen jumper, a piping hot mug of hot chocolate, a decent heater, and a relaxing evening skin care ritual can certainly help.
But one could argue that the right atmosphere can only truly be achieved with the lighting of a luxurious candle.
Fragrance is an inevitable mood changer, so while a luxurious burner won’t necessarily distract from the icy chill of the cooler months — it will help you chill out.
This self-soothing sentiment isn't just something that'll make you feel good either, according to the founder of Glasshouse Fragrances, Nicole Eckels — emotionally evocative home scents are very hot right now.
The top winter candle trends in 2025
"People are craving comfort," Eckels tells BEAUTYcrew. "We’re seeing a return to layered fragrances that feel like a warm memory."
"Overly sweet, single-note scents are on the way out," she explains.
"The modern candle lover wants depth and evolution — a fragrance that tells a story — not just a sugar hit," she tells us. "Also, novelty candles without great scent throw? No thanks. People want performance and aesthetics."
The expert says fragrance notes such as smoked vanilla, spiced woods, and ambered fruits all serve as olfactory shortcuts to nostalgia, as well as thoughtfully layering fragrance formats.
"Pairing candles with matching diffusers or hand [care] products [can] create immersive scent experiences at home," she explains.
But most importantly — if you're investing in a luxury candle — you need to take care of it to get the best burn possible.
The best candle care maintenance tips
"Always trim your wick to about five millimetres before each burn — it keeps the flame clean and extends the life of the candle," Eckels advises.
She also recommends letting the wax pool reach the edges of the candle on the first burn to prevent tunnelling — and don’t forget to store candles in a cool, dry place.
This is especially important in homes with heating or fireplaces, which can affect wax integrity, says the Glasshouse Fragrances founder.
The best winter candles to try in 2025
Ahead, Eckels and BEAUTYcrew share the best luxury candles to try this winter, which prove to be the perfect accompaniment to crisp winter days and nights.
It's time to update your personal fragrance wardrobe too. Here are the best winter perfumes to try in 2025.
Main image credit: @rosiehw
Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).
