16 Elegant Home Scents To Gift This Holiday Season

Candles, reed diffusers and other home scents are always popular gift items, and for good reason. They can vary on the spectrum of familiarity with the gift recipient, ranging from sculptural vessels and distinct scents for close friends and family to broader more universally appealing designs and inoffensive fragrances for in-laws, acquaintances and office Yankee swaps. The items below, arranged from lowest to highest price, are surely to address every potential type of recipient while also showing off the taste and thoughtfulness of its giver.

Anthropologie, $58

Anthropologie’s Pedestal Cake candle is a charming yet extravagant way to display a candle. The gourmand and woody scent is “Sweet Tonka & Vanilla” and features a blend of spiced brown sugar, toasted vanilla bean blooming jasmine, while golden amber, white musk, and dark woods. A larger domed version comes in white, for $72.

La Perla, $65

Lingerie brand La Perla ventured into the beauty space in 2021 which included a number of fragrances and makeup items. Currently, La Perla offers five different room scents which can either be diffused or spritzed on fabrics like curtains and sofas, as well as lingerie and bed sheets. Vanilla Soul, pictured here, includes notes of red fruits, Somali incense, Madagascan vanilla, sandalwood, amber. Room sprays are available in scents Amber Lace, Silk Peony, Velvet Sea and Spicy Macramé.

Carrière Frères, $85

For the uninitiated, Carrière Frères is a sister0brand to Trudon, the oldest candlemaker in the world. Carrière Frères was founded in 1884 by two brothers with the idea of candles as a decorative item. For this winter, Carrière Frères offers an elegant Winter Forest inspired by a roaring fire. The woody-aromatic accord of Winter Fire features cedar and fir balsam notes, with fir and cashmere wood at its core, over a rich base of amber and incense.

Blueme, $95

Blueme’s Gold Refillable Three Wick Candle & Wick Trimmer Set makes for a delightful and festive table topper. The handcrafted ceramic vessel on a pedestal is coated in gold foil and can be refilled after your candle is done or repurposed as another objet d’art. The Noble Fir & Amber scent is meant to be grounding yet energizing, and remind you of nature’s majesty, according to the brand.

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Zaha Hadid, $127

Zaha Hadid, the renowned architect who died in 2016, was well known for her futuristic styles featuring curving facades and sharp angles. So too does this candle, from Zaha Hadid Designs. The polished crystal glass container forms three petals that extend upwards into a hexagon, and comes in multiple colors and scents. Included here is Rose, with a blend of cashmere, rosa centifolia and amberwood scents.

Guerlain, $130

Guerlain’s Figue Azur reed diffuser is compared to a sunny promenade shaded by the fig trees of southern France by the brand. With milky scents and tender green notes, this diffuser evokes a Mediterranean breeze similar along the Côte d’Azur. Its scent should last for approximately three months.

Aerin, $136

Presented in a blue marbleized pot and gold edging, this candle from Aerin is a crowdpleaser and able to elevate any home space. The blue marbled L’Ansecoy Orange Blossom scented candle imparts a sun-kissed floral fragrance.

Assouline, $140

You may not expect to find the most-charming candles from a publishing house, but if any publisher can do it, it’s Assouline. Making a name for itself with design-centered coffee table books about cooking and travel, Assouline dips its toe deeper into the lifestyle realm with its set of three mini candles inspired by its travel books. In this set, Assouline captured the enveloping warmth of Gstaad, the fresh notes of Ibiza and the spicy fragrance of Mykonos.

Byredo, $195

Byredo bring together three of its iconic scents — Bibliothèque, Woods, and Sweet Grass – as incense sticks. Handmade in Tokyo the 60 fragranced sticks (20 of each scent) are larger than traditional Japanese incense, for a slower burn time of 30-40 minutes. Each set comes with a handmade ceramic incense holder, so they’re ready to burn right out of the box.

Antica Farmacista, $198

Antica Faramacista’s Liquid Velvet Crystal Diffuser is a bold and glamorous scented display piece. With hints of 70’s opulence, the scent blends together fruits of the forest, voluptuous figs, creme brûlée, and cognac mingle with sultry florals and warming spices.

Maison Francis Kurkjian, $205

Inspired by the Maison’s elegant candle design, this artisanal porcelain indoor fragrance diffuser features a hand-applied gold band. The diffuser scents last for about four months and features notes of redcurrant, raspberries and blackcurrent.

Violette_FR, $240

Relaxation and self-care are at the heart of French makeup brand Violette_FR’s collaboration with luxury incense brand, Cinnamon Projects. The Japanese-style incense burn for 25 minutes, with scent notes of carnation, leather, patchouli and tobacco and reveal a luscious and powerful mood.

Approximately 10.5 hours total burn time with 25 x 4.75″” sticks per tube. The hand-crafted diffuser is made of Cobalt glass and solid brass in a natural living finish.

Jo Malone London, $250

A paragon of elegance, Jo Malone London keeps that standard while bringing a festive element to its Gingerbread Land Home Candle Trio. The three scents include rich, smoky Roasted Chestnut, succulent Frosted Cherry & Clove and sensual Pomegranate Noir.

Diptyque, $285

This may not be the classic Diptyque tapered glass and oval label, but it is no less chic. The refillable version of Diptyque candles comes in an oval shape similar to its labels, with an embossed rim and lid. Terres Blondes (Golden Lands) has the scents of wheat bran absolute, red cedar essence and burnt earth. Comes in multiple other glass shades and scents.

Cartier, $360

It’s not surprising Cartier, the high-end jewelry and fragrance brand, would try to bring its same sophistication to the home fragrance space. Each candle from the Les Ecrins Parfumés Discovery Set is designed to be lit on its own or in combination with the others to reveal a personalized scent experience. Scents include floral Pétales, green and woody Canopée and warm and amber Désert.

Trudon, $150-750

To light a Trudon candle is perhaps the closest you’ll ever get to experiencing the majesty of Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV. Founded in 1643, Trudon is reportedly the oldest candle manufacturer in existence. That rich sense of history is continuously infused in the brand today with its use of opulent designs, gold labels and luxurious scent profiles. The Arosa collection is a rich mix of amber, sandalwood, cashmere wood and cedar notes, softened by a light vanilla base note. Sizes range from 270 grams, 500 grams and 2.7 kilograms for $150, $365 and $750, respectively.