9 Wintry Candles That Aren’t Pine- or Peppermint-Scented

I’m really excited to light Queer Candle Co.’s Dark Plum Soy Candle this winter. It’s deep and rich and smells wintry, but not stereotypical. “Luxurious and warm, this scent is ideal for the cozy winter months,” the Queer Candle Co. website says. “Notes of citrus and black cherry brighten the sweet plum undertones of this fragrance,” and “amber and vanilla highlights reinforce a sweet scent profile, while earthy amber balances the overall aroma.”

I’m also interested in this jasmine-, amber-, and almond-scented option from Yankee Candle that’s new for 2021 and “reminiscent of hanging that first string of twinkling lights making the holiday season come to life,” according to Haneen Kawasmeh, a spokesperson for the brand.

Graphic designer Laura Hoerner's pick is the orange peel- and clove-scented candle from The Grace Effect, a perfect choice to light while crafting a dried citrus garland.

Home Director Danielle Blundell and News and Culture Director Tara Bellucci love Bath & Body Work's Frozen Lake, which has notes of lavender, eucalyptus, and juniper berries. “It's clean and fresh but still nuanced — it doesn't just smell like laundry, which is how most brands do ‘fresh,’” Danielle says.

Stonewall Kitchen's Ski Lodge is “cedary but not piney, and the juniper gives it just a little bit of spiciness,” Danielle adds.

Bath and Body Works’ Frosted Cranberry candle is managing editor Terri Pous’ favorite for the winter season. This three-wick option has notes of cranberry, red apple, blonde woods, and tonka beans.

"You know that cozy feeling you get when you step into a warm café on a cold day? This is that, but in candle form," commerce writer Sarah Vasquez says of Sicily Hill's espresso-scented Cappuccino Candle. "I tend to stick to hot drinks only in the dead of winter, and this candle’s caramely coffee goodness immediately transports me to my favorite cafe with a warm drink in hand. Absolute bliss."

Freelance editor Sally Tamarkin is obsessed with the Hot Chocolate Soy Candle from NYC’s Pink Olive right now. If there’s one thing that’ll get me closer to my vision of a sipping a warm beverage from a mug by a fireplace during wintertime, it’s this candle.

Santa’s Naturals' Winterberry Christmas Candle makes commerce editor Britt Franklin think of holiday cooking. It’s not overly sweet or dessert-y though, because it’s a blend of spices. Hello, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, oranges, and cloves.

Campfire and fireplace lovers, this section’s for you. Lifestyle editor Ella Cerón’s pick is the Feu de Bois wood fire candle from Diptyque. “Basically I want my apartment to smell like something is on fire without actually setting the place on fire,” she says. Here are two more of her reccos for a cozy, hearth-y smell: D.S.& Durga’s Portable Fireplace and Boy Smells’ THÉ FANTÔME.

Tara picked another warm and fiery candle, too. Anecdote’s Bonfire Blaze brings “chestnuts roasting on an open fire” to your living room with its infusion of whiskey and chestnut. It smells “like flickering flames and drunken disclosures,” according to the label.