By Meghan Riordan Jarvis

Candles are a perfect gift for both readers and writers who spend time with morning pages or love to get lost in a good novel. During the holiday season, candles offer light in the darkness and every scent evokes memories. Because candles are included in holiday celebrations across cultures, picking up a few to use for hostess gifts or for relatives is a thoughtful way to stay prepared amid the holiday chaos.

As a huge candle lover, I frequently visit my local gift shop, The Blue House, in Bethesda, Maryland. In my grief work, I often light candles to send grievers love in the form of energy. Scent is deeply connected to memory, so I love gifting candles as a way to help create those memories.

For the Christmas Lover: Frasier Fir Candle

This candle reminds me of hiking in the Grand Teton National Park with my kids. If you cut down your own tree, you may not need the added scent of pine, but for those of us grabbing the best pre-cut tree from a parking lot, this candle will definitely fill the house with the scent of Christmas. The votive size makes a great gift for teachers, music instructors, tutors, or anyone you might want to wish a happy holiday. Warning: once you smell it, you’ll likely grab one for yourself.

$34: Thymes

For Hanukkah: Menorah Candles

Crafted out of natural beeswax, these Menorah candles are perfect for Hanukkah. Varying in color, each candle burns for an hour. People often have a favorite set of candles for their family celebration, and this odorless set just might become yours.

$38: Anthropologie

For the Book Lover: Book Club Candle

Could there be anything better for a reader? This scent is woody, a bit smokey, and somehow also clean. About the size of a soda can with the kitschy name printed clearly, Homesick makes a number of cleverly themed candles, including scents from many states. For those who can’t travel and may, in fact, be homesick, this would be a great gift to brighten their holiday.

$38: Homesick

For For Your European Visitor: French Tulip Candle

This gorgeous candle comes in packaging that is equally beautiful. The clean, floral, and crisp scent will stir the hearts of those missing Europe. Imagine sitting down to write with your windows and shutters thrown open, letting the golden light and fresh air seep in. Perfect to give as a housewarming or birthday gift, or as an addition to a writer’s table.

$19: Seda France

For Your Mother-in-law: Marine Candle

Poured into a pale, beautiful glass holder, this candle could be a high-end crossover gift for any holiday. LAFCO candles come in a variety of scents, holders, and sizes. On the more expensive end, it’s a luxurious way to impress the boss or your hard-to-please mother-in-law. If the marine scent including bergamot and jasmine is too soft to fill your room, there are dozens of other scents to choose from.

$46: LAFCO

For Your Vacation Buddy: Voyager Boxed Candle & Coaster by Mersea

Offered by the company that is currently filling my Instagram feed with the most versatile and lightweight sweater of all time, this candle comes with a beautiful geode style coaster and is packaged like a high-end gift. A sweet and slightly spicy decadent candle set is the best gift, but it might be too hard to give away. Buy one for a friend and don’t forget to pick up an extra for yourself!

$54: Mersea

For The Traveler: Teakwood & Jasmine Candle

This portable tin has two wicks and a lid for the traveling reader or writer. The sweet and smoky scent is light and fresh—one of the more unique candles I’ve come across. Paddywax candles originate in Nashville, and they also have several tins with holiday scents like Mistletoe & Mint, Wassail, and Pomegranate & Spruce. And the reasonable price point may tempt you to buy more than one!

$18: Nordstrom

For Your Holiday Host: Glitterville Tapers

These beautiful tapers make a wonderful hostess gift, or if you’re keeping them for yourself, they’ll add a bold pop of color to the holiday table. Standard in size, the four colors add a touch of shine and glitter on a dark snowy day. For folks who don’t tolerate scent well, these tapers are also odorless.

$22: Glitterville

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Meghan Riordan Jarvis, MA, LCSW, is a clinical psychotherapist, writer, podcast host, TedX speaker, and renown consultant with over twenty years of experience in the fields of trauma, grief, and loss. Working with individuals and groups, Meghan helps to increase emotional fluency and shift the impact of grief and loss on clients’ personal and professional lives. Meghan’s memoir The End of the Hour will be published by Zibby Books in 2023.

The Best Candles to Gift During the Holidays (or Year Round!)