I take my home scents very seriously, especially during the holidays, when my lovingly neurotic tendencies hit their peak. Call me Martha May Whovier—I’m unashamed to admit it. Over the years, I’ve tested hundreds (yes, hundreds) of pine-scented candles in my quest to find the perfect holiday vibe. After all that trial and error, I’ve landed on a few clear winners.
Let’s break down the best of the best pine candles for the holidays, along with some of my other favorite home scents to bring a little comfort to this bleak capitalist hellscape we’re all trying to survive.
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Pine for Me
First up, the undisputed champ: Thymes Frasier Fir Candle. It’s hands-down the truest pine holiday candle out there. My favorites are the 17 oz three-wick, perfect for larger rooms or open floor plans, and the 6.5 oz Gilded Gold poured candle, which doubles as a chic vase once it’s burned through. These candles have incredible projection, filling a room without overwhelming it. I especially love it for hosting—it won’t clash with other smells in the house. With notes of Siberian Fir, Cedarwood, and Sandalwood, it’s balanced and elegant, thanks to the Sandalwood softening the sharper woodsy notes. Thymes uses 100% food-grade paraffin wax with lead-free wicks. While paraffin isn’t my favorite, this candle is worth the exception.
A close and very admirable second is the Balsam & Cedar Candle by Illume. Its projection is strong but doesn’t quite match Thymes for me. This candle leans sharper and spicier, with notes of oak moss, fir needles, and cinnamon. It’s a layered and compelling scent I love because of how it evolves as it burns. Early on, it leans heavily into fir, but as the hours pass, the cinnamon comes through more prominently. Illume uses ethically harvested, plant-based wax, which is a major plus. This scent is available in just about every size and vessel imaginable, but I’m especially partial to the Winter White Mercury Ornament Candle (perfect for repurposing as a candy dish) and have my eye on the refillable candle this year—I love something I can reuse.
Closing out the list is Soap & Paper Factory’s Roland Pine. It has a really nice burn—honestly, maybe my favorite in terms of performance—with very little tunneling. It fills the space nicely, though I do find the scent becomes a bit faint after a few hours of burning. The notes include Siberian fir, pine, and cilantro, which makes it a little less traditional than the other candles on this list but still incredibly compelling. Made with pure soy wax sourced in the USA and cotton wicks, it’s free from parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, and dyes, making it a great option for clean burning. This candle comes in several sizes, but my favorite is the votive, which I love to use in the bathroom when hosting. Bonus points: the scent is also available in soaps and lotions, so you can really commit to the vibe.
Cinnamon, Spice, and Everything Nice
I love cinamon candles all the time, but they really get their roses during the holiday months. I think they do a good job of keeping things interesting. I also personally really love the cinnamon scented pine cones that you can get at any grocery store. With that here are some of my favorite cinnamon candles
My overall pick for a cinnamon candle is Cinnamon Musk by Otherland. When first lit, it’s bold and spicy with a pure cinnamon kick, but after a couple of hours, it mellows into a sweet yet still spicy blend. With notes of Ceylon cinnamon, creamy almond, and amber, it’s perfectly balanced for the season. Otherland uses all soy and coconut wax with a cotton wick, so it burns very cleanly. A pro tip: Otherland almost always runs sales, especially around Cyber Monday, which is when I like to stock up.
I can’t believe a Yankee Candle made this list, but listen—they fucking nailed this one. Their Sparkling Cinnamon candle is heavy on the cinnamon with just enough clove to keep it interesting. Yes, it’s made with premium-grade paraffin wax, but honestly, that’s expected. Most Yankee candles are loud as hell and don’t need a long burn to fill a room, so you really get your money’s worth with them. As a Christmas-crazed millennial, I deeply appreciate Yankee’s neurotic tendencies. I mean, they built a 90,000-square-foot Christmas Village complete with indoor snow, custom candle bars, a life-size Bavarian village stuffed with glass ornaments, and creepy animatronics that rival any defunct Chuck E. Cheese. It’s utterly ridiculous and gloriously camp. Blessed to have been taken there by a dear friend. So yeah, Yankee fucking makes the list.
Other Delights
For when you’re over pine and cinnamon but still want something festive. Think cranberry, fig, smoky fireplaces, or whatever the fuck you think a winter wonderland smells like.
One of my favorite candles ever—not just for the holidays—is the Peppermint Candle from Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day. It’s a truly unique sweet scent that doesn’t scream peppermint but instead feels more like those soft, puffy mints you’d get as a kid at a greasy spoon diner. Let’s get intimate for a second—I have a secret shame. Every July, I burn one of these candles just to summon a little Christmas spirit. I pop the lid, light it, dissociate to Home Alone for a couple of hours, and call it a day. Unwell behavior, but worth it. Aside from the weird nostalgia I clearly have, this candle is also the best value on the list at under $12. That said, it does contain hydrogenated soybean oil and hydrogenated palm oil. The palm oil is sourced from suppliers that are members of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which helps soften the blow.
St. Nicholas by Harlem Candle Co. is a wonderfully sophisticated option. With notes of mandarin, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon bark, nutmeg, pine, American cedar, clove, and amber molasses, it starts off spicy but gradually mellows into woodier tones. There’s also a sweet citrus element that keeps it from feeling too heavy or predictable. Made in the USA, this candle is cruelty-free, vegan, and uses a soy blend wax with 100% cotton wicks for a clean burn. The projection is impressive—perfect for larger spaces—and I especially love it during a cocktail hour. It elevates the atmosphere, making my space feel elegant while letting me focus on hosting duties without a second thought.
If you’re looking for a scent that doesn’t outright scream “holiday” but still feels festive, I recommend Boy Smells, Holiday Smells. With notes of cardamom, cinnamon, cashmere woods, vanilla, jasmine petals, and creamy fig, it leans sophisticated. For me, the fig and cashmere woods are the standouts, creating a warm, mellow vibe. It’s not as strong or overpowering as some of the other candles on this list, which makes it perfect for more casual winter nights when you just want to unwind after a long day. Made with a coconut and beeswax blend and a braided cotton wick, it has a solid burn time of 50 hours. Plus, the vessel is sleek and reusable—I’d totally use it to hold makeup brushes or cotton rounds. It’s also a fantastic gift option if you want something a little more understated but still thoughtful.
Holiday Highball by Kobo is the candle I imagine burning during the swinger party scene thrown by the Grinch’s lesbian parents in the 2000 film. It’s boozy, warm, and just a little frothy, with notes of milk, spice, and whiskey—basically like a cozy, spiked eggnog in candle form. Perfect for the season, it’s got a nice burn and sets the mood for festive chaos in the best way possible.
Babes on a Budget (Under $30)
Piñon by P.F. Candle Co. is one of those rare candles that can both elevate a space and make it feel cozier—a perfect balance of sophistication and warmth. It’s subtle enough to work well past the holiday season, making it incredibly versatile. Honestly, P.F. Candle Co. consistently delivers some of the best candles out there. They burn beautifully and are made with domestically-grown soy wax, fine fragrance oils, and cotton-core wicks. Plus, their fragrances are paraben-free, phthalate-free, and never tests on animals. Piñon features notes of piñon logs, cedar, and vanilla, creating a woodsy yet sweet aroma that feels just right—not too heavy, not too faint. It’s the kind of candle that makes a room feel effortlessly inviting.
If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’re standing on an actual Christmas tree farm, look no further than Christmas Tree by Brooklyn Candle Studio. Made with 100% soy wax for an eco-friendly, clean burn, lead-free cotton wicks, and premium fragrance oils, this candle checks all the boxes: it’s vegan, cruelty-free, phthalate-free, and petroleum-free. With notes of fir needle, cedarwood, pine, and fir balsam, it’s classically Christmas—a true pine scent that feels timeless. The burn is clean, with minimal soot, and it packs a solid punch for its price point. It’s not overpowering, allowing the scent to subtly fill the room in a way that feels effortless. It’s pared-down and straightforward—the kind of candle you grab when you just want a good, reliable classic.
My final two picks are from Snif, and honestly, they’re both fantastic options depending on your vibe. If you’re looking for a spicy, warm cinnamon scent with hints of gingerbread, go for Lost Claus. If pine is more your thing, turn to Old Saint Wick. Both candles come in gorgeous vessels and have excellent projection, easily filling a room with their festive aromas. Old Saint Wick is a classic woody scent with notes of fir, Siberian pine, apple blossom (like a semi-dry cider), rosemary, jasmine, fir balsam, sandalwood, and cedarwood. It’s perfect for times when I’m decorating the house—it really gets me into the holiday spirit. As for Lost Claus, it features spicy, gourmand, and woody notes like cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, smoked marshmallow, peppered gingerbread, vetiver, caramelized patchouli, and milky musks. I can’t wait to light this one during holiday movie marathons—the smoky marshmallow and cardamom create such a cozy, relaxing atmosphere.
Luxe Little Luxuries
Let’s burn money, literally.
Trudon makes some of the most beautiful and compelling candles out there, and Gloria is as traditional and luxe as it gets. With notes of patchouli, Haitian vetiver, cedarwood, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and a touch of citrus, it’s lightly smoky and big on spice—like an opulent evening by the fireplace. It’s absolutely regal, which makes sense given that Trudon was the Royal Wax Manufacturer for Louis XIV, supplying candles to the French court and major churches. So yeah, just picture me lighting this while delivering a sharp quip about wealth inequality, the French Revolution, and how the current state of the economy somehow feels worse than pre-revolutionary France. For what it’s worth, I also love a lot of their other candles, including Altaïr (rose oud), Cyrnos (Mediterranean fig), and Abd El Kader (Moroccan mint tea). They’re all a little piece of history and indulgence in wax form.
Looking for something beautiful and different? Well, babe, Christmas Morning by Glasshouse is for you. With notes of blood orange, bergamot, clove, cinnamon, cypress, pine, and warm musk, this candle is juicy, fresh, warm, and incredibly unique. For me, the musk and blood orange take center stage, creating a somewhat nontraditional holiday vibe that still feels festive. It has fantastic projection—powerful but never overbearing—just like all of Glasshouse’s other candles. If you want something that stands out from the usual holiday lineup, this one’s a total winner.
Rounding out the top picks is Woodland Spruce by Lafco, and honestly, Lafco can do no wrong in my book. This is easily the coziest “pine” scent on the list, with notes of warm birch, juniper berries, blue eucalyptus, fir balsam, frosted vanilla, palo santo, and cypress. The palo santo adds a nostalgic warmth with just a hint of citrus to keep things fresh and inviting. Similar to the others, this candle has excellent projection, filling a space beautifully without overwhelming it. Lafco uses soy wax, essential oil-based fragrances, a 100% cotton wick, and a touch of paraffin. While this candle is a little higher of a price point ($75 for 15.5 oz and $115 for a 30 oz), it has the most beautiful hand-blown glass vessel, allowing for a ton of reuse after. I’ve also found this vessel to really help from pooling or uneven heat distribution.
Strike A Match
Want to elevate how you light your candles? Here are some of my favorites: Helix Cloche by Skeem Design, Divine Matches by Wanderlust Paper Co., Archivist Holiday Matches, Rechargeable Lighter.
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