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As Mariah Carey would say, “It’s tiiiiiime!” The pop queen of Christmas has unofficially declared November 1 the beginning of the holiday season, and it's safe to say that agrees. The fragrance giant launched its 2024 holiday collection this week (and they're even celebrating with a 3-wick candle sale!).
We got samples of this year's Bath & Body Works holiday candles sent to the Good Housekeeping office, and I set aside time with my coworkers for our definitive holiday candle smell test. We immediately fawned over this year’s packaging and especially loved the classic Christmas wrapping reminiscent of vintage wallpaper (see: Frosted Cranberry).
For our smell test, we sniffed our way through over 30 candles — including those new to 2024, like Christmas Cabin, and classic favorites, like Winter Candy Apple. With each sniff, each tester jotted down their unfiltered thoughts and ranked each candle on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best. I then averaged out the scores to name our top favorites.
Note: Each bullet point references an individual tester's thoughts.
Rating: 4.1/10
Tester notes:
- Unexpected coconut scent for holiday, but I do pick up coconut flake desserts
- Doesn't smell like coconut initially — the scent was confusing. There's definitely a musky energy in this
- A bit too musky for me
Rating: 4.5/10
Tester notes:
- It's nostalgic like a strawberry shortcake
- Smells like a strawberry flavored candy like Hi-Chew — super fruity and sweet
- Too sweet for me
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Rating: 4.9/10
Tester notes:
- If you like peppermint patties, you'll like this... It smells exactly like one
- Smells just like the description: "Melted candy canes blended with chocolate"
- I found the chocolate notes in this cloying
Rating: 5.2/10
Tester notes:
- I like the combination of spicy and sweet
- I like the sugary top notes but it has a burnt undertone that I can't put my finger on
- Should be spicier
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21
NEW FOR 2024
Vanilla Eggnog 3-Wick Candle
Rating: 5.7/10
Tester notes:
- I'm normally impartial to gourmand fragrances, but this one surprised me. It's cozy and delightfully warm
- This is for someone who loves sweet, butterscotch scents
- Actually smells like eggnog
Rating: 6.3/10
Tester notes:
- Very pungent and sweet with the combo of vanilla, cake and marshmallow
- Smells like sugary vanilla frosting versus traditional vanilla
- Smells like Christmas
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Rating: 6.5/10
Tester notes:
- Love the combination of cinnamon and clove, feels tingly and spicy on my nose
- Definitely for people who like spicier scents. This is an embodiment of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg
- Very warm
Rating: 6.7/10
Tester notes:
- Smells like Sweet Pea perfume
- This reminds me of my high school days. The sweet and perfume-y scent has a special place in my heart
- The packaging perfectly embodies the scent, reminiscent of walking into a Victoria's Secret. Super sweet and somewhat floral
- Not Christmas-y
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Rating: 6.9/10
Tester notes:
- It smells like a literal candy cane, for people who like that
- Not too much like peppermint, I like that there is vanilla to balance it out
- A nostalgic favorite, best of the peppermint options
Rating: 7.4/10
Tester notes:
- The pear notes are super bright — this feels like a Christmas morning candle to me versus Christmas Eve
- Smells like a glass of champagne
- I don’t think it‘s super holiday-forward, but I like it
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Rating: 7.4/10
Tester notes:
- It seems like a good one for the fall-winter transition, great for Thanksgiving
- The vanilla/sugar scent is very festive and would smell great in the kitchen, but I wish there was a little more spice
- A classic, cookie-like scent that smells really yummy
Rating: 7.6/10
Tester notes:
- Smells like laundry detergent in a good way — very fresh and clean
- Good for those who don't like spicy holiday scents
- If there's a eucalyptus note, I'm probably gonna love it, and that's true of this one. This is great for the whole winter season, not just Christmas
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Rating: 7.7/10
Tester notes:
- Smells super fresh. Lightly seasonal, especially with the apple notes. I could definitely see myself burning this one on Christmas morning
- Rather sweet and fruity but it's pleasant
- Worth buying for the cute packaging alone
Rating: 7.7/10
Tester notes:
- I like clove and this is an unapologetically clove, spiced scent. I feel like it'll really fill a room
- Accurate to its name, this candle evokes the smell of a cozy cabin with a roaring fire. Cloves come through
- Smells super clean and reminds me of pine cones
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Rating: 7.7/10
Tester notes:
- I love the apple and cinnamon notes. It's a little spicy, a little sweet and not overpowering at all
- Would bridge the gap well in the fall to winter transition
- Smells like apple cider
Rating: 8/10
Tester notes:
- Really nostalgic for me — my mom always pokes cloves in oranges and it feels so homey to me, would 100% burn
- I like the citrus note in this one (clementine), great for burning all winter long, not just at Christmas
- Perfect scent to burn during a holiday party
- Very traditional
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Rating: 8.2/10
Tester notes:
- A nice and unexpected scent, has depth
- Really like the frankincense and amber
- Doesn't smell too much like incense — a good one to burn when entertaining
Rating: 8.2/10
Tester notes:
- A classic, evergreen scent
- I like the combination of peppermint with the pine. It feels like a natural combo that oomphs up the pine scent
- Great blend of forest and mint — icy, winter vibes
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Rating: 8.3/10
Tester notes:
- Smells rich, musky and very cozy, like a soft worn-in flannel
- Smells like Abercrombie
- A masculine crowd-pleaser
Rating: 8.3/10
Tester notes:
- I'm not a big marshmallow girl but I love this one... the sugary notes pair nicely with the cinnamon and pine
- This smells so nostalgic — think Christmas in the 90s. It has a little bit of everything you could want in a Christmas candle, like pine trees and cinnamon
- I like the sweetness of the marshmallow with the spicy notes
Heath Owens
Senior Commerce Editor
Heath Owens is a Senior Commerce Editor at Hearst Magazines, where he covers home, fashion, tech and gifts for Good Housekeeping, House Beautiful, Esquire, Delish, Men’s Health, and more.