I like to think that scents and smells are the windows to the soul. They are the key to that nostalgic, deja vu feeling you get every now and then. For me, the smell of garlic frying in a pan reminds me of all the red sauce my mother and grandmother have made for the holidays over the years. Going into your old elementary or middle school where the hallways and gymnasium still have that weird musty, yet comforting scent that reminds you of buzzer-beater basketball games and hours of dance team practice. My friends and I like to say that each of our families has a certain smell, a mix of specific laundry detergents and whatever cleaning supplies our mothers used to clean the counters with. I think that’s why candles are so popular— they’re associated with fun memories and warmth.
The 30-minute long walks through Yankee Candle or Bath and Body Works are the highlights of every holiday mall trip. On slow days at my part-time retail job, I’ll lean on the candle display and rank each scent we have in stock— but the salted caramel cookies candle holds that number one spot every time, and “autumn leaves” trails close behind in second. As the candle expert I hold myself to be, here are my top 5 holiday candle scents.
- That Pumpkin caramel Cinnamon Maple Scent
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Okay, hear me out. A lot of different scents could fall under this category. The classic pumpkin caramel waffle candle from BBW included. Something about those warm, sweet and salty candles is always getting included in my candle selection on Black Friday. They remind me of countless holiday desserts and drinks such as pumpkin pie, cinnamon lattes, and my all-time favorite caramel kringle from Trader Joe’s.
- Holiday Cookies
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What says the holidays more than cookies? From sugar cookies and peanut butter thumbprints to those pre-cut Pillsbury cookies with holiday icons on them, every family has their own traditions and recipes that make the holidays that much more special. My family always makes my Puerto Rican great-grandmother Gogo’s Greek twist cookies she learned how to make from an old friend. I never got to spend much time with her, but for my mother’s side of the family, they are a cherished dessert and appear on the table every year.
- Vanilla Bean
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Vanilla is the middle ground and basis between all good candles; add a little cinnamon or sandalwood and you have an entirely new aroma. Vanilla extract is literally in every dessert recipe. “Vanilla Bean Noel” and “Warm Vanilla Sugar” from Bath and Body Works are some more cult classics this time of year. I can still remember coming back from Christmas break in middle school and getting whiffs of the spray perfumes in the hallway. Also, who doesn’t like vanilla?
- Peppermint / Mint
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As a classic holiday scent, peppermint/mint had to make the top five. If Christmas had a mascot it would be a candy cane, and the peppermint mochas from Starbucks and Dunkin are everyone’s go-to coffee order for the entire month of December.
- Anything Apple
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This might be a little out of left field, but I absolutely love anything apple flavored or scented. I cannot get enough of apple crisp, apple pie, and apple turnovers. If it has apple in it I am eating it.
Whatever your candle preferences are, they make the perfect addition to any holiday set up to create a cozy atmosphere and remind you of the joyful seasons’ past. Happy holidays!