2012 Gift Guide: Light and bright

Candles and votives are easy to pack and easy to give! They’re one of my favorite winter hostess gifts. I’ve picked out a bunch of my favorites for today’s mini gift guide.


Whether scented or just in a fun shape candles play the roles of light source, decoration and sometimes nose tickler. In the long winter months I love to light candles instead of turning on the lights whenever possible. And nothing beats a nice candlelight dinner! The selections in today’s post are sure to brighten up any holiday haul.

The Swarovski Seashore Candle ($50, top row left) has a yummy creme brulee scent and sparkling crystals worked into the seashell design. The easily refillable container can be used a votive once the original candle is done. Voluspa has two scents I’m in love with this year: their Crisp Champagne (now $18, top row center) scent has a festive holiday feel while the Saijo Persimmon (now $18, top row right) has a lighter, floral aroma that relaxes and soothes. Both of the tins are low-profile and easy to store between uses. Or leave them out as a bold, graphical decorative element.

Sometimes the holder is just as important as the candle. Anthropologie’s Jacinta Candle Pots ($30) smell like vibrant gardens and have a simple decorative element to them. They’d be right at home on my bookshelf when not in use. I love all the mercury votive selections this year! West Elm carries my two favorite designs with its Mercury Glass Logs ($8-$24, third row left). When grouped together they look like an ambient-lit forest! You can pick fun candles to fill them with. Or if a small cluster is what you crave try the Mercury Candleholders ($5) which come in a variety of shapes. I like using small votives like these in a tabletop cluster. The Himalayan Trading Post’s Powder Box Candle ($34 via Nordstrom, bottom row right) has a triple wick, a beautiful engraved top and a classic glass holder. It’s stunning in its own right.

If I have a theme in mind specially-shaped candles can tie everything together nicely. The wintery goodness of The Bee Man’s pine cone candles   ($24/set of 6, third row right) cannot be denied. I mix real and candle pine cones together for a lovely winter adornment. Or perhaps the Napa Valley Rose Candles (now $20, bottom row left) will delight your holiday host. The white is a great holiday-to-new-year transition shape.

Do you gift candles? Have any favorite brands or scents? EA sponsor Illume Candles is running a Free 2-day shipping promotion on orders of $100+ right now! They are another of my favorite brands.

Check out previous gift ideas in the series here.


Looking for Something?