Steeped in tradition dating back to at least the 1700s, advent candles are a beautiful way to mark the run-up to Christmas. Every night from 1 December until Christmas Eve, the candle is lit and allowed to burn a little, showing the passage of time as we close in on the big day.
Advent candles are traditionally unscented, but are sometimes decorated with Christmas-themed designs, and often marked with the days of the month to prevent you from burning through the candle too fast or too slow.
Burning an advent candle is a wonderful way to celebrate the season - particularly for families, creating a nightly ritual for everyone to enjoy together.
Read on for our pick of the best advent candles on the market, including personalised advent candles to make the countdown to Christmas feel even more special!
Best advent candles to light up your home over the festive season
F.A. Dumont Set of Six Advent Candles
Rather than the usual single candle, why not buy a set of individual candles so the whole family can join in and be in charge of their own? These traditional church-style taper candles from F.A Dumont come as a pack of six (3 x purple, 1x deep purple, 1 x pink, 1 x white), so you can choose your favourite colour for the season.
Plus, they are made of convenient dripless beeswax, which shouldn't drip if kept away from draughts. If you fancy adding them to a Christmas wreath or candle holder, note that they measure 1 inch in diameter at the base.
Pyramid advent candle
These cute pyramid-shaped advent candles from Etsy seller HomeStreet boutique would look beautiful placed on a mantelpiece or windowsill.
Choose from red, white or ivory - or why not one of each? - each emblazoned with the countdown to Christmas in metallic print, so you can burn a little bit more every evening and enjoy a visual reminder of the big day approaching.
Personalised Rainbow Reindeer Pillar Advent Candle
A personalised advent candle is a charming way to make the festive countdown truly magical, whether you opt for a family candle or an individual one as a gift to a special someone. We love this one, from Not On The High Street maker This Is Nessie, which is decorated with colourful reindeer and can be customised with your message over two lines of 22 characters each. And with an estimated burn time of 75 hours, you should have plenty of time to enjoy your custom creation!
Graham and Green Ivory Advent Candle
If simple and chic are your watchwords when it comes to Christmas decorations, this ivory and gold advent candle from Graham and Green is just the job! With a burn time of 16 hours, this candle is printed with the days of December up to Christmas Eve so you can burn the right amount each evening.
Yankee Candle Advent Calendar Wreath
Advent candles and calendars are both beloved traditional ways to celebrate the countdown to Christmas, and this set from Yankee Candle combines them in one! Behind each door of their advent wreath, you'll find a miniature candle in a selection of the brand's trademark yuletide scents, including Candlelit Cabin, Christmas Cookie and Twinkling Lights, each with a burn time of up to six hours. Also included is a clear glass tea light holder so you can burn each candle safely, without risk of damage to surfaces.
The Original Mindful Advent Candle Set
Between Christmas parties, gift shopping, decking the halls, and making plans with family, the festive season can be a hectic one, so it's important to make time for yourself. If mindfulness and self-care are part of your routine - or you'd like them to be - this set of 25 miniature beeswax candles can help you carve out that all-important 'me time' in the run-up to Christmas.
Each handmade honey-scented candle is designed to burn for around 20 minutes, creating a moment to relax and recharge every day.
Advent of Change Advent Candle
Why not use the festive season as a chance to spread a little joy by contributing to a good cause? Profits from the Advent of Change candle are split between 24 worthy charities, with 75% of the proceeds going directly to the organisations, which including Alzheimer's Research UK, Hospice UK and Tommy's.
The candle is 100% wax and scented with classic Christmas aromas of nutmeg and ginger. Plus, as the candle burns, hidden numbers will reveal themselves for an extra touch of magic.
Looking for Christmas gift ideas? Check out our ideas for homeware gifts, presents for cocktail-lovers and personalised food gifts.
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