Holiday Candles, Without the Cheese Factor

Stumped on gifts? Here’s a bright idea that works for everyone: Good lighting with a side of seductive scent. We’re talking impossibly chic candles that even the pickiest people will love: Byredo’s three new Saint candles—Altar, a sweet ylang and clove blend tinged with vetiver; Incense, a rich, almost resin-y combination of amber and patchouli; and Rosewater, a surprisingly fresh blend of Bulgarian rose, rose petals, and rose absolute.

Available starting today at byredo.com, each one is crafted out of cardinal-red glass and reflective of founder Ben Gorham’s Catholic upbringing. “The church and its scents—the incense, sweetness of cloves, beeswax candles—are vivid memories of my past,” he says. So much so, that the Saints collection was inspired by actual “veladoras [or prayer candles] that were placed in the sanctuary and lit for special occasions or in memory of someone close to you,” he adds. And just like the rest of Gorham’s one-of-a-kind fragrances, these divine offerings take you on a transcendent journey—mind, body, and spirit. One whiff and you’ll swear you’ve been transported to a 15th-century Florentine church where the mood is heady, cool, and mysterious. The perfect setting for a holiday party if you ask us. The pillars are pricey at $140 each, but they burn forever and are so insanely striking they double as home décor.

Hannah Choi/*Allure*

If the whole religious theme isn’t for you, you’ve got three more festive options (shown above): the brand’s top-sellers—Bibliothèque, a mélange of vanilla and violet, Cotton Poplin, a crisp chamomile laced with linen, and Fleur Fantôme, a musky floral—are all being housed in limited-edition jewel-tone glasses for holiday ($85 each). Buy one for a friend or hoard them all for yourself and regret nothing. Because they’re that good.

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