The New York Times - A gift-worthy candle with a fresh scent

Plus: Our favorite stocking stuffers
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The Recommendation

A luxe candle that smells like nature

The Flamingo Estate Adriatic Muscatel Sage Candle, lit, sitting next to two small sculptures.
Photo illustration by Dana Davis/NYT Wirecutter; source photo by Leta Shy/NYT Wirecutter

This botanical candle is a bit of a splurge, yes, but after two years of regular use, it’s still going strong and sitting pretty (in its lovely, calming green glass jar) on editorial director Leta Shy’s mantel.

It’s delightfully herbaceous with a crisp, briny undertone—a scent that Leta says brings her closer to nature and forces her to slow down. It’s a lovely thing to have, or to gift, as we head into holiday chaos.

“When it’s time to meditate or to take a break from (over)thinking, or even just to focus on a task, I like to light it and wait until the scent slowly permeates my surroundings, never overpowering,” she writes. “It’s there to help me relax, reminding me to take time and smell the sage.”

A gift-worthy candle with a fresh scent→

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More scented candles we love

A selection of our favorite scented candles, from Boy Smells, P.F. Candle Co., Apotheke, and others, arranged in a group amongst flowers, fruit, and other aromatics.
Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter

After spending about 50 hours researching more than 80 candles, we’ve found our favorites for all of your olfactory endeavors—ranging from warm and woodsy to sweet and citrusy.

Our 16 favorite scented candles→

What’s new at Wirecutter

Side by side photos, one of a person's hands pouring silicone pie beans on top of a raw pie crust in a glass dish and one of a sack of pie beans next to a baked pie.

The secret to perfect pie crusts is these (embarrassingly expensive) beans

A great gift for the baker in your life→

Two stacks of towels, the Williams Sonoma All Purpose Pantry Towels (right) and the Utopia Towels Kitchen Bar Mops (left) with lemons, limes and oranges pictured on a tan background, our picks for best kitchen towels.

The best kitchen towels

We’ve wiped up gallons of spills and dried countless dishes since 2014 to find these favorites→

A Maison de Sabré The Sabrémoji Fruit Charm, Falcon Enamelware 3-Pint Jug,and three Bode Custom Senior Cord Pillows on display in front of a orange and yellow background.

15 aesthetic gifts we love

Consider one of these gems, including a silk robe and an elegant hair brush, for someone with impeccable taste→

Two photos: one of several dirty plates on a kitchen counter (left) and one of a person's hand holding a box of Dropps UltraWash Plus.

Of all the “sustainable” dishwasher pods we tested, these really work

They clean well, lack synthetic fragrances and dyes, and come in plastic-free packaging→

Plus: The very best space heaters

Four of the space heaters we tested for this guide, next to a pair of moccasin-style slippers.
Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

Whether you need to offset the chill in a drafty guest bedroom or give your home’s heating system a little boost, a good space heater can come in handy. And although many can make you feel as if you’re sitting in front of a hair dryer, we found a few that don’t. Our picks can warm an entire room faster and more comfortably than other models, while still offering plenty of reliable safety features.

Our top pick is on sale right now→

One last thing: Stocking stuffers we love

A bunch of our picks for best stocking stuffers, including gummy bears, a hot chocolate mix and a sunscreen stick.
Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter

Despite their small size, stocking stuffers have the potential to spark big-time joy that last well beyond Christmas morning. From the whimsical to the practical, here are the best pint-sized gifts to charm any adult on your list—including an absolutely delightful tinned-fish candle and a fancy car freshener.

50 Wirecutter-approved stocking stuffers for adults→

(Want to fill the kiddos’ stockings? Check out our best stocking stuffer ideas for kids.)

Handpicked hidden gems. Great deals on lovely things. Your biggest gifting conundrums, answered. A gift guide from Wirecutter.

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Handpicked hidden gems. Great deals on lovely things. Your biggest gifting conundrums, answered. A gift guide from Wirecutter.

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