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Harlem Candle Co. Holiday Candle Review
The Harlem Candle Co. Holiday Candle is a festive fragrance built around winter greenery rather than the sweeter, dessert-like notes often associated with holiday candles.
Its fragrance combines fir balsam, cedarwood, hyacinth, pine needle, eucalyptus and green pine. The result is a fresh, aromatic scent designed to bring the feeling of a winter forest indoors while still having a softer floral side.
What makes the Holiday Candle particularly interesting is its connection to Billie Holiday. Harlem Candle Co. says the fragrance was inspired by Billie Holiday’s favorite perfume, Emeraude, and describes the scent as strong and full-bodied while also being dreamy and delicate.
The Holiday Candle uses soy blend wax, a 100% cotton wick and recyclable packaging. Harlem Candle Co. also states that the candle is cruelty-free and vegan, made in the USA and designed to burn for up to 80 hours.
Scent & Fragrance
The Holiday Candle has a distinctly green and aromatic character.
The opening combines fir balsam and cedarwood, giving the fragrance its woody foundation. As it develops, hyacinth, pine needle and eucalyptus add a fresher and slightly floral character. Green pine forms the base of the fragrance.
I think this makes it a particularly good choice for someone who enjoys Christmas fragrances that smell more like fresh greenery and a winter forest than cinnamon, vanilla or baked desserts.
There is also an interesting balance between the crisp evergreen character and the softer floral side of hyacinth. That keeps the fragrance from being simply a straightforward pine candle.
Burn Performance
The Holiday Candle is an 11 oz, one-wick candle, and Harlem Candle Co. lists the burn time at up to 80 hours.
The manufacturer recommends allowing the wax to melt evenly across the top layer during the first burn and keeping the candle away from drafts, vents and ceiling fans. It also recommends keeping the wax pool free of wick trimmings and debris and trimming the wick before subsequent burns.
With an advertised burn time of up to 80 hours, the Holiday Candle offers a substantial amount of use for its size.
Throw / Fragrance Strength
Cold Throw
The fragrance profile suggests a fresh, aromatic cold throw dominated by the green character of pine, fir and eucalyptus.
Rather than smelling strongly sweet before lighting, this is the kind of holiday fragrance I would expect to appeal to someone who prefers crisp evergreen scents.
Hot Throw
Harlem Candle Co. describes the Holiday fragrance as strong and full-bodied, with winter spruce, pine needles, eucalyptus, fir balsam and cedarwood forming the aromatic foundation.
The combination of evergreen and aromatic notes gives the candle a more sophisticated holiday character than a simple pine fragrance. The hyacinth also adds a softer floral dimension as the composition develops.
If you prefer noticeable holiday fragrances with a fresh, green character, this is one of the more interesting options in the Harlem Candle Co. collection.
Design & Packaging
The Holiday Candle comes in a hunter-green glass vessel, which suits the fragrance particularly well. The green color immediately gives the candle a seasonal appearance without making it look overly themed or decorative.
The candle is also packaged in a decorative box, making it suitable for gifting. Harlem Candle Co. positions the Holiday fragrance as part of its seasonal collection, where it is offered alongside products such as the Holiday Reed Diffuser and Holiday Travel Candle.
I particularly like the fact that the design can work beyond the Christmas season. The green glass and more sophisticated presentation make it feel like a luxury home fragrance rather than a novelty holiday candle.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fresh, green holiday fragrance
- Fir, pine and eucalyptus create an authentic winter character
- Hyacinth adds a softer floral element
- Strong fragrance profile
- Up to 80 hours of advertised burn time
- Soy blend wax
- 100% cotton wick
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Made in the USA
- Elegant green glass vessel
Cons
- The $52 price puts it firmly in the luxury candle category
- May not appeal to people who prefer sweet or gourmand Christmas fragrances
- One-wick design may not be ideal for shoppers specifically looking for a multi-wick candle
Who Is It Best For?
The Harlem Candle Co. Holiday Candle is best for anyone who prefers fresh, green and sophisticated holiday fragrances.
It is especially worth considering if you enjoy pine, fir, eucalyptus and other aromatic notes rather than candles dominated by cinnamon, vanilla or sugary accords.
I would also consider it a good gifting option. The seasonal fragrance, hunter-green vessel and luxury presentation make it feel appropriate for Christmas gifting while still being elegant enough for everyday home fragrance.
Final Verdict
The Harlem Candle Co. Holiday Candle takes a different approach to the typical Christmas candle.
Instead of focusing on sweetness and baking spices, it centers on winter greenery, pine, fir, eucalyptus and cedarwood, with hyacinth adding a softer floral element. Harlem Candle Co.’s connection between the fragrance and Billie Holiday also gives the candle a distinctive story.
At around $52, it is not an inexpensive candle, but it sits comfortably within Harlem Candle Co.’s luxury range. The 11 oz size, advertised burn time of up to 80 hours and sophisticated presentation help justify its position as a premium candle.
Overall Rating: 9.2/10
For me, the biggest appeal of the Holiday Candle is that it smells like a more refined version of the winter season. If you want a Christmas candle that feels fresh, green and elegant rather than sugary or overly spicy, this is one worth considering.