I’ve tested four holiday-scented candles from Aldi to Trader Joe’s – the results prove you’re buying no cheaper than Scrooge

CANDLES can be a great gift to bring joy during the holidays.

And although prices are increasing, these pocket-sized gifts make an affordable and long-lasting gift.

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It seems like candles can be bought anywhere: department stores, grocery stores, I even saw one at a gas station recently.

However, just because they’re accessible doesn’t mean they’re all worth buying.

While some might seem like an interesting or festive scent, you can be left with a bad smelling room and less money in your pocket.

In addition, many are made of toxic materials that can affect your air quality and lead to health problems.

To separate the good from the bad, we tested four brands of candles for our latest installment in the Bang for your Buck series.

I bought the Christmas candles from four major retailers: Aldi, Target, Trader Joe’s and Walmart.

The candles were judged based on just three simple factors including fragrance, wicking/burn and cost.

Each candle was above $4, but none reached $6.

Just note that I live in California and prices and scents may vary by store and state.

Below are the test rankings from best to worst.

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1. Aldi – House Huntington

• $5.38 for 7.4 ounces – 29 out of 30 points

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The winner was Aldi, which didn’t shock me in the least.

A few weeks ago I bought the candle advent calendar which consisted of all the Huntington Home candles and was amazed at how great the tiny candles were.

The candle I bought was called the Luxury Scented Candle with Gift Box and I chose the Spiced Cider scent.

What sets these candles apart from the rest is the wax.

These candles burn so smoothly that when you blow them out and use them later, the ring is perfectly melted and you don’t have uneven sides.

For the price I liked how nice the box was and how big the candle is.

It comes in a red gift box and even has a holder over the candle to ensure it doesn’t move or the wick stays strong.

As with most Huntington Home candles, the scent was exactly what was listed.

2. Walmart – mainstays

• $4.27 for 11.5 ounces – 28 out of 30 points

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The second candle to take first place is Walmart – which surprised me.

Much like the Aldi Huntington Home candle, it burned perfectly and left nothing but a perfectly even ring when I blew it out.

In addition, the wick was strong and the scent lingered for a very long time even after blowing out.

Also, the candle is huge and will last me for weeks depending on how often it’s used.

I think for the price and how much candle you get it’s definitely worth buying and could make a great gift for yourself or someone else.

3. Trader Joe’s

• $4.30 for 5.7 ounces – 22 out of 30 points

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This one hurt because I love Trader Joe’s so much, but I will say the wick strength and burn weren’t as great as the first two.

His salvation was the price.

Priced at just $4.30, it was one of the cheaper candles.

However, with the Walmart Mainstays candle, you have a much larger quantity for three cents cheaper.

Regardless, Trader Joe’s candle had a strong scent that permeated the room.

Plus, with other Trader Joe’s candles I’ve bought, I know they’ll last me at least a week or so.

4. Target – Threshold

• $5.49 for five ounces – 19 out of 30 points

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The Target Threshold brand ended up last due to a few factors: price, smell, and wick.

This candle not only had the highest price, but was also the one with the weakest scent.

While the wax can be smelled from just one puff, once lit it isn’t as strong as the others.

And for $5.49, it was one of the smaller ones.

I will say the packaging was very cute and festive, but if you’re looking for a gift option that won’t break the bank, try the others.

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