As twinkling lights return to the high street, a budget scent accessory is stealing attention before the big switch-on this year.
With Christmas displays creeping into trolleys already, one Aldi buy is drawing crowds for mixing scent, sparkle and price. It’s a candle that doubles as a snow globe, and it lands at under a tenner while pricier rivals circle nearby.
What the £9.99 buzz is about
Aldi has pushed out a seasonal accessory that straddles two roles: a fragranced candle and a decorative snow globe. Marketed under its Hotel Collection range, the Snow Globe Candle is listed at £9.99 and sold as a winter scent with eucalyptus, pine and musk. Shoppers say it looks charming, and early posts on bargain-hunting groups show plenty of interest in-store.
The lid is a removable snow globe, so you get a keepsake topper after the wax is gone. The candle itself has been described as 250g with a claimed 45-hour burn time. Aldi’s own marketing materials also reference a 150g format for the same product name. That suggests stores may carry more than one size, so check the weight on the box before paying.
Price: £9.99. Fragrance: eucalyptus, pine and musk. Launch timing cited in materials: mid-October. Availability: while stocks last.
How it looks, how it smells
The design leans into whimsy. The snow globe lid supplies the visual theatre, while the jar gives a neutral base that slots into mantels or shelves. The fragrance profile skews wintry: eucalyptus brings a menthol lift, pine adds familiar fir-tree freshness, and musk anchors everything with warmth. It’s a safe crowd-pleaser for December evenings and tree-trimming weekends.
Value maths: cost per cosy hour
Numbers help with candles. If we take the 45-hour figure as the benchmark, the smaller Snow Globe Candle comes in at roughly 22p per hour (£9.99 / 45). Aldi’s Extra Large Hurricane Candle, a separate giant in the same range, claims 158 hours for £19.99. That drops the cost to around 13p per hour and suits anyone who burns a candle most nights.
Rough guide: 22p per hour for the snow globe jar, 13p per hour for the hurricane – a clear gap on running cost.
The rivals you’re comparing against
High street competition exists if you like the light-up, snow globe effect. Next sells a Baked Gingerbread 2 Wick Light Up Candle at £20. The scent pyramid lists crystallised ginger and cinnamon on top, a maple and nutmeg heart, and a base of molten sugar. One early review rates it five stars and notes a hidden touch control for the globe lighting, which caught the buyer off guard at first.
| Product | Price | Approx. weight | Claimed burn time | Key fragrance notes | Extra feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi Hotel Collection Snow Globe Candle | £9.99 | 150–250g (varies by listing) | Up to 45 hours (claimed) | Eucalyptus, pine, musk | Removable snow globe lid |
| Aldi Hotel Collection Extra Large Hurricane Candle | £19.99 | Approx. 2.1kg | Up to 158 hours (claimed) | Pomegranate & lime or basil & mandarin | Oversized multi-wick jar |
| Next Baked Gingerbread 2 Wick Light Up Candle | £20 | Not stated | Not stated | Ginger, cinnamon; maple, nutmeg; molten sugar | Light-up snow globe lid |
Who will love which candle
- Budget-driven scent fans: choose Aldi’s £9.99 snow globe for low entry price and a seasonal fresh-woody profile.
- Heavy burners: the £19.99 hurricane gives far more hours, and a lower cost per hour, if you want nightly glow.
- Sweet-tooth households: the Next gingerbread candle leans gourmand with bakery notes and a playful light-up topper.
- Gift givers: the snow globe lid makes an easy present that packs visual impact without pushing past £10.
Release, stock and shopper reaction
Aldi flagged the Snow Globe Candle for a mid-October shop-floor arrival, part of its early festive roll-out. Social posts from deal groups point to brisk interest, with comments praising the look and the scent idea. That doesn’t guarantee long-term availability, and the retailer often runs limited seasonal drops, so availability will vary by store and region.
Practical ways to get the best burn
You get more from any candle with careful use. Trim the wick to about 5mm before each light to reduce soot. Let the first burn run long enough to melt a full pool across the top; this helps prevent tunnelling. Keep the jar on a heatproof, level surface away from draughts, curtains and decorations. Stop burning when 1cm of wax remains. Never leave a flame unattended, and keep it out of reach of children and pets.
What the scent families say about your space
Eucalyptus and pine clean the air mood-wise, often making rooms feel sharper and more open. Musk rounds off the edges for evening. If you prefer a kitchen-warm vibe, gingerbread-style blends inject comfort through spice, sugar and caramel notes. Many homes mix both: fresh notes in living spaces during the day, gourmand blends at the dining table or for late-night film sessions.
Stretch your festive budget further
A simple strategy is to pair one statement candle with cheaper tealights. Use the scented jar for the first hour to lay down fragrance, then keep ambience with unscented flames. Rotate lids to keep dust off the wax and help retain aroma between burns. If you’re sensitive to strong perfume, place the candle near a hallway or entry so scent diffuses rather than sits heavily in one spot.
What to check before you buy
Pick up the box and look for weight, burn time and scent notes. If you see both 150g and 250g versions on shelf, compare unit value by calculating price per 100g. For those who burn daily, scan for multi-wick designs because they pool more evenly in larger jars. If a product includes a light-up lid, look for a discreet power switch or touch sensor; some lids use a hidden contact point rather than a visible button.
Quick check: weight on the label, burn time claim, fragrance family, and any hidden switch for light-up lids.
Shoppers chasing a quick festive lift will see why a £9.99 snow globe candle feels tempting. It brings scent, a bit of theatre, and a small talking point to the coffee table. Those who want longer, cheaper hours of glow should consider stepping up to the 2.1kg hurricane jar, then sprinkle in seasonal toppers or fairy lights for the sparkle. The cost-per-hour gap is clear, and the choice comes down to whether you value the whimsical lid or the marathon burn.
Under a tenner for scent + sparkle? Love it already 🙂 Does the eucalyptus lean sharp or go softer once it warms up?
That 45-hour burn—any real-world tests? Mine always seem to fizzle out sooner if the wax is only 150g—definately not 45 hours. Which size did you find in store?