[unpaid/sample] I have to start sometime with festive-ish goodies because things are piling up so I thought I’d begin with one of my favourite candle and fragrance brands, Jo Loves. There’s an option to create your own ‘shot box’ by choosing three small size scented candles either for yourself or as a gift. My sample Shot Box contains Gingerbread, Log Fires and Mulled Wine which is either wintery or festive, depending upon how you look at it.

I would struggle with my selection not to choose pomelo, pomelo and pomelo because it’s such a favourite but you can step into the immediate with wintery, festive scents or you can think a little longer term to spring time and have a mix that won’t feel wrong as the season passes. Maybe a Log Fires, Seville Orange & Neroli and Fig Trees, keeping the last one for the first signs of spring.

I find Jo Loves candles very generous – a little goes a long way with these; I can be burning one in the kitchen and will be able to smell it all through the downstairs. I had Jo Loves Christmas Pudding on the burn – from last year – when I had friends round during the week and even a year on, it was full of life and lovely aromatic notes that had a hint of the mince pie, which now I think about it, I am not sure why I didn’t have to serve! Mince pies is this afternoon’s job – my friend Emma very kindly makes me both pastry and mincemeat – all I have to do is put them together and not eff it up. There’s no guarantee ;-).

You have plenty of choice for the candle selection although I think maybe Gingerbread and Mulled Wine are gone – I like the way you can personalise this with notes you know your recipient will love or you can choose for the mood of your house over Christmas, whether it’s peaceful and relaxing or riotous and noisy and anything in between. I don’t want to tempt fate but I might have some imminent news for you regarding something we’ve been trying to get … which means our house is going to have to be very peaceful and calm over Christmas. Everything crossed. So, I don’t think you can go far wrong with these self select shot candles – small they may be, but mighty is their impact which I think may apply to our arrival ;-). Choose from Seville Orange, Fig Trees, White Rose & Lemon Leaves, Log Fires, Jo By Jo Loves and Gardenia HERE. It’s £75 for three. However, if you are happy with a pre-select of White Rose & Lemon Leaves, Gardenia and Fig Trees, Cult Beauty has a set on offer for £56 HERE. If you’re going all-in on festivities, there’s a pre-selected box of Snowflake, Christmas Trees and Log Fires and it’s £75 HERE. All the candles have a 20 hour burn time but you don’t need to burn for long to get the full experience. If you’re looking for something completely different from this brand, I’ve discovered Smoked Plum & Leather which I think must be a Net A Porter exclusive – plum liqueur, cinnamon and cedar. Erm, yes please! It’s £55 HERE.