2025 Trader Joe’s Candle Advent Calendar!

I finally got my hands on this year’s Trader Joe’s candle advent calendar and wow, I have thoughts. Spoiler alert: it’s better than last year’s! The 2025 collection matches each scent to a month of the year rather than basing scents on popular Trader Joe’s products like the 2024 candle advent calendar (remember the Cookie Butter candle?). They’re calling it the Trader Joe’s Candle of the Month Set. I am impatient so I’ll probably burn through most of these by the end of the year, but I love that they leaned into seasonally appropriate scents.

Some of these scents are so good that I’m hoping Trader Joe’s will sell them as individual candles. There were also a couple of duds, but that’s the risk you take when you buy an advent calendar!

Before you Buy the 2025 Trader Joe’s Advent Calendar

Here are some things to know…

• There are 12 candles inside of the 2025 Trader Joe’s Advent Calendar for a price of $29.99. This is the same price as last year.
• These are 2.5 oz tin candles with a burn time of 10 hours each. These are smaller than the typical 5.7 oz Trader Joe’s candles that they offer individually throughout the year.
• As with most small candles, don’t expect to get an intense hot throw in a large room. These candles are perfect for bathrooms or other small spaces.
• The candles are made from a soy wax blend. Soy wax isn’t my favorite, but these are decent candles. I definitely think that the $29.99 price is appropriate. I also have to say that the fragrances are much better this year across the board. I’m not sure whether they’re sourcing their fragrance oil from a different supplier or just making better scent selections. If you want my thoughts on each scent, keep reading!

Trader Joe’s Advent Calendar Scent Review

I have so many thoughts…

January: Sparkling Cuvee

We’re starting off the year strong because this candle was an unexpected favorite. It’s delicately sweet with a hint of fruitiness and for its size, the hot throw is surprisingly strong. While I usually reserve these small tin candles for bathrooms (they typically fill those smaller spaces nicely), this one has earned a spot in my home office.

My husband isn’t a candle addict, so I always love getting his take. If he likes a candle, I know it has broad appeal. He gave this one a thumbs-up and called it “refreshing and light.” If Trader Joe’s ever sold this as an individual candle, I would buy multiple tins.

February: Raspberries & Cream

This one leaned way too sweet for me… borderline headache-inducing. Cloying was the first word that came to mind. It’s not so dreadful that I won’t give it away to someone who likes gourmand scents, but it was definitely not my cup of tea.

March: Clover & Moss

This is the kind of candle I light in the entryway before my mom comes over so she thinks I spent hours cleaning. Anyone else do that?

It’s bright and herbal… fresh in a way that feels like clean laundry mixed with the smell of a backyard after the lawn has been mowed recently. I am kind of struggling to come up with a description that will do this one justice, but trust me when I say that this is a great candle.

April: April Showers

I tend to love aquatic scents, and this one fits into that category perfectly. It doesn’t smell like a rainy day to me. It’s more like a sweet, watery scent with a light floral edge. It actually reminds me a bit of one of the colognes we used to spray at Hollister back when I worked there as a teenager. I was surprised by how much my husband liked this one since it leans sweeter.

May: May Flowers

This is spring in candle form. It’s distinctly floral, but not in an overpowering perfume-y sort of way. It is fresh and uplifting. I wish I could pinpoint the exact flower; maybe gardenia, or gardenia blended with something else.

I do wish the hot throw were a bit stronger, but overall it’s a solid candle. I’ll be burning it in a small space to get the scent to really stand out.

June: Sea Salt

Am I crazy, or does this candle not smell like sea salt at all? It’s oddly sweet… almost coconut-y. I can’t quite put my finger on what it actually smells like, but there’s zero trace of sea salt or ocean air. I usually love sea salt candles, but this one feels like an imposter.

July: Island Oasis

This is a perfectly fine tropical candle… pleasant, but nothing to get too excited about. Honestly, I wish they’d gone with something similar to their Mango Tangerine candle for July because that is the best TJ’s candle (in my opinion). 

My husband thinks this one smells like candy. I get more of a fruity tropical drink vibe. To me, it’s a weaker version of last year’s Scandinavian Swimmers candle (which smelled like fruit snacks, and I loved it).

August: By the Campfire

I was expecting something smoky, but it turned out to be more of a leathery scent with a touch of sweetness. Honestly, it could pass as a cologne. It definitely leans more masculine. I didn’t love it when I smelled the un-lit candle, but once I got this burning, I could definitely see the appeal. This was one of my husband’s favorites so I will be putting it on his desk. 

September: Santal & Cedar

This is a woody, musky candle. Like By the Campfire, it leans masculine, but I prefer this one because it’s lighter. There’s a freshness to it that reminds me of a fancy soap. Trader Joe’s candles are usually pretty one-note (not a complaint… I buy plenty of them!), but this one feels more complex.

It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re a fan of santal-style scents, you’ll probably enjoy it.

October:  Pumpkin Spice Latte

I do not like pumpkin spice lattes (or pumpkin pie… or anything pumpkin, really). Pumpkin just doesn’t do it for me whether in food form or candle form. I don’t really have a good critique of this candle for you.

When my husband smelled it, he only had one word: “Nope!”.

November: Cranberry

This is cranberry done right. It is bold in the best way! It’s not just sweet. There’s a tart edge that keeps it from tipping too fruity, making it one of the more realistic cranberry scents I’ve smelled. We’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, and I fully plan to burn this in our downstairs bathroom. I’m usually not one for being overly seasonal with the scents that I burn, but this one feels too perfect to pass up.

December: Sugar Cookie

“Butter” is the first word my husband said when he smelled this candle and he’s right. It is very buttery. It smells like you’re standing in the kitchen while a fresh batch of cookies is baking in the oven.

I should hate this candle, but I don’t. If you read last year’s candle advent calendar review, you already know I’m not a fan of dessert-forward scents. Surprisingly, I can actually tolerate this one.

I think the reason that it’s more palatable than last year’s desert candles is that it doesn’t have that synthetic, chemical edge you get from cheaper fragrance oils. Trust me… I’ve used plenty of those in my early candle making days when the good stuff wasn’t in the budget. Overall, the quality of most of the fragrances in the advent calendar just feels better this year.

Final Thoughts

I was very impressed by this advent calendar. I’m a little sad that these scents are only available in advent calendar form because I wish I could buy Sparkling Cuvee and April Showers as individual candles, especially in the larger 5.7 oz size. They absolutely nailed the spring scents (May through March are probably the strongest in the set). There are fewer sickly sweet scents compared to last year (Raspberries & Cream is the only one that comes to mind). I also like the switch to candle of the month where each scent fits the season rather than scents based off of Trader Joe’s products.

Last year, I liked 5 out of the 12 candles. This year, I liked 7 out of the 12: