What would Santa smell like? Up and down chimneys all night long, we think his scent may be far more subversive and complex than “cookies and candy canes”, which is why we’ve dreamt up this holiday season’s naughtiest candle: Dirty Santa.

Inspired by the pagan Yuletide celebrations that used to mark the winter solstice in Norse and Germanic cultures, our perfumer has taken smouldering hickory and wood smoke laced with pine, warm clove, and oakmoss, and then finished it all off with a seductive hint of leather. Despite its name, Dirty Santa is an exceptionally clean candle, handcrafted from plant-based ingredients and pure soy wax, resulting in a long-burning flame and a heady scent. So whether you’ve been naughty or nice, you can relax and indulge in its smoky, woody embrace.

Listen to Heretic Founder/Perfumer Douglas Little tell the story behind Dirty Santa:

INSTRUCTIONS: Heretic candles are hand poured with soy wax and unleaded wicks. To prevent damage, make sure to trim the wick to ⅛ of an inch every time the candle is lit. Do not let it burn for more than 4 hours at a time and please place the candle on a stable, heat-resistant surface. For the best candle performance, allow the wax pool to completely liquify, extinguish, and let cool.

PRECAUTIONS: Never leave a burning candle unattended or burning for more than 4 hours. Keep away from drafts, children, pets, and all flammable materials.

RETURNS: We only accept returns for defective or damaged products. If you’d like to sample the fragrance first, we recommend you start with one of our Discovery Sets or take our Fragrance Finder Quiz for a personally recommended scent.

SHIPPING: At this time, we can only ship within the contiguous United States. If you need to find an international retailer, please email us at concierge@hereticparfum.com.

Free shipping on orders of $125 or more. Otherwise, a $10 flat shipping fee applies.