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When you think of fall, what comes to mind? Apple picking, chunky sweaters, wood fires… and fall scented candles! There is nothing quite like curling up on the couch on a crisp fall evening after going pumpkin picking with friends, and lighting up a deliciously-scented fall candle. There are so many yummy fall flavors: spicy cinnamon, apple cider, pumpkin spices, cedarwood, tobacco. We could go on and on.
And not only is the flickering light from candles relaxing and mood-setting, but there are mental health benefits as well. As the days get darker earlier, and we get one step closer to those “winter blues,” fall candles are warm and cozy. They can be mood-boosting, aid sleep and even reduce cortisol (aka, lower stress.)
Fall Candle Buying Tips
When it comes to choosing the best fall candle for you, you’ll want to consider price, packaging, materials and of course, the scent!
To start, the type of wax matters. Soy wax and other vegetable-based waxes burn cleaner and longer and are generally “healthier” and more eco-friendly than paraffin. In addition to soy candles, the other paraffin alternatives include beeswax, coconut wax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, and shea butter, among others.
Other candle features you should consider when shopping is what essential oils or fragrance are used to create the fall scents (toxic versus non-toxic, 100% natural or not.) More and more people are choosing candles based off these environmental and health-based factors. And of course, you’ll want to consider the occasion or the vibe you’re hoping to create with said candle. Is it Saturday morning hygge time? Game night with friends? An evening with a glass of wine and a bubble bath?
If your vibe is the former, consider homebody-favored top notes like coffee, baked bread, milk, and vanilla. When hosting guests, you want the space to be warm and inviting, so spicy essential oils like cinnamon, clove or ginger mixed with warm citrus oils such as tangerine or sweet orange are best for this. For bubble bath night, you’ll want to use the relaxing scents most commonly favored in spa settings like lavender, sage, eucalyptus, mint, vanilla, rosemary, lemongrass, or cedarwood.
Our editors burned dozens of candles (so much pumpkin spice, so little time) and have come up with the best 22 fall candles you can buy right now. We’ve gone way beyond your grandma’s favorite apple Yankee Candle (although we included one of those, too) and have included newer luxury brands you love like Diptyque and Jenni Kayne, to small-batch ones like Henry Rose. These have all been independently selected by our editorial team, but we should note that we do earn an affiliate commission when you purchase them through this story. Happy candling!
22 Best Fall Candles
1. JENNI KAYNE Cedar Glass Candle ($65)
This candle has everything when it comes to quality: it's hand-poured in Los Angeles, the wax is a natural blend of coconut, soy, beeswax, apricot oil, and paraffin with a lead-free cotton wick. It was one of Oprah’s Favorite Things 2019, has topped many "best fall candle" lists, and is perfect for a night by the fire spent alone, with your significant other or with guests thanks to a clever notes blend of rose, tobacco leaf, fir needle, and cedarwood.
2. DIPTYQUE Ambre Scented Candle ($74)
Of the candles we burned for this piece, Diptyque's was our favorite. It was warm and the scent was never overwhelming. I would describe it as "refined fall" thanks to a combination of woods, vetiver and patchouli as well as radiant aniseed, insolent spices, mysterious incense, cistus and tonka bean. Customers agree; of the many 5-star reviews, shoppers called it a "warm, woody scent," and asserted, "If you're looking for something a lil sweet and relaxing then this fits."
3. Maison Margiela 'REPLICA' By The Fireplace Scented Candle ($65)
Replica candles are known for their nostalgic quality, and this 'By The Fireplace' scent is best for fall (it was named best in Australia at the 2022 Mecca Beauty Election.) We love the limited-edition paint-splatter design on the glass, and the fact that you can replicate the scent of a crackling fire even if you don't have a fireplace. The notes on this luxury candle are orange flower, vanilla, woody clove oil and chestnut.
4. Voluspa Spiced Pumpkin Latte Candle ($36)
This coconut wax blend candle wins big points for its pretty Japonica-inspired print glass container, and its unique blend of Kabocha Pumpkin pulp, whipped Coconut Crema, Fluffy Vanilla Marshmallow and Cinnamon Spiced Brûlée. Customers recommend opting for the larger size if you can so you can enjoy it through the winter season, too.
5. Snif Half Baked Pumpkin Smash ($46)
This scent is described as "not your mother’s mainstream pumpkin spice," and boy is that true. The candle is a collabo with Tieghan Gerard of Half Baked Harvest, an Instagram homemaking influencer. Top notes are whisky accord, cardamom and brûléed orange. If it is possible for a candle to be both sweet and spicy, this is it.
6. Brooklyn Ellis Superego Candle ($65)
This candle is made from an updated blend including domestically grown soy, and it burns beautifully. We love the brand because it's high-end, eco *and* sustainable. The Superego candle has "intoxifying" notes of saffron, black leather and oud with passion fruit, apple blossom and centifolia to lighten things up. The unique glass color makes a beautiful addition to any mantlepiece this time of year.
7. LE LABO Santal 26 Classic Candle ($84)
This favorite candle from cult fragrance brand Le Labo gives gentle, smoky, and leathery; a perfect fall vibe. The company's candles are known for being made with a high dose of fragrance oils, so you won't be skimping with the scent at all. The candle is 100% soy wax hand-poured in Mississippi with sexy notes of amber, cocoa, vanilla, cedar, spices, sandalwood.
8. Homesick Autumn Hayride Candle ($38)
A natural soy-wax candle with a smell that promises to give you autumn hayride vibes; what could be better?! Made in the USA and in a sleek and simple jar to match even the most minimalist home décor, with top notes of fresh hay, warm amber and clove, middle notes of nutmeg, birch and maple bark and base notes of tonka, patchouli, and oak moss.
9. Henry Rose Flora Carnivora Candle ($65)
Michelle Pfeiffer’s fragrance brand Henry Rose just released a candle version of their floral #PerfumeTikTok viral scent. It's not your traditional "fall scent" (ie. no pumpkin spice in sight) but it will fill your home with a warm, earthy smell. Notes include jasmine, tuberose and bright orange flower. It's made in small batches and hand-poured in California.
10. SKYLAR Fall Cashmere Scented Candle ($45)
Another good guilt-free option, this candle is made with "sustainable soy coconut wax" and packaged in 100% recyclable boxes and jars. In terms of scent, this is one of the spicier scents we tried, making it perfect for an evening when you're inviting guests over. The spiced ginger blend with sweet vanilla scent is also cruelty-free, vegan and free artificial dyes, parabens and fragrance allergens.
11. Simmered Cider Votive Candle ($16)
Possibly the most giftable candle on the list, this warm, spicy scent comes in a very pretty rose gold jar. The key notes are freshly pressed apples, cardamom and hints of bourbon. Reviewers call it "gorgeous, creamy, velvety" and "happy, sweet and spicy."
12. Anthropologie Pinecone Candle ($22)
Anthropologie has a great candle selection, but in terms of aesthetics, it doesn't get more decorative for fall than this Pinecone candle. These will make the perfect addition to your mantle or bookshelves through fall and well into holiday/winter.
13. Brooklyn Candle Studio Catskills Escapist Candle ($42)
You don't need to own a second home upstate to appreciate the woodsy and piney 'Catskills' scent from Brooklyn Candle. It conjurs "tranquil hike in the woods" "fall pine needles" and fresh air thanks to the cedar, cypress, and juniper. Burn it in the bathroom in the morning to start your day in a nature mindset.
14. Illume Boulangerie Angel Food Jar Candle ($22)
This candle is like a sweet treat: it brings together the yummiest trifecta of sweet vanilla, butter, and caramel. Plus, we love that all the candles from Illume are made with all-natural, food-grade ingredients like coconut wax and essential oils.
15. Autumn Ease Candle ($34)
This candle is truly revolutionary: it comes with an audible spoken word poem or affirmation that you can access via your smart phone. It has to be seen to be believed. You will also love the brisk notes of bergamot, pumpkin, fresh hay, and more. It's a great candle for gifting because of the one-of-a-kind AR experience.
16. Better Homes & Gardens 18oz Warm Leathered Amber Scented 2-Wick Frosted Bell Jar Candle ($12.87)
This super-affordable candle is a weighty 2-wick size and features notes of midnight amber, ancient oud and black vanilla bean combined with mahogany woods and a hint of incense and cacao.
17. Bath & Body Works Sweater Weather ($26.95)
Customers call this Bath & Body Works candle "warm and cozy." The official fragrance notes are fresh sage, juniper berry, aromatic eucalyptus and fresh woods. Of all the fall candles from B&BW, this one is a favorite. You get good bang for your buck: a three-wick candle for under $30. A great teacher's gift!
18. Anthropologie Hallorm Woody Fresh Balsam & Cedarwood Glass Tree Candle ($48)
Get into the Christmas spirit ahead of time with this whimsical tree candle from Anthropologie. It's a statement piece that holds its own on a bookshelf or even your dining table centerpiece over Christmas dinner with the family. It has a blend of a freshly cut evergreen, effervescent citrus, sparkling white cranberry, and sugared plums over a smooth base of cinnamon. But if you keep it as a decorative item and never burn it, that's fine too!
19. Yankee Candle Crisp Campfire Apples ($32.99)
This candle is described as smelling like "freshly picked apples cooking over the fire in the crisp night air," thanks to notes of apple, clove, mandarin leaf, cinnamon stick, oak leaves and tonka, blonde woods. It can be hard to choose a Yankee Candle because they have so many scents, but this one has consistely high ratings. Customers say the scent is "balanced" and that "the apple notes are definitely there but don’t overwhelm everything else," and "it really captures the scent of a campfire without smelling like smoke." Many said they burn it from fall well into winter.
20. Clove Orange Zum Glow ($15.50)
This scent is described as warm and inviting clove intertwined with refreshing citrus, making it the perfect fall/winter scent. Zum natural soy candles are made with soy wax, aromatic oils, and lead-free wicks, which gets a thumbs up from us. This 198g candle burns for 30 hours, which makes it the perfect accompaniment to holiday activities such as cooking, decorating, and wrapping Christmas presents.
21. P.F. CANDLE CO Soy Candle ($24)
Another affordable candle we want to burn in our homes over the holidays – and one we want to make sure our house guests make note of due to its en-vogue appearance: an apothecary-inspired amber glass jar with a signature label and a brass lid. There are many P.F. Candle Co. fragrances to choose from, with one of our favorites being the very distinct Sandalwood Rose scent, featuring notes of sandalwood, labdanum, and oud. The Teakwood & Tobacco scent is also a firm fave, featuring notes of leather, teak and orange. In case it wasn’t obvious, we love a hint of orange in the fall/winter season!
22. Magnolia Mulled Cider ($46.40)
We're finishing off strong with a candle from Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia brand. There are so many great options to choose from to complement the fall season, and this Mulled Cider candle is a dream thanks to notes of sweet apple and subtle hints of cinnamon. Our loved ones are going to be very happy on Christmas morning to discover any one of these 22 candles in their stockings or under their trees.
