Best Fall Candles: Top 5 Seasonal Scents Most Recommended by Experts

With the heat of summer finally over and the start of the holiday season right around the corner, it’s time to whip out those cozy sweaters and dig out your Halloween decorations! But fall festivities are never complete without a yummy fall-scented candle. These wicks are known for being warm and inviting, reminiscent of sweet baked desserts or woodsy spice. The best fall candles will decorate your coffee table with fall vibes and fill your home with the delicious scents of autumn.

If you’re in love with fall, you’re not the only one. A survey conducted by OnePoll finds that fall is America’s favorite season for a multitude of reasons. 51 percent say fall foliage is the season’s biggest draw. The weather overall finished just behind the turning of the leaves, with 45 percent saying they love the chill in the fall air. Seasonal food also plays a big role in autumn’s appeal. Forty-four percent say they enjoy drinking hot chocolate in the fall, while four in 10 can’t wait to make homemade soup.

Scent definitely plays a role in evoking fond memories. According to a survey conducted on behalf of AlEn USA, more than half of Americans (51%) experience “scent-stalgia”, missing the comforting scents of their homes after being away for a couple of days. Interestingly, 66 percent of people said that they can recognize the unique scent of their own home, according to a survey of 2,000 Americans. Lighting a fall-scented candle in your home can bring back memories of baking pumpkin pie at home or spending time with family.

If you’re looking for the perfect autumn scent to fill your home, stay tuned. StudyFinds researched the best fall candles on the market, consulting expert sources to compile a list of the internet’s most common recommendations. Keep reading for the top choices or let us know what your favorite fall candle is in the comments below!

This candle by clean fragrance brand Skylar was the most common recommendation across all sources. This candle is made to smell like your coziest sweater wrapped up in vanilla and spice aromas. “One customer gave this candle a 5-star review, noting that ‘it smells like a crackling fire, cookies in the oven, a hot cup of tea and a soft blanket all wrapped together,” says Good Housekeeping. “The Fall Cashmere scent has a spiced ginger and sweet vanilla blend that can burn for up to 45 hours long.”

Although it is on the more expensive side, this candle has a burn time of 45 hours and a scent that easily fills the room and lingers even after burning. “With notes of roasted almond, cinnamon bark, and spiced ginger, this candle epitomizes the feeling you get when you put on a cozy cashmere sweater on a crisp autumn day,” says Southern Living. “Skylar is known for its sustainable and vegan ingredients, and that’s exactly what you’ll get with this candle made from sustainable coconut wax.”

“If you like fall scents that aren’t super heavy on one specific note, I think you’ll love this pick by Skylar,” says a reviewer at Byrdie. “The name says it all—it’s a comfy fragrance that perfectly represents the season. Notes of roasted almond and cinnamon bark ground it with a sweet base, and ginger gives it just the right amount of spice to yield an intoxicating finish.”

Yankee Candle is classic candle brand, with large scent offerings and long burn times in classic looking glass jars with lids. This brand was highly recommended across sources, but multiple scents were suggested. People recommends the Autumn Wreath scent. “As one of the oldest candle companies, Yankee Candle knows how to build a candle that lasts, and with 150 hours of burn time, this autumn wreath candle will last all the way to winter (and maybe after),” explains People. “It’s made with paraffin wax and maintains a richly pigmented red color and scent of fresh leaves, cinnamon, and apple. Built-in a jar, it has a stately and traditional appearance perfect for a dining room or front hall table.”

Glamour also suggests Autumn Wreath. “Yankee doesn’t mess around when it comes to fall candles,” says Glamour. “Although you’ll find plenty of other seasonal scents from the brand, this is its broadest, most autumnal offering. You’ll notice fall leaves, pomegranates, and juniper berries in the mix, but the main note is simply fall itself—it’s exactly the fragrance you’d associate with pumpkin patches, hayrides, and leaf peeping.”

The Spruce loves their Crisp Fall Night candle. “Any fall lover would agree that the time of year, when the leaves begin to fall, has a specific scent,” writes The Spruce. “Yankee Candle bottled this scent into a dusky candle aptly called ‘Crisp Fall Night.’ Earthy notes are balanced with lavender for a scent that mimics an evening stroll without ever stepping outside.”

If you’re looking for a candle that can replicate the scent of a crackling fireplace, look no further. “No wood-burning fireplace? No problem,” says HGTV. “Diptyque’s Feus de Bois candle makes our list for its uncanny resemblance to a roaring fireplace. The intoxicating fragrance wraps spaces with a sophisticated, smoked wood scent that lasts for days. Strike a match and let it burn in your family room or entryway to create the feeling of fireside coziness throughout the fall.”

This candle is high-quality, with a price that reflects that, but you’ll get 60 hours of burn time with the classic size, or you can opt for the medium, large, or extra-large sizes. “A little more on the pricey side, but trust us when we say that all you need to do is open all of your windows and light this candle (which smells exactly like a wood fire), to truly escape to a fall getaway,” writes Good Housekeeping. “Even better, it has a 60-hour burning time and a scent meant to transport you to a warm studio in winter.”

“With its woodsy and smoky notes, Diptyque’s Feu De Bois (French for ‘wood fire’) candle will have you sure you can hear the crackling of a bonfire nearby,” explains Southern Living. “This luxury French fragrance company has been making its iconic candles since the 1960s, and this smoky scent is among the brand’s best sellers.”

Homesick candles are specifically designed to evoke memories of places or moments in time. Sources also recommended the Pumpkin Picking scent from this brand for peak fall nostalgia. As for the Autumn Hayride variety: “‘Gusts of fresh hay and birch wood mix with sweet maple and warm amber’ in this adorable non-toxic fall candle, which has a typical burn time of 60-80 hours. Bonus for gifting: You can even add a personal message to the back for an added fee,” writes Parade.

The top notes of the candle are listed as fresh hay, warm amber, and clove, with mid and base notes of nutmeg, birch, maple bark, tonka, patchouli, and oakmoss. “Bring back memories of hayrides and crisp leaves with this evocative candle,” says CNN. “Notes of hay, warm amber, nutmeg, birch and maple blend to create a candle that one reviewer says ‘really is like a hayride, only better!'”

“Hayrides, corn mazes, or pumpkin picking: Whatever your fall activity of choice may be, this candle that mixes fresh hay and bark with warm amber will make the experience last,” says House Beautiful.

This scent from Voluspa was the most recommended, with Baltic Amber coming in at a close second. “If you prefer the ultimate classic fall experience then you’ll get a kick out of this candle’s, ‘fall in a jar’ charms,” writes Refinery 29. “Plus, when we’re not gushing over the kabocha pumpkin, fluffy vanilla marshmallow, whipped coconut créma, and cinnamon-spiced brûlée notes, we’re gazing at its beautiful jar.”

Besides smelling luxurious, the Voluspa candles come in a beautifully patterned jar that will complement any surface in your home. “Voluspa makes a Spiced Pumpkin Latte candle that’s just as high-quality as their other widely-known scents,” explains Forbes. “Brimming with touches of pumpkin, vanilla marshmallow and cinnamon spiced brûlée (yum), the candle is perfect for Starbucks devotees who want to upgrade their typical PSL candle experiences. It burns cleanly, and the eye-catching vessel is a big plus.”

“Voluspa’s Spiced Pumpkin Latte candle is made with a blend of kabocha pumpkin, coconut milk, vanilla marshmallow and spices, and the 18-ounce jar has a burn time of 100 hours, according to the brand,” says NBC News.

Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations

About the Author

Elsa is a freelance journalist, copywriter, and marketer based out of the Los Angeles area. She has been writing for 7 years.

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