The candles ahead channel the multi-dimensional nature of the autumnal equinox, conveying not only crisp forest air but also fresh-baked goods, wood fireplaces, and sophisticated (read: subtle!) pumpkin spice. From our Bath & Body Works fave to Voluspa's limited-edition drop, discover 17 editor-approved choices ahead.
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Voluspa's limited-edition collab with Fender isn't just a must-have for the rock-'n'-roll lover in your life — it's also the unexpected fall candle I've been burning on repeat. My favorite of the collection, Midnight Leather, blends ginger tonic and cardamom with smoky incense and birchwood for a warm, slightly edgy scent that evokes a well-worn leather guitar strap at your favorite live-music venue. Consider it the candle equivalent of a perfectly broken-in leather jacket.
Voluspa x Fender Midnight Leather Candle, $, available at NordstromBath & Body Works Football Season 3-Wick Candle
Soft sweaters, cozy beanies, and a return to hot lattes are all synonymous with fall, but so is one more thing: Football season. Even if you're not cheering on a favorite team, you can still get in on the fall game-day vibes with Bath & Body Works' seasonal candle. Crisp notes of fresh eucalyptus, blue sage, and cedarwood evoke that first cool day of the season, when the air feels a little fresher and the bleachers are calling.
Bath & Body Works Football Season 3-Wick Candle, $, available at Bath & Body WorksSnif Half Baked Apple Cider Smash Scented Candle
If apple cider donuts are your favorite part of fall, keep reading. Snif’s Half Baked Apple Cider Smash candle pairs juicy apple cider and tart Honeycrisp apple with gourmand notes of cinnamon sugar, caramel glaze, and vanilla. The result is a mouthwatering, bakery-inspired scent that makes any room feel instantly comfy-cozy. (A pumpkin version is also available for the pie girlies.)
Snif Half Baked Apple Cider Smash Scented Candle, $, available at Ulta BeautyOtherland Cardamom Milk
Move over, cinnamon and clove: Cardamom is making a case for itself as fall’s coziest spice. This candle from reader-favorite brand Otherland puts the aromatic note front and center, rounding it out with notes of steamed milk and praline woods for a creamy, subtly sweet scent that feels like your softest blanket on a chilly day.
Otherland Cardamom Milk, $, available at OtherlandJenni Kayne Cedar Glass Candle
If your fall aesthetic leans more California-cool than pumpkin-spice everything, Jenni Kayne’s Cedar Glass Candle fits the mood. Known for its understated, organic approach to luxury — from cashmere staples to thoughtfully designed home décor — the lifestyle brand makes a case for bringing that same quiet-luxury sensibility to your seasonal scent rotation. Notes of rose, tobacco leaf, fir needle, and cedarwood lend the candle a fresh, woodsy warmth that feels right at home on a coffee table or styled bookshelf.
Jenni Kayne Cedar Glass Candle, $, available at Jenni KayneBeing Frenshe Cashmere Vanilla Reset Candle
There's no shortage of vanilla candles on the market, but if we had to pick one to burn on repeat this fall, it'd be this one. Being Frenshe's Cashmere Vanilla pairs a rich, vanilla extract-like sweetness with notes of toasted jasmine rice and sandalwood for a warm, creamy scent that feels equal parts comforting and elevated.
Being Frenshe Cashmere Vanilla Reset Candle, $, available at TargetAssouline Paper Candle
Few things beat the feeling of getting lost in a favorite bookstore, and Assouline — the luxury publisher known for its collectible coffee-table books — captures that feeling in candle form. Notes of cedarwood and sandalwood mingle with clove, vanilla, and parchment for a warm, woody scent that evokes the pages of a well-loved book and the quiet pleasure of a slow afternoon spent reading.
Assouline Paper Candle, $, available at AssoulineDiptyque Ambre Candle
It boasts a premium price tag, but this spicy autumn scent is worth the seasonal investment. As one reviewer gushes, "This is one of my all-time favorite candles from Diptyque. It has a really nice woody spice scent that is beautiful in autumn and winter...find that even when the candle isn't lit you can smell it faintly in a room which I really like."
Diptyque Ambre Candle, $, available at NordstromLe Labo Cyprès 21 Candle
Herbaceous cypress may not immediately scream fall, but trust us: Le Labo's Cyprès 21 is cozy vibes incarnate; a trio of spices — juniper, clove, and star anise – meet warm incense and patchouli for a result that's like a luxurious cabin retreat in candle form.
Le Labo Cyprès 21 Candle, $, available at Saks Fifth AvenueMalin+Goetz Leather Scented Candle
If you're looking to recreate the vibe of your favorite speakeasy, Malin+Goetz's Leather candle delivers. With notes of smoky leather, bright pepper, and delicate lily of the valley, it's equal parts spicy and sweet — basically, an intimate fall date night in candle form.
MALIN+GOETZ Leather Scented Candle, $, available at NordstromBoy Smells Woodphoria Candle
We projected fig scents as a breakout fragrance trend this season, and this candle is the perfect way to translate that to scenting your home. Blending decadent fig with creamy sandalwood and refreshing coconut water, it puts a fruity, slightly unexpected spin on the season’s cozier, woodsy scents.
Boy Smells Woodphoria Candle, $, available at NordstromHomesick New York Candle
As one commenter best described it, the Homesick New York candle (the state, not the city) "smells like spiced cider and hay rides in the Hudson Valley." Enough said, honestly. If your ideal fall day involves apple picking, flannel weather, and a scenic drive, this candle brings a little upstate autumn magic indoors. Think crisp-air nostalgia with a cozy, cider-sipping twist — no weekend getaway or actual hayride required.
Homesick New York Candle, $, available at HomesickBrooklyn Candle Studio Montana Forest Minimalist Candle
The candle may hail from Brooklyn, but scenic Montana is the inspiration behind this crisp, cozy scent. With notes of blue spruce, fresh pine, verdant moss, and grounding cedarwood, it evokes a stroll through an evergreen forest, where the air is cool, the trees are towering, and your biggest concern is whether you packed enough layers. Think forest bathing in candle form.
Brooklyn Candle Studio Montana Forest Jar Candle, $, available at Brooklyn Candle StudioByredo Tree House Candle
Handmade in France, this luxury candle infuses the enticing scents of bamboo, pimento, hay, labdanum, and leather — resulting in an aroma that one reviewer describes as able to "fill the room within a matter of minutes! This one smells like forest, grass, and log burners."
Byredo Tree House Candle, $, available at NordstromD.S. & Durga Portable Fireplace Candle
The name says it all: With its notes of cedar, resin, and pinewood, this D.S. & Durga fan-favorite is perfect for instantly creating a cozy ambiance as if you're gathering by a wood-burning fireplace — even in a fifth-floor walkup.
D.S. & Durga Portable Fireplace, $, available at D.S. & DurgaP.F. Candle Co. Amber & Moss Candle
Consider this your happy medium between a refreshing forest escape and a cozy night by the fireplace. Made with natural soy wax, P.F. Candle Co.’s Amber & Moss candle blends notes of musk, amber, lavender, sage, and orange for an earthy yet inviting scent that feels right at home during the cooler months. It’s fresh and herbaceous with just the right amount of warmth — perfect for setting the mood for a slow Sunday or a night spent curled up on the couch.
P.F. Candle Co. Amber & Moss Glass Candle, $, available at AnthropologieNest Pumpkin Chai Classic Candle
When it's time to pull on some fuzzy socks, wrap a blanket around yourself, and go watch the colored leaves fall off the trees, don't forget to light a cozy candle to really let the fall fever set in. Nest's Pumpkin Chai does just that with its warm blend of wild pumpkin, spicy masala chai, cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon.
NEST New York Pumpkin Chai Candle, $, available at Nordstrom
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