The 28 Best Fall Candles of 2023
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Fall candles are essential to the cozy feeling of autumn because they allow you to experience apple picking, trees painted with red and orange leaves, and warm flavors like pumpkin spice, hot cocoa, and roasted marshmallows by the fireside — all without leaving your home. As someone who loves to nest, I’ve personally bought over 100 fall candles throughout the years (not kidding), and I’ve tested nearly every one on this list.
When picking out your perfect fall candle, you'll want to consider its burn time, aesthetic, and, of course, scent. So cue up your favorite autumn rewatch (we recommend Gilmore Girls) and discover the aromas of forests, campfires, flannel shirts, and, of course, pumpkin, with one of our favorite fall candles below.
Yankee Candle Autumn Wreath Signature Large Jar Candle
With 22 ounces of paraffin wax, this Autumn Wreath Yankee Candle burns for up to 150 hours. To put that in perspective, you could watch every Nora Ephron movie four times and would still have over 50 hours left of burn time. The fall candle is like a scented wreath with crisp notes of fresh leaves and cinnamon apples that lingers long after you blow it out.
It has nearly 47,000 5-star ratings and reviews that praise the power of this scent (which apparently can even cover the smell of fish after you cook it — a superpower among candles). Autumn Wreath is a fall staple for Yankee Candle, but if you're looking for a slightly updated version, opt for the recently released Autumn Daydream.
Price at time of publish: $24.59
Size: 22 oz. | Wax Type: Paraffin | Primary Scents: Autumn leaves and cinnamon apples | Burn Time: 150 hours
Nest New York Pumpkin Chai Candle
Surround yourself with warm spices this fall with this uniquely aromatic candle. Nest New York is known for its elevated and rich fragrances and this pumpkin chai candle is no exception. This explosion of scent and season brings the colors and flavors of fall to a head. As a fall candle connoisseur, I buy this candle every year, and for such a compact size (8.1 ounces), it surprisingly lasts throughout the fall and fills a room with the most delicious scents.
This soy wax candle is all-natural and won’t spread soot around your home while it burns. It’s available in four sizes, so it can work for those with limited or ample space. The pigmented orange glass and wax is an ode to autumn and will add a whimsical flare to any coffee table or desk.
Price at time of publish: $48
Size: 8.1 oz./ 230 g | Wax Type: Soy | Primary Scents: Pumpkin, masala chai, cinnamon | Burn Time: 50 to 60 hours
Beloved Coffee Bean and Oat Milk Latte Candle
You don’t have to pay a premium to enjoy the aromas of autumn this season. Whether you like pumpkin spice lattes or not, you can enjoy the scent of freshly brewed coffee at home for a truly decadent experience at a low price. This medium-sized soy wax blended candle will burn for about 30 hours or so, and the blend of coffee and vanilla scents creates a familiar and warm ambiance, perfect to celebrate this crisp season.
Price at time of publish: $14.99
Size: 11.5 oz. | Wax Type: Soy blend | Primary Scents: Vanilla, milk, coffee | Burn Time: 30
Bath & Body Works White Barn White Pumpkin Candle
Bath & Body Works has drained my paycheck several times over the last few falls, because it’s nearly, nay, absolutely impossible not to buy one of their delectable fall candles (or six). One that continually impresses me and draws compliments from visitors is the White Barn White Pumpkin Candle — a sweet ode to the signature scent of fall with a dessert-like flare. The candle’s scent really fills a room, and though it might make you hungry, thanks to its layered notes of caramel and spice, it’s the perfect companion to any fall day.
Price at time of publish: $26.95
Size: 14.5 oz. | Wax Type: Paraffin | Primary Scents: Pumpkin, caramel glaze, blended spices | Burn Time: 25–45 hours
Yankee Candle Evening Riverwalk Original Large Jar Candle
As one of the oldest candle companies, Yankee Candle knows how to build a candle that lasts, and with up to 150 hours of burn time, this Evening River Walk candle will last all the way to winter (and maybe after). It’s made with paraffin wax and maintains a richly pigmented blue color and scent of bergamot, cardamom, cedar, and bark. Built in a jar, it has a stately and traditional appearance perfect for a dining room or front hall table.
Price at time of publish: $31
Size: 22 oz. | Wax Type: Premium-grade paraffin | Primary Scents: Bergamot, Cardamom, Red Cedar, Birch Bark | Burn Time: 110–150 hours
Muyebn Lavender & Cedar Teakwood Candles
If you want two candles that complement each other in scent and design, this set from Muyebn is your perfect match. One candle offers a fresh lavender scent while the other smells of cedar teakwood. Paired together, these candles smell like a walk in the woods, strolling past a bed of fresh lavender with crisp air blowing past. Though on the smaller side, these candles have a significant burn time of about 50 hours, so they should last you well into the fall and winter.
Price at time of publish: $26
Size: 7.1 oz. | Wax Type: Soy | Primary Scents: Lavender, cedar teakwood | Burn Time: 50 hours
Voluspa Spiced Pumpkin Latte Japonica Glass Jar Candle
As the star of the fall season, pumpkin of course earned its place on our list, and this spiced pumpkin latte candle from Voluspa captures its essence perfectly. Made with coconut wax, this candle throws scent far into a room, and holds fragrance well so you can enjoy this candle for all 100 hours of its burn time. Top notes of pumpkin and spice will hook you first, followed by softer notes of vanilla marshmallow and coconut milk. The patterned glass jar and warm orange tones only add to the effect of this fragrant fall candle.
Price at time of publish: $36
Size: 18 oz. | Wax Type: Coconut | Primary Scents: Pumpkin, warm spices, coconut milk, vanilla marshmallow | Burn Time: 100 hours
Sweet Water Decor Hello Fall Candle No. 17
Cinnamon is one of the most potent scents of fall and the Sweet Water Decor fall candle produces a subtle version with light notes of apple, cloves, cider and nutmeg. The vessel and label offer a minimalistic design that can blend into any room, and despite its small size, the candle can burn for up to 40 hours. We love that this is a women-owned business and that the candles are made with soy wax — plus, the $20 price is an added bonus.
Price at time of publish: $19.99
Size: 9 oz. | Wax Type: Soy blend | Primary Scents: Cinnamon, apples, nutmeg, cider, and cloves | Burn Time: 40 hours
Rifle Paper Co. High Peaks of the Adirondack Forest Candle
If your favorite part of fall is watching the leaves change color, you’ll enjoy this fresh pine scented candle from Rifle Paper Co. On par with the brand’s aesthetic, the candle has an adorable floral label and a name that is downright picturesque: The High Peaks of the Adirondack Forest. If that weren’t enough, the musky yet light scent of cedarwood, fir, and oakmoss will transport your senses, providing the experience of a crisp, woodsy autumn day right in your living room.
Price at time of publish: $36
Size: 9.5 oz. | Wax Type: Soy | Primary Scents: Cedarwood, fir, and oakmoss | Burn Time: 40 hours
Nest New York Autumn Plum Votive Candle
Ringing in at two ounces, this votive candle is petite but will still last up to 28 hours if you burn it sparingly. Votive simply refers to the size, and similarly to a tea light candle, this size looks great with several of them displayed.
For instance, two of these candles would add a nice design element on either side of a mantel or on your dresser. With a deep purple color and chorus of scents like cinnamon, plum, cashmere wood, and patchouli leaf, the candle creates a bold presence in any home.
Price at time of publish: $20
Size: 2 oz./ 70 g | Wax Type: Paraffin | Primary Scents: Plum, cinnamon, patchouli leaf, cashmere wood | Burn Time: 20 to 28 hours
Literie Apple Picking in the Hudson Valley Candle
Apple picking, whether a nostalgic memory or a future plan, is a quintessential fall activity. This candle pairs the fresh fragrance of apple with a sweet spiced cider. It’s made with a vegan soy and coconut wax blend, so it holds fragrance well, doesn’t emit soot, and will throw the scent out into the room for more coverage. Although a small candle, it has a solid burn time of 50 hours, so it should last most of the fall if you’re burning it a few hours at a time.
Price at time of publish: $45
Size: 9 oz. | Wax Type: Vegan soy & coconut blend | Primary Scents: Apple, spiced cider | Burn Time: 50 hours
Homesick Orchard Picnic Candle
Homesick is known for using natural soy wax, which is not only cleaner than paraffin wax, but boosts the candle scent. If you’re craving an apple orchard day, consider instead bringing the orchard home with this richly-scented candle. It highlights warm notes of apple, pear, and a touch of cinnamon for a little fall spice.
And if you fall in love with this style, Homesick also has candle collections that represent different states, sports, and even Harry Potter houses.
Price at time of publish: $38
Size: 13.75 oz. | Wax Type: Natural soy blend | Primary Scents: Apple, leaves, cinnamon, pear | Burn Time: 60–80 hours
Boojee Fading Embers Candle
While candle scents come and go with the seasons, many candle brands are trying to find ways to make the product more enduring, and Boojee does this with refillable candles. Instead of throwing away the entire candle when it finishes burning, you can order a wax refill and transfer it to your existing Boojee vessel (or any other candle vase you like the design of). Despite their small size, the candles can burn for up to 50 hours, filling your home with woodsy scents like birchwood, cedar, and oakmoss.
Price at time of publish: $30
Size: 7.1 oz. | Wax Type: Natural | Primary Scents: Birchwood, cedar, oakmoss | Burn Time: 50 hours
Noah Kahan x Ranger Station Stick Season Candle
If there’s any celebrity who’s become synonymous with a season, it’s Noah Kahan and fall. The "Stick Season’" singer radiates rustic energy, and somehow captures the somber tones of autumn in his music. Kahan recently partnered with Nashville-based candle company Ranger Station to launch a limited-edition Stick Season candle with notes of whiskey, pine, and the smokiness of a campfire.
As a unique and sustainable detail, the candle actually comes in a reusable whiskey glass. With a 30+ hour burn time, I’d recommend lighting it while listening to the singer’s latest release “Call Your Mom.” (Warning: Make sure you have tissues ready.)
The candle has sold out twice (for good reason) and will be making another appearance on the brand’s website in October. Right now, however, you can still grab it on Kahan’s personal site.
Price at time of publish: $45
Size: 8 oz. | Wax Type: Soy blend | Primary Scents: Pine, whiskey, and smokiness | Burn Time: Over 30 hours
Diptyque Vanille (Vanilla) Scented Candle
Diptyque candles are popular for their perfumed fragrances, and this vanilla candle will add a captivating aroma to your space. It’s not your standard vanilla, but a rich, spicy, smokey vanilla, perfect to beckon the start of autumn. It’s not a large candle, and the price might be too steep for some budgets, but if fragrance is something you invest in for yourself (say on actual perfume), this candle is an equally aromatic investment.
Price at time of publish: $74
Size: 6.5 oz. | Wax Type: Paraffin | Primary Scents: Spicy and smokey vanilla | Burn Time: 60 hours
Birthdate The November Eleventh Candle
For my fellow fans of astrology, the fall is a time of strong zodiac signs like Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius, and what better candle to celebrate the season than one dedicated to your birthday. Since we love a moment of good energy, we chose to feature the November Eleventh candle (11/11), but you can get a Birthdate candle for any day of the year.
With a long burn time and blend of soy and coconut wax, this candle is sustainably made and will last the test of time (or at least 60 to 80 hours). The blend of mahogany, musk, bergamot, plum, and cinnamon will make each breath a savory one to inhale. Set your own horoscope: good vibes (and scents) only this fall!
Price at time of publish: $50
Size: 13.5 oz. | Wax Type: Soy & coconut blend | Primary Scents: Mahogany, musk, bergamot, plum, cinnamon | Burn Time: 60 to 80 hours
Seventh Avenue Apothecary Tobacco + Vanilla Bourbon Soy Wax Candle
Buy at Seventhavenuecandles.com
Vanilla by itself is, well… vanilla, but when you add bourbon, cinnamon, caramel, and a hint of tobacco, the scent becomes richly layered. Made completely of soy wax, this candle burns cleanly without emitting any soot. It’s a fairly small candle, but it lasts for a long time: I’ve been burning this candle for several fall seasons now (only occasionally, to savor it), and it’s still going strong. It also has a simple and minimalistic design and looks great on a bookshelf (though I wouldn’t recommend lighting it there).
Price at time of publish: $32
Size: 11 oz. | Wax Type: Soy | Primary Scents: Tobacco, caramel, vanilla, bourbon, cinnamon | Burn Time: 65 hours
Charleston Candle Co. East Bay Bourbon Cider Candle
Should you want to lean into the more nuanced flavors of fall, consider this decadent soy candle from Charleston Candle Co. With rich fragrances like maple, bourbon, cinnamon, and apple, this candle delights the senses, and its medium size makes the candle a good option for a dresser, side table, or front hall table if you want your guests greeted with the aroma of this classic cocktail. Or you could hand them a glass of actual bourbon — my vote is the candle, but dealer’s choice.
Price at time of publish: $26
Size: 9 oz. | Wax Type: Natural soy | Primary Scents: Apple, cinnamon, bourbon, maple | Burn Time: 50 hours
Related: The 44 Best Gifts for Men of 2023
Rewined Burning of the Vines Harvest Candle
Inspired by wine, the Rewined Burning of the Vines candle has a gourmet scent with notes of smoke, sandalwood, and vetiver (a grass-like plant). I also picked up a subtle fruitiness reminiscent of a deep red wine. The candle sits in a reusable glass container that looks very much like the bottom of a wine bottle. While the six-ounce size is sold out, the 10 oz. option is available — and a better size for entertaining anyway.
Price at time of publish: $38
Size: 10 oz. | Wax Type: Soy | Primary Scents: Smoke, sandalwood, and vetiver | Burn Time: 70–80 hours
Brooklyn Candle Studio Cardamom Minimalist Candle
Buy at Brooklyncandlestudio.com
Made with 100 percent soy wax, this cardamom minimalist candle has a clean white exterior and burns for about 50 hours (despite its small size) without any soot. Since spices add to the warmth of the season, this fall candle highlights fragrances like black pepper and cardamom, as well as earthy scents like balsam, cedar, dry amber, and velvet wood.
Price at time of publish: $28
Size: 7.5 oz. | Wax Type: Soy | Primary Scents: Black pepper, cardamom, balsam, cedar, dry amber, velvet Wood | Burn Time: 50 hours
SoHum Rose Patchouli & Amber Candle
Patchouli is a flowering plant that’s commonly used in essential oils for its delicious fragrance and healing properties. With notes of rose, patchouli, amber, as well as sandalwood, cinnamon, and white jasmine, this soy candle mingles the fresh botanical fragrances with warmer flavors for sweater season. It’s a smaller candle with a shorter burn time than most of the others on our list, but all the more reason to savor it.
Price at time of publish: $19
Size: 5.5 oz. | Wax Type: Soy | Primary Scents: Lemon, lavender, orange, patchouli, amber, musk, sandalwood, cinnamon, rose, white jasmine | Burn Time: 30 hours
Ranger Station Hinoki Rituals Candle
Similar to the Stick Season candle, the Hinoki Rituals candle from Ranger Station brings all the earthy scents together for a serene experience of the senses. This is the candle you’ll reach for on a cool, rainy day, while bundled up under several throw blankets. It gives off a really unique and layered scent with notes of black pepper, amber, jasmine, and birch tar. Plus the simplistic design, with just a small line drawing of a hat, adds a fun touch without doing too much.
Price at time of publish: $39
Size: 8 oz. | Wax Type: Soy blend | Primary Scents: Amber, black pepper, jasmine, and birch tar | Burn Time: 30+ hours
Woodwick Vanilla Musk Ellipse Candle
Buy at Woodwick.yankeecandle.com
Wood wicks are known for a signature crackling sound when they burn, almost like you’re sitting around a campfire. This Woodwick candle takes that experience and marries it with a lovely vanilla musk, brought to life with notes of pink salt, florals, and coconut milk. The candle uses a blend of soy and paraffin wax and can burn for up to 100 hours. Plus, the wide shape of the candle allows for a stronger fragrance, letting it spread out via the wax.
Price at time of publish: $34
Size: 16 oz. | Wax Type: Soy and paraffin blend | Primary Scents: Vanilla with pink salt, florals, and coconut milk | Burn Time: 60–100 hours
Companion Candles Warm Heart, Warm Hearth Candle
If you live in a home with pets, you should be mindful that they’re exposed to every product you use in your home, including candles. Companion Candles are designed to be “pet safe” and made with a clean coconut-soy wax blend without any additives, dyes, or preservatives. The Warm Heart, Warm Hearth candle embodies fall with a warm blend of scents like oak and tonka bean. It can burn up to 50 hours, so you’ll be able to enjoy this candle all season long.
Price at time of publish: $25
Size: 9 oz. | Wax Type: Coconut-soy blend | Primary Scents: Oak and tonka bean | Burn Time: 40–50 hours
Keap Wood Cabin Candle
If your perfect fall scenario is being surrounded by colorful trees and mountains in a cabin in the woods, this candle embodies that dream with scents of wood and spice. Creating a sensory experience of wet moss, burnt pine, cedar, guaiac wood, and cade juniper, this candle makes you feel like you’re in the woods — with a hint of nutmeg for seasonal spice. It’s a smaller candle, but has a decent burn time of 45 hours, and it uses coconut wax, which typically retains fragrance better than soy wax.
Price at time of publish: $55
Size: 7.4 oz | Wax Type: Coconut | Primary Scents: Cade juniper, cedar, nutmeg, burnt pine, guaiac wood, wet moss | Burn Time: 45 hours
Brooklyn Candle Studio Apple Cider Gold Travel Candle
Buy at Brooklyncandlestudio.com
Tea light candles are great for displaying on a mantel or shelf because they’re small, so you can stagger them across a surface for ambiance. This tea light candle diffuses a delicious blend of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves as well as fresh orange and cedarwood. Given its small size, the burn time is only about 30 hours, but when broken up an hour or two at a time, this candle should last for a while.
Price at time of publish: $18
Size: 4 oz. | Wax Type: Soy | Primary Scents: Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, orange, cedarwood | Burn Time: 30 hours
Literie The Real Housewives Flipping Tables Candle
From one reality TV fan to another, there’s nothing quite like snuggling up on the couch with a glass of wine, a candle burning, and watching drama unfold on your television screen. This Flipping Tables candle in The Real Housewives collection from Literie offers a calming scent mix of cedar and suede. With a soy and coconut wax blend, this candle burns cleanly for up to 50 hours — or about two full seasons of The Real Housewives.
Price at time of publish: $45
Size: 9 oz. | Wax Type: Soy & coconut blend | Primary Scents: Cedar, suede | Burn Time: 50 hours
LAFCO Spiced Pomander Signature Candle
If you have some spare change and want to throw it at home décor, the Lafco Spiced Pomander candle is worth the splurge. It offers a subtle ode to fall with a light brown, shimmery shell, and poignant notes of orange, cloves, and cinnamon. The candle is made from a soy blend so the wax is a crisp white, and it’s a good size for a coffee table. While expensive, this candle can burn for up to 90 hours — enough to last for all the wine nights, scary movie nights, and other gatherings you might host this fall.
Price at time of publish: $75
Size: 15.5 oz. | Wax Type: Soy blend | Primary Scents: Bitter orange, clove buds, and cinnamon | Burn Time: 90 hours
How to Pick the Right Fall Candle
Scent
“When it comes to candles, you want to have a very linier fragrance, which can be compared to an even fragrance when it comes to notes in terms of weight,” Olfactory NYC director of fragrance and product Jessica Reichert tells PEOPLE. She explains how balancing scents is an art form, weighing the top, middle, and bottom fragrance notes. “Fall scents are perfect for candles because many of them have all those components,” she says.
There are so many delicious scents that fall into the autumn category, but they don’t always go together. Finding the right scent combination can lead you to the perfect fall candle. “A perfect scent for me would start off with top notes having some citrus and fruits to help lift the fragrance up for the candle,” says Reichert. “Then, you would have a heart that has a lot of complexity like spices, a lighter wood, and earthier notes to help carry the fragrance through the room. Your bottom notes would then be sweet and creamy notes, darker woods, and heavier notes like ambers. Those notes help ground the fragrance to where the candle is being burned.”
She adds that a scent’s balance is of utmost importance when choosing a candle. "If any of those notes of top, middle, and bottom are not balanced, you run the risk of having a candle that will not burn the way you want it to," says Reichert.
Size
The size of a candle might determine where you end up placing it — whether that’s on your living room side table or bedroom dresser, so it’s an important factor to consider. Tea light candles, like the Brooklyn Candle Studio Apple Cider Gold Travel Candle, are the smallest type of candle and look the best with several together, either clustered or staggered across a space. Votives, like the Nest New York Autumn Plum Votive Candle, are also small and make great bookends on a table or long surface like a mantel.
A coffee table might need a larger candle, like the 15 oz. Lafco Spiced Pomander Signature Candle, to act as a statement piece, and medium-sized candles, like the Ranger Station Hinoki Rituals Candle, might be a good fit for a desk or breakfast room table. Size also affects burn time, so the bigger a candle is, the longer it will last.
Pricing
Price is also determined by the size of a candle — large candles last longer and therefore cost more. Iif you’re someone who burns candles frequently, you might consider medium-sized candles that you can burn through on a regular cadence (and not pay a fortune to replace — like the refillable Boojee Fading Embers Candle). If you only burn candles occasionally and want a more decorative piece, a large candle like Yankee Candle Evening River Walk is a good investment that will enjoy a longer burn time.
Wax Type
Wax plays a huge role in the appearance, functionality, and longevity of a candle, so it’s not to be overlooked. The main kinds of wax are paraffin and soy, followed by coconut wax. If you’re looking for an all-natural wax that burns cleanly (no soot) and has a slower burning rate, soy wax, like that found in the Homesick Orchard Picnic Candle, is your best bet.
Coconut wax, found in the Keap Wood Cabin Candle, also burns cleanly and holds more fragrance than soy, so if you like stronger scents, you might go that route. Paraffin doesn’t burn as cleanly, but it holds color and fragrance extremely well, as exemplified by the Diptyque Vanilla Candle, so it’s a good option if scent and appearance are your top priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular fall scent?
While fall is maybe the most poignant season for scents — those of apple orchards, pumpkin patches, Thanksgiving spreads, spiced cider and baked goods — there are a few star scents that stand out at this time of year. Pumpkin spice, apples, and cinnamon are base scents that appear in many popular fall candles, including our best overall pick — Nest New York Pumpkin Chai Candle — which features both pumpkin and spice.
“Fall, to me, is embodied by smoke, incense, spices, or warm notes of amber, vanilla, and perhaps patchouli (cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, etc.),” fragrance expert and founder of Modern Urban Sensory Experiences Kimberly Waters tells PEOPLE. These scents create a sense of warmth and coziness that set the tone for sweater weather.
Are soy or paraffin candles better?
Soy candles are better for several reasons, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid paraffin candles altogether. According to Homesick, soy candles are all natural and made from soybeans, whereas paraffin candles contain petroleum so there’s more soot released when they burn. That being said, paraffin holds color and fragrance better than soy candles, and when you see “soy blend” there’s a high chance the candle includes both types of wax.
If you want a fun decorative candle with a stronger scent, paraffin candles are the way to go, but for long-term candles that you will consistently burn in your home, soy candles are a more sustainable and cleaner option.
Does the way you burn a candle affect how long it will last?
Simply put, yes it does. When you’re considering purchasing a candle, you’ll notice things like size and burn time, but those become moot if you don’t burn your candle properly. According to The Harlem Candle Co., when burning a candle for the first time, you should burn it one hour for every inch in container diameter. So if your candle is three inches across, you can burn it for three hours.
And generally you shouldn’t burn a candle for more than four hours at a time without trimming the wick if you want it to last. Another thing that can shorten the life of your candle is tunneling. This is when your candle doesn’t burn evenly, so it creates a wall of wax around the edge. Trim the wick regularly to prolong your candle’s life and avoid wasting wax in this way.
Take Our Word For It
Madison Yauger is a senior shopping writer who’s tested hundreds of lifestyle products across all categories. With a background in news and lifestyle journalism, she has a wide network of expert sources and a penchant for accuracy. For this story, she spoke to fragrance experts Jessica Reicher, director of fragrance and product at Olfactory NYC, and Kimberly Waters, founder of Modern Urban Sensory Experiences. She also considered her personal experience with many of the candles listed and heavily researched the current candle market to determine the best picks for fall at a variety of price points.
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