We Sniffed All The Best Fall Candles (Hard Work, We Know)
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The second I light a pumpkin candle, it's officially fall in Beth Gillette world. Eh, sure, a crisp 55-degree day, a pumpkin-patch visit, or a scary movie marathon might signal the start of fall for the average human. But as someone who is legit obsessed with all things fragrance (my 60+ vanilla perfumes say hello), I truly enter fall season mode at the first whiff of an autumnal scent, like pumpkin spice or apple cinnamon.
However, I'm also here to say that not all of the best fall candles have to be sweet—they can still feel cozy and warm without going all baked goods. Which is why deputy beauty director Lauren Balsamo and I (hi) came together to sniff a ton of different fall candles (57 to be exact) and then rounded up our top 15 picks. So whether you crave an ultra-sweet scent or prefer a to experience fall through earthy and woodsy notes, trust that we found a fall candle for your vibe. Here's a sneak peak at a few of our favorites:
Keep scrolling for the 15 best fall candles, along with specs and reviews. Whether you like pumpkin, baked goods, hanging by the fire, or a healthy mix of it all, I promise there's an option that'll please your nose on the list.
Pumpkin Chai Candle
If you love the smell of pumpkin, look no further than this limited edition fall candle from Nest. It's one of the strongest smelling candles on our list, and once you light it, your home will be filled with sweet and spicy aroma of PSLs. Yummm.
Key notes: Pumpkin, chai, cinnamon
Burn time: 50 to 60 hours
THE REVIEW: "Incredible. Smells like Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. It burns slowly and evenly—a great quality product," writes one tester.
Pumpkin Clove Glass Jar Candle
When I worked at Anthropologie in college, I sold at least 10 of these candles a day during the fall season. And it's not just because the spicy, sweet pumpkin scent it gives off is absolutely delicious, but because the speckled vessel is truly stunning on any coffee table, kitchen counter, or bathroom vanity.
Key notes: Pumpkin, orange zest, vanilla, cinnamon
Burn time: 85 hours
THE REVIEWS: "I love this candle," writes one tester. "It looks so pretty when it’s burning with the light shining through the speckles. It makes the entire apartment smell good."
Fall Cashmere Candle
"I start lighting this candle right around the middle of September," Lauren says. "The warm, cozy scent it gives off is super light and subtle, making it the perfect transitional candle to burn between summer and fall when the days are warm but the nights are crisp and cool."
Key notes: Roasted almonds, cinnamond, spiced ginger
Burn time: 45 hours
THE REVIEW: "I absolutely love this candle—the scent is sophisticated and not all overpowering like some potpourri-type smelling candles," writes one tester.
Cece Luxury Candle
I get it: Not everyone wants their home to smell like a stack of pumpkin-spice pancakes. Cece is a great option if you want a smokey, spicy, warm scent to fill your space this fall without veering too foodie or gourmand.
Key notes: Cedarwood smoke, cardamom, cinnamon, vetiver, white leather
Burn time: 60 hours
THE REVIEWS: "This is the most amazing scent," one reviewer writes. "It reminds me of rainy misty forests and camp fires!"
Copper Leaves Mercury Pumpkin Candle
This lil candle pulls double duty as both your signature fall scent *and* your fall tabletop decor thanks to a chic pumpkin-inspired vessel. "This candle comes in three varieties—each with a different scent—but I love the red one with its bold cinnamon and nutmeg notes," says Lauren.
Key notes: Cinnamon, roasted chestnuts, coconut
Burn time: Up to 40 hours
THE REVIEW: "I light this candle whenever I have friends over and they always say 'omggg what is that amazing smell'," one tester writes, adding "it makes any space smell so so good for hours."
Candle in Autumn Spiced Apple
I burn these Glade apple candles in my kitchen every single fall. They don't burn the best (I often have to burn for endless hours to avoid tunneling), but the throw is shockingly far for a candle that costs $4.
Key notes: Baked apple, cinnamon, nutmeg
Burn time: 15 hours
THE REVIEW: "Used in the kitchen, the crisp warm apple smell is out of this world. If you love fall candles this is one you will enjoy. It's not overpowering and it really has a wonderful scent that leaves a warm, apple aroma lingering in your home. It reminds me of my childhood," one reviewer writes.
Ambre Candle
Warm, woodsy, and rich, this fall candle reminds me cozying up to the fire on a cold night. "It's a great option for anyone who isn't into sweet or sugar fall candles—plus it makes for the perfect fall housewarming or host gift," says Lauren.
Key notes: Wood, vetiver, patchouli
Burn time: 75 minutes
THE REVIEW: "This is a gorgeous luxury candle," writes a reviewer. "There's a lovely 'warmth' to the scent and it's great for Autumn/ Winter. It burns down evenly and lasts a long time when burnt a couple of hours a day."
Cabin Fever Scented Candle
Another fall candle reminiscent of an evening spent by the fire, "Cabin Fever" even has a wood wick, which crackles just like a real fireplace or bonfire while burning.
Key notes: Cypress, evergreen, moss
Burn time: 40-45 hours
THE REVIEWS: "I'm not a huge fan of sweet-smelling scents, so Cabin Fever was the absolute perfect candle for me," writes one reviewer. "It makes me feel right at peace on days when I'm at home, yearning to be among the trees. This fills up my room, and I smell it instantly when I leave the room and walk back in."
In Season Pumpkin Spiced Cake Soy Candle
If you want one candle that you can burn for the next two months on repeat, try this sweet, cinnamon pumpkin option from Glasshouse Fragrances. And because it has two wicks, it has a really strong throw, meaning you'll catch a whiff throughout the whole room.
Key notes: Orange, pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, maple, caramelized sugar
Burn time: 65 hours
MY REVIEW: "Although I would normally guard my fancy candles away in my bedroom away from my (lovely) roommates, I've been proudly keeping this in the living room. Because if they burn it, it doesn't matter—I get a whopping 65 hours of burn time and legit no tunneling whatsoever," reads one review.
Half Baked Pumpkin Smash
Developed in collaboration with Half Baked Harvest—the queen of cozy fall recipes, IMO—this candle is filled with yummy notes that make your house smell like you're baking the most decadent pumpkin pie. I'm, personally, obsessed with the light hint of whiskey—it gives the scent a lil smokiness.
Key notes: Pumpkin spice, cinnamon stick, cardamom, whiskey, brûléed orange, salted maple, roasted chocolate
Burn time: 50+ hours
THE REVIEW: One reviewer writes, "To say I am satisfied would be an understatement. Within 10 minutes, the wonderful scent of this candle began to permeate my entire living space, even with vaulted ceilings. It felt like the warmest of hugs and the scent kept evolving to something new each time I entered the room. Truly delightful!"
Speakeasy Luxury Candle
My bedroom automatically turns into a chic underground jazz club the second I light this candle, which smells like smokey tobacco and earthy patchouli mixed with warm vanilla and rich dark chocolate. FWIW, I've been wearing the perfume version of this candle nearly every time I go to a bar, and the compliments roll right in.
Key notes: Cardamom, smoked incense, tobacco leaves, palo santo, patchouli, vanilla, dark chocolate
Burn time: 80 hours
THE REVIEWS: "This was my first time trying Harlem Candle Company," writes one tester, "and I have to say this scent is AMAZING! It's and mysterious, alluring, sensual—I could go on and on! This has become my favorite scent, and I would love to fill my home with it!"
White Barn Pumpkin Apple 3-Wick Candle
It doesn't feel like fall until I burn one of these candles, which combines the two most iconic fall scents (pumpkin and apple). But it's surprisingly not overpowering either way—it's blended so well, with a tiny hint of warmth from cinnamon and clove buds.
Key notes: Red delicious apple, fall pumpkin, fresh ground cinnamon, clove buds
Burn time: 25-45 hours
THE REVIEWS: "This candles is fabulous," writes one tester in a review. "It gives the best of fall: apples and pumpkins. Smells wonderful!"
Cafe Candle
This candle doesn't scream fall like some of the other options on the list, but that's exactly why Lauren loves it. "This is one of the most unique candles I've ever smelled—a little bit chocolatey, a little bit spicy, and a little bit mysterious. It's warm and cozy for fall, but totally unexpected."
Key notes: Oud, coffee, chocolate, cardamom
Burn time: Up to 50 hours
THE REVIEW: "This candle is SO luxurious! The packaging is adorable and the glass container beautiful. If you're looking for a cozy fall/winter scent—this is it. It makes me feel like I'm in a coffee shop with a fireplace on a cold day," one reviewer writes.
Fall Fever Candle
"My house is full of soft, neutral tones—mostly whites, creams, grays—so I want a fall candle that visually blends in (aka isn't bright orange or covered in faux leaves) but still has classic fall scent," says Lauren. "This fits the bill. The vessel is super minimalist and chic and the scent reminds me of apple pie baking in the oven."
Key notes: Clove, apple, cinnamon, vanilla
Burn time: 60 hours
THE REVIEW: One tester writes, "Love this candle and it’s scent—IMO its the best out of the fall scents! I love that it’s scented and not perfume-y if that makes sense? For anyone else that can get a scent-triggered migraine —this one is safe!"
Apple and Cinnamon 2-Wick Candle
It's hard to find a clean-burning candle at drugstore prices—especially one that has a yummy fall scent. Luckily, this limited edition candle from Beloved by Love Beauty and Planet exists. It's made with soy-based wax, ethically-sourced cinnamon bark, and it's vegan and cruelty-free too.
Key notes: Apple, cinnamon
Burn time: Up to 30 hours
THE REVIEW: "This candle makes my apartment so delicious within the first 10 minutes of lighting it," writes one tester. "The apple scent is totally mouthwatering and the candle itself is affordable too."
Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with five years of experience researching, writing, and editing fragrance stories that range from the most iconic Chanel fragrances to the best patchouli perfumes. She’s an authority in all fragrance categories, but is an expert when it comes to home scents and fall candles.
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