Now that September is in full swing, it’s time for my updated round-up of the best scented candles for autumn. I have a year-round obsession with candles, but there’s something particularly special about lighting them as the days grow shorter and the nights longer – in fact I tend to have one or another flickering away from the moment I wake up until I head back to bed again. Not only does it make the gloomy mornings and afternoons that much easier to bear, it also helps me get in the mood for sweater weather, falling leaves and other seasonal joys.
Below, you’ll find 21 of my personal fall favourites – some new, some not so new. Most come from independent makers or small businesses, and almost all are hand-poured using natural wax. I’ve focused on the kind of scents that appeal to me at this time of year – smoky blends that conjure up crackling log fires, earthy aromas that remind me of moss-covered autumn woodland, nurturing fragrances that are ideal for cosy nights at home… There are even a few eerie, atmospheric options for Halloween! Just scroll down to see my picks…
- ‘After the Walk’ candle by Aather (£30) – a cosy cocoon of birch, cade, amber and sandalwood, conjuring up a lazy afternoon by the fire after a chilly autumn stroll
- ‘Fern + Moss’ candle by Brooklyn Candle Studio (£35) – a green, gently woody scent with notes of sage, lavender, spruce, pine, oakmoss, lavandin and orange
- ‘Harvest Moon’ candle by NOA (£14) – an evocative mix of dark tobacco, warm honey, clove and musk inspired by the autumn equinox
- ‘Evening’ candle by Woodspring Co (£20 for a standard jar or £8.50 for a small one) – a restful, comforting and cosy blend of lemon, jasmine, clover and mint, with hints of cognac, oak and incense
- Refillable ‘Autumn 23’ candle by Great House Farm Stores (£54 for a jar or £26 for a refill) – rich, woody sandalwood with citrussy clementines and the resiny warmth of embers, created to encourage healing and hibernation
- Refillable ‘Autumna’ candle by Essence + Alchemy (£30 for a jar or £18 for a refill) – sweet autumn fruits entwined with warming ginger and bay, earthy patchouli and a whisper of late-summer blooms, blended to help you slow down and embrace the changing seasons
- ‘Nordic Cedar’ candle by Aery (£30) – a combination of cedar, cinnamon, pink pepper and bergamot that’s reminiscent of thick woodland and cosy log cabins, with nutmeg to relieve stress and orange to lift your mood
- ‘Shinrin-Yoku’ candle by Earl of East (£50 for a large jar or £24 for a standard one) – an earthy blend of cedarwood, oakmoss and black pepper, inspired by the Japanese ritual of forest bathing
- ‘Black Pepper & Oakmoss’ candle by OLIV (£29.95 for a large jar or £14.95 for a small one; also available as a reed diffuser) – a warm, captivating mix of spices and softer green tones that will leave you feeling calm and content
- ‘Woodland’ aromatherapy candle by Ash + Ember (£20; also available as an essential oil blend) – notes of frankincense, sweet juniper, pine and bergamot that transport you deep among the trees
- ‘Embers’ candle by Cedar (£32 for a large jar or £22 for a smaller one) – layers of cedarwood, frankincense, cinnamon and vanilla, evoking smouldering fires, warm memories and past emotions
- Refillable ‘Smoke’ candle by Essence + Alchemy (£50 for jar or £32 for a refill) – spices, florals and fresh conifer over a rich smoky base, capturing the aroma of autumn trees entwined with wisps from distant fires
- ‘St John’ candle by Hæckels (£58) – a moody, atmospheric scent with star anise, fir and resin, inspired by the sombre mists and moss-covered stones of St John’s Cemetery in Margate, Kent
- ‘Grounded No 4’ candle by Elä (£28 for a large jar or £12.50 for a small one; also available as an essential oil blend) – warm, comforting layers of black pepper, nutmeg, clary sage and cinnamon, with hints of autumn earthiness
- Refillable ‘HYGGE’ candle by Skandinavisk (£37 for a large jar, £20 for a small one or £25 for a large-jar refill; also available as a reed diffuser) – an intimate mix of tea, baked strawberry cake, rose petals and wild mint, inspired by the Danish concept of hygge
- ‘Oakwood + Tobacco’ candle by Hobo + Co (£29 for a large jar, £22 for a medium one or £11 for a travel tin; also available as a reed diffuser) – a deep and warming yet far from heavy blend of smoky oakwood and musky tobacco
- ‘Stone / Steinn’ candle by Still London (£38) – a dark, intriguing mingling of birch, black spruce, tar, fir needle, pine, May Chang, earth and stone, inspired by the lava-formed landscapes of Iceland
- ‘Grove’ candle by Evermore London (£60 for a large jar or £36 for a smaller one) – notes of pine needle, eucalyptus and silver fir over a base of green moss, evoking damp trees after autumn rain
- ‘Autumn Leaves’ candle by NOA (£14) – a blend of amber, sweet vanilla, sandalwood and coriander, conjuring up the aroma of auburn leaves as they fall from the branches
- Refillable ‘Hearth & Home’ candle by Great House Farm Stores (£48 for a jar or £26 for a refill) – a warm, nostalgic mix of book pages, woodsmoke and tobacco, recreating relaxing fireside moments and cosy country pubs
- ‘Smoke’ candle by Evermore London (£60 for a large jar or £36 for a smaller one) – birch tar, cadamom and cedar with hints of geranium and bay, inspired by dancing fireside shadows
(P.S. I always like to celebrate the joys of whichever season I’m experiencing, but if you’d prefer a bit of escapism you’ll find my round-up of scented candles for summer here).
Autumn leaves image by Abi Dare; all other photography via the brands above
Ricky says
My favourite has to be Skandinavisk’s Skog candle. It smells incredible!!
Abi says
It’s wonderful isn’t it? It instantly makes you think of wild, fragrant forests.
Frances Bradley says
I love the Ash & Ember candle, there is something about bergamot scents that hits my happy place!
Abi says
It’s wonderful isn’t it? I know what you mean about bergamot – it’s kind of calming and uplifting at the same time.