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I think of fall as an invitation. While summer brings out my extroverted side, fall calls me back to myself. I don’t just crave more time at home—I crave more time to reflect and return to the rituals I set aside over summer. But getting back into routine is easier said than done. To build a fall routine that sticks, I try to curate my environment to signal the changing season—bringing out my blankets for fall movie marathons, refreshing my fall decor, and of course, lighting my favorite fall candles.
Featured image by Michelle Nash
The Best Fall Candles to Add to Your Fall Rituals
Our sense of smell is closely linked to memory, which is why a certain scent can take you straight back to childhood, or to a specific summer. Scents can also act as cues. For me, lighting a candle signals a new part of my day. I light one to journal in the morning, to mark the end of the workday, or just to create a cozy evening mood.
The best fall candles aren’t accessories—they’re part of your rituals. So finding the right scent for every moment is personal. Depending on your preferences or your mood, whether you gravitate toward warm wood or a gourmand (yes, including pumpkin spice), you’ll find there’s a different candle for every occasion. (And if you want to know more about non-toxic, clean candles, check out our round-up here.)
Best Overall Fall Candle
The Daybreak Candle is my go-to for every morning, in every season. It’s part California-cool, part cozy—the warm, woody scent makes it the perfect transitional pick, whether it’s the start of the day or the start of fall.
Other Warm, Woody Candles
Woody scents are the epitome of fall. They smell like fireplace season and brisk mornings, bringing the outside in right as you start spending more time indoors. Go coastal with beachwood or palo santo for a California-cool vibe, or full Scandi hygge with pine, fir, and other earthy scents.
Best Leather Fall Candles
I love bringing out my leather candles for fall. There’s something about ringing in loafer-and-leather-jacket season with the smell of leather, often mixed with tobacco or spice—it smells like your favorite bar, or a vintage leather sofa. Lived-in and nostalgic.
Best Clean & Fresh Fall Candles
That open-window feeling isn’t just for spring and summer. When the weather turns chilly, a clean, fresh candle can replicate it right at home. These unpretentiously inviting scents make your space smell like the crisp, cool breeze that blows through September and October.
Best Spiced Fall Candles
Fall is the best time to bring out spicy scents. From clove to chai, anything goes in these blends—proof that the inviting smell of spices adds warmth to any room.
Best Floral Fall Candles
Florals for fall might actually be an unexpected favorite. They can be complex, rich, even woody, making them a surprising but invigorating choice for the season. Floral fall candles are also a way to bring life into the home, even as the natural world sheds its own flowers and leaves.
Best Gourmand Fall Candles
A gourmand candle is difficult to do right. Luckily, fall gourmand scents temper their sweetness with deep, rich notes like tobacco, musk, ash, and other earthy tones for a delicious combination. No synthetic-smelling fragrances here—just a lasting hint of satisfying sweetness.
Best Pumpkin Spice Fall Candles
I love a seasonal ritual, and one of mine is grabbing a seasonal beverage before holiday flavors replace the spicy, warm goodness of classic fall staples like pumpkin, cinnamon, maple, and spiced apple. This year, why not bring those flavors home, too? There’s no shame in loving a little pumpkin spice—and these candles make the scent feel elevated and clean.
