I confess, I don't really do fall decor. Not in the pumpkin, plaid, all orange everything way anyways. I do like to bring in some heavier fabrics and cozier materials. And closer to Halloween and Thanksgiving I do add the smallest of gourds to my mantle.
But for me, in autumn and winter, it is more in the way your home feels, a shift into a warmer, more welcoming home, and such a key part of that is in the scent.
A new fall candle (or five) is my way of taking my home out of summer and into fall and winter. Some of the best candles can be found at this time of year with brands bringing out deliciously spicy, warming, sweet, crisp, fresh scents that perfectly encapsulate fall.
Here I have rounded up my favorites of this year. I like a mix of both fresh fallen leaves-type fragrances and those iconic sweet, cinnamony baked goods scents, so you'll find both in my round up. And I am also of course drawn in by aesthetics, so all of these candles double as beautiful fall decor too.
The best fall candles I am loving this year
Zero sweet pumpkiness going on here, but this is the first candle I light when the weather starts to turn. It's warm and slightly spicy but mostly just very earthy and smokey but in a lovely cozy way not an overwhelming one. This works after Thanksgiving too.
This is my favorite pumpkin-scented candle. It's not too sweet, more spicy, but it's buttery so it really does smell like baking. Plus, this looks lovely and doubles up as fall table decor. It's also massively on sale right now because there's an extra 40% off in cart, so grab it while it's still in stock.
Appley, cinnamony, fresh and fruity but still warm and subtly sweet. It's the perfect candle to light in your kitchen if you are having guests over and want to create the perfect inviting fall vibes in an instant.
Joanna Gaines, founder of Magnolia, said this was her favorite candle for the fall season. Fall starts when this is lit. It's a pumpkin scent, but not overly sweet because it's balanced with a deeper scent of coffee.
This is a fruity fall candle, apples, and berries kind of scent. There's a vanilla and smokey undertone here too that gives it depth as well as freshness.
Vanilla and coconut mix in with this pumpkin spice latte candle to create a spicy, warming, slightly sweet scent. The jar is beautiful too and would look lovely as part of an autumnal display on a mantle or sideboard.
Admittedly, this is part of my collection because it looks adorable. All of the candles from the range have this slightly vintage feel and they are all designed to encapsulate the scents of the parks. While not technically a fall scent, the Yosemite candle has those lovely woody fragrances with a hint of spice. And I can't resist a wooden wick candle either.
I discovered Maison Margiela through their perfumes, they are so gorgeous and layered and really do invoke very nostalgic feeling. This is the scent I wear in the fall so it makes sense I should burn it in my home too.
The most sophisticated pumpkin candle out there. It's far more spicy and intriguing than most and there's barely an ounce of sweetness here. It also casts out a lovely warm orange glow.
FAQs
How can you make your home smell like fall?
Candles are the simplest way to make your home small like fall. The best ones will give off a scent even when not late, but you boost the scent with diffusers. Baking will of course feel your home with all the scents the candles try to replicate or get a pot of hot wine or cider simmering on the stove.
What are classic fall scents?
Pumpkin is of course the main fall scent, and there are both sweet and spicey versions depending on your tastes. If you like crisper, fruiter smells, apples, pears, and fall berries like plums and blackberries as also very fall-esque. Likewise, more woody smokey scents offer something more sophisticated.
