The best autumn candles: fall inspired fragrances to make your home feel snug

Crisp air, crunchy leaves, pumpkin spice… the autumn is a truly magical time, and nothing says cosy like the flickering glow of a candle.

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To celebrate the arrival of autumn, we’ve tried and tested the best of this year’s fall-inspired fragrances, so you can spend the season in a home filled with gorgeous scent. Read on for our favourites!

Pumpkin Patch, £23.99 for a large jar, Yankee Candle

Best if you like: sweet fragrances

Smells like: pumpkin spice and autumn baking

If, for you, autumn is all about comfort – warm blankets, cinnamon swirls and cosy walks – then you’re guaranteed to love Yankee Candle’s new autumn fragrance, Pumpkin Patch.

To us, it smells exactly like a warm pumpkin pie baking in the oven – there are very subtle notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves, but the overriding fragrance is of sweet maple and praline.

Sea salt and oak candle, £23.50, Scooms

Best if you like: natural, woody scents

Smells like: a crackling bonfire and crisp autumn air

This candle is an antidote to sickly sweet, ‘pumpkin spice’-style scents which have flooded the market in recent years. If you’re not a fan of candy apples or caramel aromas, then you’ll love the natural, woody fragrance of this hand-poured candle by bedding brand Scooms. Subtle enough to burn in a bedroom, it smells like a mixture of a crackling bonfire and fresh sea air. Made from 100% natural ingredients and handpoured into recycled glass in England, if you’re looking for sustainability points, this is your go-to.

Bergamot & Nettle candle, £11.45, St. Eval

Best if you like: fresh, masculine fragrances

Smells like: freshly-picked blackberries and aftershave

St Eval’s bergamot and nettle fragrance strikes the perfect balance between delicate and uplifting. The scent is slightly herbal but light, and like all of St Eval’s fragrances, it’s inspired by the nature on their working farm in North Cornwall. You’ll particularly love this if you’re a fan of fresh pine scents in the winter. The warm autumnal tones of its sand-dipped pot are a lovely bonus for creating a cosy evening by the fire.

Autumn Sunshine candle, £12, Kiss Air

Best if you like: soft, subtle scents

Smells like: sandalwood and amber

What exactly does autumn sunshine smell like, you ask? Well, in the case of this candle from British brand Kiss Air, it’s a beautifully comforting blend of caramelised amber and sandalwood. Subtle but creamy, we’d liken the fragrance to the powdery smell of fresh laundry mixed with luxurious white musks. It’s also vegan and handmade in the UK, for bonus sustainability points!

Ampney Orchard aromatherapy candle, £26, Bampton House

Best if you like: traditional spicy fragrances

Smells like: cloves and fresh oranges

A mixture of star anise, orange and clove, this all-natural scent is intensely warming and spicy. It’s the perfect thing to burn as the weather gets colder – its essential oils contain antibacterial properties which supposedly help to ward off colds!

Velvet Rouge candle, £35.00, Candalia London

Best if you like: fruity scents with a sophisticated edge

Smells like: pomegranate, plum and spicy pink pepper

Candalia’s Velvet Rouge candle is the epitome of luxury. Combining subtle tobacco, pomegranate, amber and lily of the valley, the scent is fruity yet smooth, and it has notes reminiscent of a high-end perfume. If you’re looking for something decadent, then this is probably the option for you. They arrive packaged in little velvet bags, so keep them in mind for gifts, too.

Pumpkin & Ginger Shaped Candle, £8, Next

Best if you like: sweet autumnal fragrances

Smells like: freshly baked gingerbread

If you’re after something truly festive, this pumpkin and ginger candle from Next might just be the one for you. It smells like freshly baked gingerbread and has notes of treacle and spice, so it’s perfect if you’re a fan of sweet, autumnal fragrances. Plus, the packaging… well, it speaks for itself! We love it!