The best scented candles for autumn

Now that October 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 chilly temperatures that much easier to bear, it also helps me get in the mood for sweater weather, falling leaves and other seasonal joys.

There seem to be candle brands launching almost every week at the moment, and as a result I’ve noticed these quarterly selections growing longer and longer by the year. So, for 2021 I’ve decided to do things a little differently and refine the list to feature just 21 of my personal fall favourites – some new, some not so new. All are created by independent makers or small businesses, and all use natural wax rather than anything nasty. 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 autumn woodland, nurturing fragrances that are ideal for cosy nights at home – and I’ve avoided anything overly sweet or cloying. Read on to see my picks – I hope they help you discover something new to try…

1. ‘After the Walk’ candle by Aather (£48) – a cosy cocoon of birch, cade, amber and sandalwood, conjuring up a lazy afternoon by the fire after a chilly autumn stroll
2. ‘Oakwood + Tobacco’ candle by Hobo + Co (£28 for a large jar, £20 for a medium one or £10.50 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
3. ‘Embers’ candle by Cedar (£30 for a large jar or £20 for a smaller one) – layers of cedarwood, frankincense, cinnamon and vanilla, evoking smouldering fires, warm memories and past emotions
4. ‘Shinrin-Yoku’ candle by Earl of East (£20) – an earthy blend of cedarwood, oakmoss and black pepper, inspired by the Japanese ritual of forest bathing
5. ‘Smoke’ candle by Essence + Alchemy (£48) – spices, florals and fresh conifer over a rich smoky base, capturing the aroma of autumn woodland entwined with wisps from distant fires
6. ‘Fern + Moss’ candle by Brooklyn Candle Studio, available via USTUDIO (£30) – a green, gently woody scent with notes of sage, lavender, spruce, pine, oakmoss, lavandin and orange
7. ‘SKOG’ candle by SVAR:ØG (£18 for a large jar or £12 for a small one) – earthy layers of cypress, vetiver, patchouli, spruce, bergamot, thyme, cinnamon leaf and pine, inspired by the changing autumn trees
8. ‘One Evening’ candle by Our Lovely Goods (£50 for a large jar or £20 for a medium one) – a blend of cedarwood, jasmine and thyme, created for cosy evenings at home as the days grow shorter and the nights longer
9. ‘Mellow’ candle by Eym (£39 for a large candle or £18 for a small one) – an earthy, restorative mix of lavender and vetiver that’s perfect for quiet autumn moments
10. ‘Braeden’ candle by Aerende (£37.50) – a fresh yet warming blend of rosewood, pine, cedar and bergamot, named after the Old English word for ‘forest’
11. ‘Nordic Cedar’ candle by Aery (£27) – a comforting combination of cedar, cinnamon, pink pepper and bergamot that’s reminiscent of thick woodland and cosy log cabins, with patchouli and nutmeg to relieve stress and orange to lift your mood
12. ‘Temple of Leaves’ candle by Tatine, available via Osmology (£39) – a blend of smoky, woody and green elements (hinoki, Japanese cypress, sandalwood, musk, patchouli) that transports you to a temple garden laden with golden autumn leaves
13. ‘HYGGE’ candle by Skandinavisk (€39 for a large jar or €20 for a small one; also available as a reed diffuser) – an intimate mix of tea, baked strawberry cake, rose petals and wild mint, based around the Danish concept of hygge
14. ‘Autumn Fig’ candle by Harvest (£30) – a soothing, grounding scent with cedar, vetiver and crisp anise, evoking walks through rusty autumn leaves
15. ‘Santal 26’ candle by Le Labo (£57) – a gentle, leathery and smoky scent reminiscent of fireside armchairs
16. ‘Harvest Moon’ candle by FOS (CA$39) – an ode to cosy nights in, with sweet orange, cinnamon, clove and cedarwood
17. ‘Stone / Steinn’ candle by Still London (£38) – a dark, smoky and intriguing mix of birch, black spruce, tar, fir needle, pine, May Chang, earth and stone, inspired by the lava-formed landscapes of Iceland
18. ‘Grove’ candle by Evermore London (£55 for a large jar or £35 for a smaller one) – notes of pine needle, eucalyptus and silver fir over a base of earthy moss, evoking damp trees after the first autumn rainfall
19. ‘Autumn’ candle by Nära (£28 for a large jar or £19 for a smaller one; also available as a reed diffuser) – a mix of citrusy green apple, warming cinnamon and woody amber that refreshes, revives and reinvigorates
20. ‘Autumna’ candle by Essence + Alchemy (£30) – sweet autumn fruits entwined with warming spices and rich earthy notes, blended to help you slow down and embrace the changing seasons
21. ‘Smoke’ candle by Evermore London (£55 for a large jar or £35 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

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