The Best Autumn Candles That Go Beyond Pumpkin & Cinnamon
Though there will be pumpkin and cinnamon, let's be clear.
I have a very vivid memory of being in early middle school, maybe sixth grade, and walking into the “life skills” classroom for the first time. This teacher doubled as the school counselor, so her classroom was always super cozy and kept lit with lamps instead of the harsh fluorescent lights. It also always smelled absolutely amazing, like vanilla and cinnamon, a fact that absolutely enchanted me.
I think it was just one of those plug-in Wallflowers from Bath and Body Works, but it sparked something in me, and I can remember vowing to myself that when I was a grown up, my house would always smell beautiful like vanilla or cinnamon.
So all that being said, home fragrance is kind of a big deal to me. I’m happy to report that I’ve done my best to keep that promise to myself, though I tend to gravitate towards darker, woodier scents nowadays (still love vanilla, but I have progressed from dousing myself in vanilla cupcake scented body spray).
So, with all that being said, I wanted to share a list of my favorite autumnal scents that go beyond the typical “pumpkin and cinnamon” scents (though there is always a place in my heart for pumpkin spice, let’s be clear).
Library, True Grace UK
Notes: Smoke, Cade Oil, Fir Balsam, Birch, Woods, Moss
I lit this candle, feeling extra-fancy after having purchased it at a Magnolia-famous homegoods shop near my hometown. I was basking in the rich scent when my husband walked in and said “What smells like old cigarettes?” Thanks, dude.
I maintain that this candle smells delightfully like mahogany and leather-bound books and yes, pipe tobacco, but I think it’s amazing.
Worn Leather and Smoke, Paddywax
Notes: Pink Peppercorn, Bergamot, Clove Bud, Saffron, Black Leather, Gingerlily, Cedar Leaf, Elemi Resin, Dark Oak, Agarwood, Guaiac, Burlwood, Cade
Clearly I like smoky scents. Let’s not talk about how that’s probably a side effect of all the second-hand smoke I inhaled in the 90s and early 2000s. As you can see from the truly formidable list of scent notes, however, this is much more than simply smoky leather (or as my husband would probably say, old cigarettes). It’s rich, dark, a bit mysterious, and smells like leatherbound volumes inside a regal wood-paneled bookshop.
Leather Jacket, Brooklyn Candle Studio
Notes: Sage, Rosemary, Timur Pepper, Armoise, Leather, Cedar, Vetiver
I love a scent that tells a story, and this classic from Brooklyn Candle Studio does just that. It smells like the romantic ideal concept of putting on a perfectly-fitting vintage leather jacket. You feel awesome, you look awesome, and you smell awesome. It’s warm, peppery, a little herbaceous, and I absolutely love it.
Witching Hour, Phantom Row
Notes: Black Violet, Ginger, Bergamot, Saffron, Raspberry, Vetiver
I love everything about Phantom Row, from their branding and candle label design to their unique and story-rich scents. It was kinda hard to choose just one, and I adore their Edinburgh Library scent as well, but I was skewing kinda heavy on the wood-and-leather scents on this list. Witching Hour is spicy and herby with a hint of sweetness. It smells like I imagine a witch’s apothecary would smell, which I dig.
Practical Magic Set, Bijou Candles
Notes (Sally): Eucalyptus, lavender, cardamom, vanilla, lily, fig leaves and cashmere.
Notes (Gillian): Leather, patchouli, jasmine, and warm amber.
I think Practical Magic is one of my all-time favorite movies. It’s cozy, it’s corny, it’s heartwarming, it’s 90s as all get out, and the fashion is phenomenal. I also adore this brand of candles (I have their Stevie candle burning as we speak) and their commitment to the vibes of each iconic character or celebrity that they embody with their scents. The Sally candle is green, herbaceous, warm and comforting, while the Gillian scent is darker, sexy, and a bit mysterious.
Tarot Deck, Catbird
Notes: Incense, Turkish rose, dry musk, labdanum, smoke, and a hint of woody, waxen pencil shavings.
Catbird is one of my favorite indie brands, mostly known for their jewelry. They’ve branched out into a small line of home goods, most notably their candles, and this one is my favorite. I don’t normally go for really floral scents, and rose is really hit or miss for me, but this one is couched in enough extra scents of wood and musk that it smells like reading a mystery novel in a dusty library or something equally romantic and nonsensical.
Basic, Anecdote Candles
Notes: Pumpkin, cardamom, clove leaf, harvest acorns, Valencia orange, cinnamon, and ginger root.
I mean, come on, you gotta have at least one pumpkin scented candle right? This one hits alllll the perfect notes – pumpkin, cardamom, clove, orange, and cinnamon. Like a gorgeous harvest simmer pot, it’s warm and spicy and a little sweet. Perfect for all my fellow #basics out there. (Side note, can we as a society move on from that phrase? It’s been like a decade).
Orchard Woods, Apothecary 18
Notes: Spiced Fruit, Green Florals, Musk, Woods
Another scent that immediately brings autumn to mind is crisp apples. This scent is especially perfect for early fall, like September, before you’re ready to dive head first into pumpkin everything and hibernate in a cinnamon-scented stupor until December. It smells like the first truly crisp fall day picking apples during golden hour.
October, Asteria Studio
Notes: Clove, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Pumpkin, Buttercream, Vanilla, Smoke
Okay, full disclosure, this is my own brand, BUT – this is one of my favorite candles I’ve ever come across. It’s pumpkin-y, but it has that hint of smoke and vanilla that make it a lot more layered and complex than just your average pumpkin spice scent. I have one burning pretty much constantly from September through the first of the year, I love it that much.
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