scent description: fresh apples

I recently popped in to my local Trader Joe’s searching for a new fall candle and scored with this limited-edition Honeycrisp apple candle. I love anything fruit-scented to match the seasons, so this was the perfect crisp and cozy scent to make my home start to feel like fall. Even though it’s still 90 degrees outside, I said goodbye to my citrus-scented summer candles and hello to Honeycrisp apple fall!

— Isabella Kicklighter, Editorial Assistant

scent description: apple, smoke, ginger, birch, and clove

I love the concept of a fall candle, but a lot of the time, the scents are too sweet or intense for my liking. The other week, I went to Target and ended up in the Magnolia section (obviously) and spotted this smoked apple cider candle. To my surprise, it’s the perfect balance of sweet and spice with a subtle hint of smokiness. Plus, it comes in an adorable tinted green, scalloped glass jar that I will definitely be cleaning out and reusing once I burn through it.

— Caitlin Schneider, Graphic Designer

scent description: smoked cinnamon, embers, cashmere, and musk

It’s hard for me to pass up a candle in a beautiful vessel, so this guy came home with me on my last Target run. I love the irregular glass jar—it feels super expensive, even though it’s only $10. I’m not a sweet-smelling candle gal, so the embers, cinnamon, and musk notes in this “Fireside Flannel” scent are perfect for me.

—Meagan McCormick, Marketing Director

scent description: nutmeg, pumpkin, brown sugar, and cinnamon

Yes, I know that this candle is only available for a limited time and that it is nearly impossible to track down. Yes, I know that I have recommended this candle on this roundup every year for the past four years. It does not matter—the pumpkin scent of this candle alters my brain chemistry every single fall. When I tell you that I have literally wooed lovers with the scent of this candle, I am dead serious. The smell of this candle has single-handedly gotten me a second date. Unfortunately, all other fall candles are ruined for me—but if it means getting to light this every chilly autumn morning for the rest of my life, then I’m perfectly fine with that.

— Emma Ginsberg, Associate Editor

scent description: fir needle, honey, and chai spice

My favorite candle scent will always be anything tree-adjacent like fir, pine, or cypress. However, it can get tricky to burn these scents year-round without it feeling too December-y. So, if I find a tree-scented candle that also correlates to a season that’s not winter, it’s a no-brainer that I’m picking it up. Good & Well Supply Co. is one of my favorite candle brands, and when I smelled their Forest Chai scented candle, I couldn’t purchase it fast enough. Lighting this candle genuinely makes it feel as if you’re walking through a tree grove while sipping on a hot spiced chai, which is exactly what I want to be doing this fall.

— Bella Gil, Associate Commerce Editor

scent description: unscented

Plot twist! Do these candles have any type of scent? Sadly, no. But do they give the perfect vibe for decorating your space for the season? Absolutely. I recently thrifted some gorgeous glass candle holders (thrift stores always have them for super cheap!) and have my eye on the mauve candlestick from this collection to compliment them. They make for a chic touch to your space regardless of if you decide to ever light them or not (I will not be too scared to taint their beauty) and are a step-up from more basic fall decor.

—McKenna Pringle, Branded Content Editorial Assistant

scent description: orange, leather, black tea, teak

Not to be dramatic, but I’ll never forget the day I discovered this candle. I was at a pizza restaurant when I walked into the bathroom and was instantly enveloped by the coziest, warmest, most delicious scent I’ve ever encountered. The source? A teakwood and tobacco candle from P.F. Candle Co. I literally fell in love (with a candle) in a hopeless place (a bathroom stall). I snapped a photo of the label to remember it and rushed back to my table to rave about my find, only to discover their store was right down the street. I immediately marched to their brick-and-mortar location and left with armfuls of incredible scents—and it’s been a staple in my home ever since. Teakwood and tobacco is my absolute favorite, and as soon as I sense the slightest chill in the air, it’s lit 24/7. It perfectly embodies fall with its warm, spicy scent, and I’ll sing its praises to anyone who listens.

— Lauren Blue, Lifestyle Staff Writer

scent description: lemon, lime, cedarwood, sandalwood, patchouli,  and musk

While I enjoy a classic pumpkin scent as much as anyone, I tend to gravitate toward spicier, more grounding fragrances during the cooler months. As a former Nashvillian, I’m convinced that no candle compares to Paddywax. I own at least four variations of this Tobacco Oud candle and burn it daily from Labor Day to Thanksgiving.

— Paige Cushman, Branded Content Editor

scent description: crisp red apple, golden nectar, and warm clove spice

Every single year since middle school, I have repurchased my tried and true fall candle, the Leaves candle from Bath & Body Works. No matter how many others I try, I always come back to this one. It’s the perfect mix of apple and spice without being too overpowering and gives any room a cozy fall smell. I never, ever get tired of it.

—Jenna Piotrowicz, Editorial Assistant

scent description: crisp apple, cinnamon, clove, and cedarwood

The best part of fall for me is enjoying warm apple cider drinks, which is why I always choose this candle. Its fragrance fills my whole apartment and creates a cozy atmosphere, making it the ideal setting for relaxation and gatherings.

—Aryana Johnson, Graphic Designer

scent description: pumpkin spice, cinnamon, brûléed orange, salted maple, roasted chocolate, and whiskey

Snif is quickly becoming my favorite candle brand: their candles are cute, cheeky, and completely non-toxic with a cotton fiber wick. Nothing smells like fall as much as a pumpkin scent, but I hate the artificial sweet pumpkin that gives you a headache. This one smells warm, flavorful, and a little more spicy than sweet. With other unique notes like brûléed orange, whiskey, and salted maple, this is truly the scent of fall. I find myself saving it for special occasions because it’s so good, I don’t want to waste it.

— Josie Santi, Senior Wellness Editor & Podcast Host

scent description: nutmeg, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, clove, and cardamon

It’s a scene from You’ve Got Mail, an autumn walk through Central Park, and a PSL from Ralph’s all wrapped into one delicious-smelling, reusable glass jar. This Brooklyn-made candle will always carry a little bit of magic for me as I discovered it in a local shop during my first fall as a New Yorker and have purchased it every year since. Not too sweet yet not too spicy, it’s the perfect traditional pumpkin scent to complement any space–magic included with every purchase.

— Tinsley Crisp, Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer

scent description: pumpkin spice, creamy coconut milk, vanilla, and marshmallow

This candle smells like you walked in the door of your childhood home and found your mom in the kitchen whipping up a fresh batch of pumpkin bread. It’s cozy, nostalgic, lightly spiced but not overwhelmingly sweet. It’s the kind of candle you can burn all day without getting a headache or feeling like pumpkin spice threw up all over your house.

— Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor

scent description: orange, spice, rich cacao, honey, golden hay, and apple blossoms

If there’s one thing you buy to get you in the fall mood, let it be this. There’s a reason why this fall-wrapped-up-in-a-candle is sold out (don’t worry, just drop your email to be notified when it’s back). It’s all you could ask for in a candle to set the tone for slower, cozy days spent at home. It features a grounding blend of fresh citrus spice with hints of rich cacao, sweet honey, golden hay, and apple blossoms. Plus, the natural ingredients not only purify the air, but also have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, and antibacterial properties to boost immunity and reduce stress (tell me you’re a wellness girlie without telling me).

— Katherine Chang, Wellness Staff Writer