The best scented candles for autumn – updated for 2024

Now that the equinox has been and gone, 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 afternoons that much easier to bear, it also helps me get in the mood for sweater weather, falling leaves and other seasonal joys.

Below, you’ll find 21 of my personal fall favourites – some new, some not so new. Most come from independent makers or small businesses, and almost all are hand-poured using natural wax. 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 moss-covered autumn woodland, nurturing fragrances that are ideal for cosy nights at home… There are even a few eerie, atmospheric options for Halloween! Just scroll down to see my picks…

1. Refillable ‘Autumn 91’ candle by Norfolk Natural Living (£29.50 for a jar or £25.50 for a refill; also available as a perfume and room spray) – a fresh yet grounding blend that embodies shifting winds, dancing shadows and changing leaves, with notes of bergamot, clove, cardamom, cedar, eucalyptus, juniper, lavender, lemon, patchouli, peppermint, rosemary, oud, vetiver, sandalwood and ylang ylang
2. ‘Smoky Birch & Oak’ candle by Plum & Ashby (£32) – layers of amber, crushed spices, cedar, oak, birch and leather, evoking shaded forests, ancient woodland and warming fireside corners
3. Refillable ‘HYGGE’ candle by Skandinavisk (£48 for a large jar, £35 for a medium jar, £20 for a small one or £25 for a refill; also available as a reed diffuser) – an intimate mix of tea, baked strawberry cake, rose petals and wild mint, inspired by the Danish concept of hygge
4. ‘Evening’ candle by Woodspring Co (£20 for a standard jar or £8.50 for a small one) – a restful, comforting and cosy blend of lemon, jasmine, clover and mint, with hints of cognac, oak and incense
5. Refillable ‘Autumn 24’ candle by Great House Farm Stores (£58 for a jar or £28 for a refill) – a smoky, earthy scent with a sweet honey lift, described as a love song to fireworks, fallen leaves and the softness of the season
6. ‘Oakwood + Tobacco’ candle by Hobo + Co (£36 for a large jar, £22 for a medium one or £12 for a travel tin; also available as a reed diffuser) – a deep and warming yet far from heavy blend of spicy oakwood and musky tobacco
7. ‘Nordic Cedar’ candle by Aery (£30) – a combination of cedar, cinnamon, pink pepper and bergamot that’s reminiscent of thick woodland and cosy log cabins, with nutmeg to relieve stress and orange to lift your mood
8. ‘Shinrin-Yoku’ candle by Earl of East (£50 for a large jar or £24 for a standard one) – an earthy blend of cedarwood, oakmoss and black pepper, inspired by the Japanese ritual of forest bathing
9. ‘Black Pepper & Oakmoss’ candle by OLIV (£29.95 for a large jar or £14.95 for a small one; also available as wax melts and a fragrance oil) – a warm, captivating mix of spices and softer green tones that will leave you feeling calm and content
10. ‘Woodland’ aromatherapy candle by Ash + Ember (£22; also available as an essential oil blend) – notes of frankincense, sweet juniper, pine and bergamot that transport you deep among the trees
11. ‘Embers’ candle by Cedar (£32 for a large jar or £22 for a smaller one) – layers of cedarwood, frankincense, cinnamon and vanilla, evoking smouldering fires, warm memories and past emotions
12. ‘Ghost Pumpkin’ candle by Brooklyn Candle Studio (£35) – a lighter take on spiced pumpkin scents that takes its cue from the snowy white variant, with notes of black cardamon, almonds, vanilla bean and lavender
13. ‘St John’ candle by Hæckels (£58) – a moody, atmospheric aroma with star anise, fir and resin, inspired by the sombre mists and moss-covered stones of St John’s Cemetery in Margate, Kent
14. ‘Grounded No 4’ candle by Elä (£28 for a large jar or £18 for a small one; also available as an aromatherapy blend) – warm, comforting layers of black pepper, nutmeg, clary sage and cinnamon, with hints of autumn earthiness
15. ‘Metal’ candle by Homework (£55 for a large jar or £35 for a standard one; also available as an essential oil blend) – a strong, shimmering and clarifying scent inspired by the autumn element in traditional Chinese medicine, with top notes of lime and mandarin over bay leaf, pink pepper, tobacco, teakwood, Ho wood, vetiver and cedar
16. ‘Autumn Fig’ candle by Harvest (£32) – a soothing, soulful blend that’s both sweet and woody, with crisp anise over earthy cedar and comforting vetiver
17. ‘Stone / Steinn’ candle by Still London (£38) – a dark, intriguing mingling 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 (£60 for a large jar or £36 for a smaller one) – notes of pine needle, eucalyptus and silver fir over a base of green moss, evoking damp trees after autumn rain
19. ‘Plum Noir’ candle by Sincerely Lumière (£42 for a jar or £18 for a travel tin; also available as wax melts) – a fruity, spicy mix of plum and rhubarb with hints of pear, peach and blackberry, designed for cosy autumn evenings or curling up on the couch with a book 
20. Refillable ‘Hearth & Home’ candle by Great House Farm Stores (£52 for a jar or £28 for a refill) – a warm, nostalgic mix of book pages, woodsmoke and tobacco, recreating relaxing fireside moments and welcoming country pubs
21. ‘Arborealist’ candle by Verden (£35; also available as a reed diffuser and bath oil) – an intense and moody blend of woods and smoky greens, with notes of sandalwood and cedarwood

For more seasonal inspiration, see my round-up of autumn rituals and simple pleasures, plus my edit of treats for cosy moments at home.

Top and bottom images by Abi Dare; all other photography via the brands above