I want to make it clear that I am not your average candle lover. As a beauty editor with an affinity for all things fragrance, my candle collection is extravagant. You see, I am somebody who has to be surrounded by fragrance wherever I am. At work, I keep luxury candles on hand for a quick sniff throughout the day (even if I can't light them), I wouldn't dare leave the house without a heavy dousing of perfume and, at home, I have a candle burning during all waking hours.
And now that the weather is finally starting to turn chilly, I'm ready to lean into the cosy vibes and burn my stash of autumn candles—and I figured it would be worth sharing my selection with you. You see, it's worth knowing that I'm fussy, so I like to believe my selection of candles really does showcase the best of the best. And I'm not talking just your standard levels of fuss—I am incredibly hard to please.
Forget sweet, sickly pumpkin spice and sugar-coated ginger—I want my autumn candles to ooze luxury cosiness. I want a clean, soot-free burn that fills the entire room with an expensive-smelling fragrance. I'm talking aromas of log fires, crisp autumn leaves, woollen blankets and sense-clearing fresh florals. So, if you too are on the hunt for an autumn candle that makes you feel like hibernating, here are the best in existence—from Diptyque to Jo Malone London.
1. Jo Malone London Lavender & Moonflower Home Candle
You might not be familiar with this lesser-known Jo Malone London fragrance, but I can assure you it is the best autumn candle for evenings when you want to wind down. I have mine stationed on my bedside table and the soft, velvety and palatable take on lavender weaves ribbons through the air like a gentle lullaby. I'll never struggle to get to sleep so long as this candle is burning.
2. The White Company Autumn Botanical Candle
I'll admit, I find some of The White Company's seasonal scent a bit on the nose (excuse the pun), however Autumn is an expensive-smelling joy. Before smelling it, I was expecting the scent to be warm, sweet and overbearing, but I couldn't have been wrong it. It's crisp, fruity and sense-clearing—like crunching through leaves in a fruit-filled orchard.
3. Byredo Tree House
The name of this candle perfectly explains how it smells. Like a wooden tree house, perched high in the tops of a cedarwood forest, it's woody, spicy and a little bit smoky all at once. It's the sort of candle that makes you want to cuddle up in front of a fire and stick on some Meg Ryan rom coms.
4. & Other Stories Charcoal Clove Scented Candle
If ever a candle was made for autumn, it was it. It's spicy, smoky and a little earthy, but a warming cinnamon sweetness floats throughout. It's not the most expensive or luxurious candle on the list, but it sure does pack a punch.
5. Maison Margiela Replica Bubble Bath Candle
It's no secret that I'm a lover of baths, and throughout the autumn months I spend most of the day counting down the hours until I can switch off and indulge in a luxe bubble bath. This candle is a bubble bath in candle form—it's light and airy but with a soapy, skin-like comfort that makes you want to pour a glass of wine and revel in the joy of staying indoors.
6. Susanne Kaufmann Balancing Candle
There are few candles out there that are quite as spa like as this one from Susanne Kaufmann. It is sweet and citrusy but has a grounding woody base that balances your mind and mood almost instantly. It's the first candle I light as soon as I come in through the door after a busy day at work—it's pure escapism.
7. La Montaña Alfredo's Café Candle
My love for La Montaña candles knows no bounds. They are, without question, the most delicious, heavy-hitting, luxurious candles I have ever come across. Not only do they burn a treat, but the blends are beautifully unique and expensive-smelling. This one is my go-to for autumn. It smells like coffee, tobacco and leather—like sipping on your coffee al fresco at a Mediterranean café when there's a slight chill in the air.
8. Diptyque Citrouille (Pumpkin) Candle
When I first heard about this candle I felt conflicted. I associate pumpkin with sickly-sweet, headache-inducing aromas that I don't typically want to be involved with. Something about pumpkin, to me, just smells a bit kitsch and, dare I say it, cheap. But Diptyque is none of those things—so I wasn't sure what to expect. And I can safely say I had no reason to be concerned. Diptyque always knows what's best, and this candle is unbelievably good. It's sweet and creamy, but subtly so. It's like a warm drink with nutty milk and spices, without being even the slightest bit overbearing.
9. Jo Loves Log Fires Candle
Like wood crackling on a fire place, this candle is the epitome of comfort. It is smoky and woody without any of that eye-watering intensity that so many fire-inspired candles have. With notes of tea, it keeps things light and fresh on the nose, with a familiar sort of comfort that makes it wonderfully moreish.
10. Wildsmith The Bothy Candle
This is another spa-like candle that makes me want to pop on a face mask and curl up with a book on the sofa. Not only does it smell like a concoction of the best beauty products out there (like freshly picked herbs and flower petals), it also looks impeccable on the shelf.
11. Beauty Pie Clean House Luxury Scented Candle
Few things make me feel better than cleaning my flat top to bottom before settling down for a cosy afternoon, revelling in my surroundings. This candle smells like, well, a clean house—as the name suggests. It's like fresh cotton and laundry, wrapped up in one mega-comforting candle.
12. L'Objet Oh Mon Dieu No.69 Candle
If I'm hosting a party, this is the candle I'm burning. It's rich, floral and spicy—it reminds me of Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady, just sweeter, smokier and more intense. It's the sort of candle that makes you want to put on a cocktail dress and your very best lipstick to throw a kitchen party.
13. Neom Hibernate Candle
Another candle that does exactly what it says on the tin—Hibernate is the latest launch from Neom, and it's good. Championing vanilla, it's creamier and sweeter than I might usually lean towards, but the addition of cedarwood and patchouli keeps things grounded and earthy.
14. Rituals Goji Berry Scented Candle
This is up there with my favourite candles of all time. If you're a fan of Diptyque Baies, chances are you'll like this. It champions blackcurrant, meaning it is sweet and effervescent, but the velvet nature of rose keeps things smelling luxe and rich. It's the sort of candle I want to light whenever someone comes over because I can guarantee it will earn a compliment.
15. Carrière Frères Cupressus
I can safely say I have never smelled a candle that captures the scent of cypress quite as expertly as this. It is green, fresh, crisp and woody in the most natural of ways. For chilly, autumn mornings when the leaves are brown and the sun is shining, light this candle to clear your senses and get you mentally prepped for the day.
16. Miller Harris Figue Scented Candle
Something about fig as a fragrance note is incredibly autumnal to me. While it's a sweet fruit, the creaminess of the accord makes it feel comforting and skin-like, which is exactly how I want my autumn candles to smell. This candle is perfection. When the rain is pounding on the windows, I light this for some mental escapism.
17. Le Labo Encens 9 Classic Candle
If you're into deep, rich candles for autumn, this one is for you. Le Labo candles are well known for their projection, and Encens is probably one of the most projecting candles I've ever met. It's smoky, it's spicy and it's almost impossible to dislike. It's not strong enough that you'll get sick of it, though. It's surprisingly palatable.
18. Nest New York Birchwood Pine
Look, I know it's not Christmas season just yet, but towards the end of autumn I find myself reaching for pine candles more and more. Personally, I think the crisp, fresh, woody aroma of this pine candle is just too good for it to only be burned during festivities.
Other Marie Claire UK picks
Sunil Makan, Editor
"I can't express just how much I am obsessed with the new Diptyque, Les Mondes de Diptyque collection. This one though, is pretty great. It's like walking through the forest on a crisp Sunday morning, complete with autumnal leaves crunching under foot. It’s equal parts mossy, green and woody with comforting and calming delicate spicy notes."
Katie Thomas, Senior Beauty Editor
"Autumn to me is weekends away in the countryside, staying in cosy pubs, having roasts next to roaring open fires with a glass of red wine in my hand. And walks. Going on long, crisp walks surrounded by trees with the most incredible coloured leaves. This is what that candle smells like. It's green and fresh but also really earthy—like you've just shoved your head into a Cypress tree."
Ally Head, Health & Sustainability Editor
"Sunday of London is a Hackney-based company producing small batches of natural candles from palm-free plant waxes. I love their backstory, which is inspired by founder Natasha's family history of crafting pastes, ointments and aromatherapy oils from local herbs. Always free of synthetic perfume and paraffin, when the company first launched, they would painstakingly hand-cut and sand glass cider bottles [to act as jars] from local pubs to prevent waste. Not to mention they blend the wax with aromatherapy-grade essential oils which makes the smell really special."
Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
"I'm quite fussy when it comes to autumn candle scents, as I'm not a fan of woody fragrances and I feel like all others rely too heavily on cinnamon and vanilla. My ideal autumn candle would feature a warm and rich but not overly sweet scent, and that's exactly what this candle delivers. With notes of notes of leather, rum and creamy milk, it's the perfect scent to bring your home into the cosiest season."
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