The best autumn candles to celebrate the cosy season, tried and tested

• Notes: Birch leaves, cade, papyrus, raspberry, guaiacwood

• Weight: 200g

• Burn time: 40 hours

• Wax type: Natural vegan wax from plant oils

Reviewed by: Lea Tacey, sub editor

The packaging of this Floral Street candle immediately signals a treat. It comes packaged in a beautiful floral-patterned box which opens up like a flower’s petals unfurling. The candle itself is housed in an elegant, dark glass container with the brand’s name (Floral Street) etched into it, through which the flame emits light when the candle is lit.

When the candle isn’t lit, its scent isn’t noticeable, unless you pick it up to smell it, and took a few hours over a couple of days to start releasing its subtle yet woody, smoky scent. Once it got going, it filled the room with its pleasant and thankfully not overwhelming aroma.

Its key ingredients are birch leaves, guaiacwood, cade (a species of juniper), papyrus and, surprisingly, raspberry, which gives it a slightly sweet but not heady undertone.

• Notes: Pumpkin, spices, vanilla

• Weight: 190g

• Burn time: 50 hours

• Wax type: A blend of high-quality mineral waxes

Reviewed by: Amber-Rose Hurst, senior digital content writer

‘Citrouille’ - meaning pumpkin in French - perfectly suits this comforting, gourmand candle from Diptyque. It captures the essence of autumn in a simple yet luxurious way, blending the warmth of spiced pumpkin with the creamy sweetness of vanilla.

The scent is soft and inviting, with notes of clove, nutmeg and ginger adding gentle spice, while hints of caramel and toasted pumpkin bring a cosy, baked warmth. It’s a gourmand fragrance, but never too sugary — more like the aroma of a favourite autumn dessert just out of the oven than a heavily perfumed treat.

The candle burns cleanly and evenly, with a steady flame and a balanced scent throw that fills a room without feeling heavy. As always with Diptyque, the design is understated and elegant, housed in the brand’s signature glass vessel that suits both classic and modern interiors.

• Notes: ginger, black pepper, tonka, sandalwood, amber 

• Weight: 220g

• Burn time: 60 hours

• Wax type: 100% sustainable and natural soy wax

Reviewed by: Sarah Feeley, managing editor

Spicy, warming and comforting, the Sandalwood & Labdanum candle by Plum & Ashby is deliciously autumnal. Proudly made in England to celebrate the English countryside and the shifting seasons, it is made using the finest natural ingredients, bottled in recyclable amber glass and boxed in Forest Stewardship Council-accredited packaging.

With spicy top notes of black pepper and ginger giving way to warm notes of tonka, followed by creamy woody undertones of sandalwood laced with balmy amber and musk, its scent is reminiscent of a meandering autumn stroll under burnished canopies of russet and gold before cosying up at home underneath a cashmere blanket with an absorbing read as an open fire crackles in the background.

Reviewed by: Amber-Rose Hurst, senior digital content writer

• Notes: Semolina flour, salted water, butter, basil

• Weight: 250g

• Burn time: 55 hours

• Wax type: Soy wax

Uniquely charming and delightfully unexpected, the Primavera Estate candle by Earl of East brings the comforting, nostalgic aroma of fresh pasta to your home. Expertly crafted in England with premium soy wax and responsibly sourced ingredients, it comes in a sleek 250ml glass jar, making it as elegant to display as it is to burn.

Opening with the warm, wheaty richness of semolina flour and the subtle saltiness of water, it unfolds into a heart of creamy butter, rounded out by the bright, herbal freshness of basil. The fragrance evokes a sunlit Italian kitchen, where the simple act of making pasta becomes a sensory escape, comforting, grounding, and surprisingly sophisticated.

• Notes: Pear, quince, apricot, musk and amber

• Weight: 340g

• Burn time: 35-40 hours

• Wax type: High-quality mineral wax

Reviewed by: Amber-Rose Hurst, senior digital content writer

Aptly named, this candle from The White Company celebrates the fragrance of seasonal orchard fruits with a warm blend of pear, quince, and apricot. Capturing the gentle essence of autumn without the usual spice-forward notes, it offers a fresh, subtly sweet aroma that’s ideal for those who prefer fruit-inspired scents over traditional hints of cinnamon or clove.

Once lit, the refreshing aroma mingles with a touch of musk, creating a cosy yet airy ambiance that quickly fills the room in a balanced, inviting way. The ribbed glass holder adds sophistication, seamlessly fitting into any decor and offering a second life as a stylish container for small items once the candle has finished.

Arriving in a branded cardboard box with secure foam padding, this candle is well-protected for safe delivery. Its thoughtful presentation and refined scent make it a lovely gift or an elegant seasonal addition to any home, ideal for those who prefer a fresh and fruity take on autumnal fragrances.

• Notes: Cedarwood, sandalwood, basil and citrus balance spicy frankincense and earthy myrrh

• Weight: 150g

• Burn time: 35 hours

Reviewed by: Samantha Scott-Jeffries

One of the last of the English independent fine fragrance and gentleman’s grooming brands, Czech and Speake, located on London’s historic Jeremyn Street is a renowned family business that creates classic fragrances with fine ingredients. As my husband has worn No 88 for many years and I adore the Dark Rose perfume, I was keen to try a candle. It didn’t disappoint.

Frankincense and Myrrh comes in a highly decorative, timeless box with glistening gold embossing that tells the story of its exotic and oriental inspiration. The glass votive is by contrast understated but still decorative with a design in etched white glass, allowing the fragrance to take centre stage.

This is a complex, rich and spicy scent balanced with notes of resin, basil and citrus. If the idea of Frankincense and Myrrh evokes the church for you, this is far removed from the heady smell of incense. Think more of a warm, oriental resin based fragrance that delicately fills the air.

It’s enchanting, exotic and warm but never overpowering. Perfectly balanced and luxurious, this is perhaps the perfect Autumn and Christmas candle for those who like understated elegance and quality.

• Notes: Orange, ginger, caramel

• Weight: 368g

• Burn time: 60-65 hours

• Wax type: Soy and coconut wax

Reviewed by: Priya Raj, digital content writer

Think of WoodWick as Yankee Candle’s elegant older sister offering refined scents and minimal designs to compliment a classic home. 

The dark brown vessel of this candle is complimented by a cork lid, which once opened reveals a strong spiced scent. The perfume of this candle is strong when unlit and ideal for those who don’t wish to light their candles to enjoy them. 

This candle has a wooden wick and promises to crackle like a real fire. Once lit the crackling sound is very faint which can be expected from a candle of this size.

Lighting this candle was easy, while the wick has a unique cross shape, the flame spreads itself across the wood, ensuring an even burn. After around 20 minutes the top surface of the candle has melted, and the room is filled with the warm seasonal smell. 

While this candle has a modest price, the quality of the candle and the strength of the scent makes this a worthwhile purchase.

• Notes: Bark, pine, black pepper and sandalwood

• Weight: 300g

• Burn time: 60 hours

• Wax type: GM free soya wax

Reviewed by: Samantha Scott-Jeffries, editor

This review starts with a confession - I had not heard of Rebecca Tracey before now. This is perhaps an oversight on my part. This is an English company that specialises in hand poured, botanical candles.

The focus of the product is on the luxury of the fragrance and this, is it delivers on. The Oakmoss & Sandalwood candle has a woody, earthy scent that brings a warm, cocooning note to interiors at this time of year. The fragrance that reminds me of walking in woodland as the leaves fall, it is one I want to bath my home in.

It is not too heavy but fills the room quickly. The Amber glass holder and simply designed recycle cardboard box and holder, all feel natural and understated. This feels like a luxury product waiting to be discovered.

• Notes: Fig, cedar with hints of coconut and orange

• Weight: 160g

• Wax type: Sustainable natural wax

Reviewed by: Katy Mclean, decorating editor

This is a simple and chic cream candle in a clear glass with an ornate gold label. As such it’s unobtrusive to add to the mantelpiece, yet also does not provide an extra ‘decorative’ addition for autumn. The scent when unlit is quite appealing and surprisingly has tones of coconut which perhaps give a summer feel. When lit it takes a while for the scent to become noticeable in the room.

Once it gets going, however, there is a woody smell which evokes the feel of a crackling fire which is quite nice, but enhanced by some softly citrus and fruity notes which was enjoyable and felt quite warming on a chilly night. Though it burns quite slowly with a gentle flame, I did find it tunneled creating quite a large sinkhole, sadly.

Overall it’s an appealing scent and suitable for more minimalist homes to add a touch of cosiness.

A nostalgic blend of grapefruit, amber, sandalwood, suede and elemi, Sharland England’s Amber and Suede scented candle conjures images of wood-panelled libraries and brisk walks in autumn woods. Beautifully crafted, with a 45 hour burn time, the soy wax blend is hand-poured and encompasses a lead-free wick.

Creating a cocoon of comfort, like being wrapped in a warm blanket, Osten’s Cashmeran Velvet candle has subtle smoky notes mingled with amber and soft woods. Presented in a mouth-blown scalloped glass, Osten’s signature hand-poured wax blend gives a perfect burn and effective fragrance diffusion.

Presented in a charming wooden box, this candle combines warm amber, sweet honey, and a touch of spice to capture the essence of autumn’s harvest. Its rich, comforting fragrance creates a cosy atmosphere, perfect for celebrating the season’s warmth and abundance.

Inspired by natural scents of October, this Pottery Barn offering brings together all of the lovely notes of the season in one candle, including pumpkin, spices and harvest florals, presented in a pretty hand-painted vessel.