The clocks have gone back, the evenings are dark by five and the heating is on. It is the time of year most of us start lighting candles again, and the scents that felt right in July rarely feel right now. Autumn suits warmer, deeper fragrances: woodsmoke, amber, spice, baking and dark fruit. Here is how to choose one, which of our candles fit the season, and how to get the most from each one.
The short answer
For autumn, choose a scent family rather than a single note: smoky and woody (Ash and Woodsmoke), warm and resinous (Patchouli and Dark Amber), gourmand and sweet (Home Bakery, Brandy Butter, Crushed Vanilla and Orange) or dark fruit (Purple Fig and Cassis). Our candles start at £8.95. Let the first burn melt right to the edge of the container, trim the wick before every light, and never leave a lit candle unattended.
The four autumn scent families
- Smoky and woody. The smell of a bonfire night jumper or a walk through wet leaves. Good for living rooms and snugs, and the most "autumn" of all the families.
- Warm and resinous. Amber, patchouli and musk. Deeper and slower than woodsmoke, these suit evenings with the lights down low.
- Gourmand. Baking, vanilla, butter and spice. Friendly and familiar, and the easiest family to give as a present, because very few people dislike the smell of a kitchen on a Sunday afternoon.
- Dark fruit and green. Fig, cassis and mossy greens. A good choice if you find spice and vanilla too sweet, and a bridge from late summer into the colder months.
Our autumn picks
- For the classic autumn evening: the Greenman Woodwick Soy Candle, Ash and Woodsmoke (£11.95). Smoky warmth with an earthy depth, and a wooden wick that crackles gently as it burns. About 26 hours of burn time.
- For a green, outdoorsy scent: the Greenman Woodwick Soy Candle, Moss and Mist (£11.95), with the same crackling wooden wick. Good for anyone who prefers a fresher feel to a sweet one.
- For a statement piece: the Wooden Wick Concrete Candle, Large Round, Patchouli and Dark Amber (£18.95). A larger candle with a wooden wick, set in a concrete pot, so each one has its own small marks and quirks. It looks as good on a coffee table unlit as lit.
- For something sweet and bright: the Wooden Wick Concrete Candle, Large Round, Crushed Vanilla and Orange (£18.95). Vanilla and orange together sit somewhere between autumn and Christmas.
- For the countdown to Christmas: the Wooden Wick Concrete Candle, Black Pot, Brandy Butter (£11.95). Rich and festive, in a black concrete pot.
- For dark fruit lovers: the Wooden Wick Concrete Candle, Medium Pot, Purple Fig and Cassis (£11.95), in a purple concrete pot.
- For a kitchen or dining room: the Soybean Jar Candle, Home Bakery (£11.95). The gourmand pick, in a glass jar.
- For a small budget: the Mystic Musk Soy Pot of Fragrance Candle (£8.95), or Midnight Rose (£8.95) for a darker floral. Each burns for around 20 hours.
Matching the scent to the room
- Living room: smoky, woody or resinous scents. A large candle on the coffee table or a pair on the mantelpiece fills a bigger room. Our guide to styling a mantelpiece has ideas for arranging them.
- Kitchen and dining room: gourmand scents, lit after cooking rather than during it so they do not compete with the food.
- Hallway: something light, such as a musk or green scent, so it greets people without being heavy. A hallway is often draughty, so keep the candle away from the front door.
- Bedroom: softer florals and musks. Always put a candle out before you go to sleep.
Getting the best from your candle
- The first burn matters most. Let the melted wax reach the edge of the container before you put it out, which usually takes a couple of hours. Stop too early and the candle tends to tunnel down the middle on every burn afterwards.
- Trim the wick before each use. Wooden wicks need only a light trim of the charred tip, while cotton wicks should be about 5mm.
- Burn on a heat-proof surface, away from draughts, curtains, shelves above and anything that can catch.
- Do not burn for too long in one go. Around four hours at a time is a good rule; put it out, let it cool and relight later.
- Stop when about 1cm of wax is left, so the flame never heats the base of the container.
- Never leave a lit candle unattended, and keep candles out of reach of children and pets.
Reusing the container
Once a candle is finished, the jar or pot is worth keeping. Pop the cold container in the freezer for an hour and the last of the wax lifts out, then wash it in warm soapy water. The concrete pots make good homes for a small succulent, pens on a desk or make-up brushes; the glass jars work for cotton buds, matches or a tealight.
Common questions
What is the most popular autumn candle scent?
Woodsmoke, amber, cinnamon, vanilla and baked goods are the scents most people reach for once the evenings draw in. If you are buying for someone else, a gourmand or woody scent is the safest choice.
Why do wooden wick candles crackle?
The wood burns differently from a cotton wick, and the small pops and crackles are part of the appeal. Keep the wick lightly trimmed so the flame stays steady.
How long does a soy candle last?
Our Pot of Fragrance candles burn for around 20 hours and the Ash and Woodsmoke candle for about 26 hours. Burning for a few hours at a time, out of draughts, helps a candle last as long as it can.
Candle, wax melts or reed diffuser?
A candle gives scent and a flame for evenings in; wax melts let you change scent each night; a reed diffuser scents a room all day with no flame. Our guide to wax melts vs candles compares them in more detail, and autumn and Christmas wax melt scents covers the same season in melt form.
Shop autumn candles
Every scent is in our scented candles collection, alongside diffusers and wax melts in home fragrance. Buying a candle as a present? See our gifts for candle lovers. UK delivery is free on orders over £40.
