A Love Letter to My Favorite Fall Candle, Which is Finally Back in Stock

I have sniffed a lot of candles in my lifetime, first as an associate at Anthropologie for five years, then as an Apartment Therapy commerce editor. I’ve made it my business to know what the best products are in an increasingly saturated market, and that involves testing a whole lot of products—and that includes candles. (I know, it’s a hard life, but someone has to do it.) Of all the brands and scents I’ve tried, though, I keep crawling back to one of my first loves: Boulangerie’s Sweet Vanilla Cinnamon candle, available at Anthropologie.

Maybe it’s because it has the allure of being my first favorite candle, or maybe it’s because it’s only available for a limited time every year. Or maybe it’s just that good. Either way, it is, to me, the platonic ideal of the perfect fall candle. The combination of vanilla and cinnamon is so simple, yet so divine. Merely opening the lid transports me to my happy place: sitting by a window, wrapped in a blanket, wearing thick socks and an oversized sweatshirt, reading a book, sipping tea, knowing that the air outside is crisp and cool.

The thing about candles is that they’re so personal. Because we don’t need them for light, they have to fill another need, and that is the feeling or vibe they create. For me, a “fall” candle has to inspire coziness (obviously), but also a sense of personal solitude. Fall is my favorite season because it signals a slowing down; a return to myself after months of nonstop activity and being “on” all the time. It’s the time to stay home and not feel guilty about it. That’s why fall candles are so beloved—and why this one in particular is so special to me.

Since Sweet Vanilla Cinnamon is only available in the fall and winter, I stock up on them when I can. One former Anthro coworker even bought three for me at a store in Florida where she was vacationing after they were sold out in our own store and online. They’re $18, which is inexpensive compared to Anthro’s more popular candles. The jar is small, but the scent is stronger than most candles I’ve used, so you can light one for a short time and still get a long-lasting effect.

Don’t sleep on the rest of the Boulangerie line, either. The highly-reviewed food-centric collection includes two other fall scents (Pumpkin Souffle and Chai Latte) that are equally delicious, as well as year-round classics like Oatmeal Cookie and Angel Food. And if you want to know more about all of Anthro’s fall candles, we rounded them up here.