We Smelled 20 Pumpkin Spice Candles, and the Best One Surprised Us

Aptly named “Pumpkin Moment”, this candle is only available for a limited time — which makes me want to buy a few, just so I can burn them all year long. The vanilla-almond quality of the Tonka blends beautifully with the rum notes in a way that just smells expensive. This plus a cashmere throw any night, please.

If you love how your flannel smells after relaxing by a crackling fire, you’ll love this jar candle from Brooklyn Candle Company. Spiced and smokey, it’s perfect for those who don’t love overly sweet scents. I’m a big fan of the subtle cardamom notes.

This 13-ounce candle would make your space smell good even if you just leave it out unlit — the cinnamon notes are so potent (along with ginger, clove, nutmeg, and sugar), one whiff feels like opening up a spice cabinet in the best way. Paired with your favorite fall beverage, this feels like autumn in a jar.

To me, the perfect fall drink is actually not a pumpkin spice latte but a chai latte — sue me! And this candle, made with notes of kabocha pumpkin and coconut crema, gives me exactly the satisfaction of cradling a warm chai in my hands. The milky, lightly spiced, and bright blend is absolutely divine. Plus, the orange cut glass jar makes for a gorgeous gift.

Every Anecdote candle tells a story, and this one is dedicated to “pumpkin spice lattes and cable knit sweaters.” It smells like I imagine homemade candy corn would — no plasticky undertones, but lots of sweetness, pumpkin spice, and a hint of tanginess, thanks to Valencia orange and ginger root notes. As Alexa puts it: “If this is basic, I’m proud to be basic!”

This glittery, swirling vessel is an apt representation of the fragrance it carries: Alexa describes it as a “clean and fresh” take on pumpkin, while I don’t really get pumpkin at all, but that’s to its credit, not its detriment. The notes include anise and black pepper balanced with patchouli and sandalwood, resulting in a decidedly cozy but elevated fragrance that will leave your space feeling (and smell) luxurious.

In the slightly altered words of the Gilmore Girls theme song, where P.F. Candle Co. goes, I will follow. “I’d want my whole kitchen to smell like this!” Alexa says, and I agree. Take one second to light this and make your home smell like you’ve been baking all day. This one is not too sweet at all, just toasted, spiced, and a bit earthy with some lovely vanilla notes.

If your quintessential fall experience is a ginger snap cookie accompanied by a steaming cup of tea, you’ll love this aroma. Characterized by top notes of ginger and allspice, middle notes of rose and clove, and base notes of coconut milk and musk, this 10.5 ounce candle is a cornucopia of fall fragrances. And the glittering bronzey gold jar is just the icing on top.

This is a classic pumpkin spice — nothing too complicated, just a cozy blend of cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and pumpkin, with some citrusy notes to brighten it up. Light this up to invite fall into your home, and then relish in the olfactory hayride for up to days and days on end, thanks to the 22-ounce jar that promises up to 150 hours of burn time.

With notes of pink pepper, Turkish rose, saffron, cardamom, and vetiver lingering with roasted pumpkin, this is not your typical pumpkin scented candle. It’s a sophisticated take on it that will feel just as right to light in October as it will in November or December. Plus, it comes in an adorable pumpkin-shaped ceramic container with an iridescent white glaze, so you can incorporate it into your decor throughout the coming seasons.

If you can scoop up this DW Home candle at your local TJ Maxx or Marshalls (I’m always spotting this brand there), do it ASAP. The vanilla notes are gorgeous on this one, mixing with buttercream and allspice to create a confection that reminds us of a pumpkin cupcake. The wooden wick is a nice touch, too — when you light it, it’ll crackle a bit to give off some soothing fireplace-like sound effects. Hello, fall.