It’s not always easy to cope with the changing of seasons. Each season brings on a set of different demands and challenges, which I often find hard to adapt to. Luckily, the weather often helps ease the transitions by forcing us to adapt to change. A series of rituals take place as the leaves begin to fall: I neatly fold my crop tops and swap them for blazers. I order yet another pair of fuzzy earmuffs that I will never actually wear. I drink a PSL while scrolling through a news feed that is flooded with think pieces about how pumpkin spice lattes are ruining the economy. Most importantly, I swap my ocean breeze summer candles for spicy autumnal ones. The crisp, earthy scents of autumn help trigger the emotional switch in my brain, which is why the swapping of candles is such a sacred experience. Keep reading for a roundup of my top five fall candles.
For someone who thinks cinnamon gum is far superior than any other chewing gum flavor
In the winter, we like spicy scents and even spicier personalities. With notes of cassis, cherries, cedar, and fig you will wonder why you didn’t invest in this earlier. This woody floral musk candle works in perfect harmony with the autumn season. If you are looking to spread the joy, Jo Malone candles make great gifts thanks to their minimalistic packaging.
For someone who wants their home to smell like a riad
Some amber candles have a cheesy I-got-this-on-sale-from-a-clothing-store scent but this one has a subtle elegance to it. When this candle is lit, I am no longer a girl from the suburbs, I am a worldly duchess being fed grapes at a dinner party. Watch as the room warms up with notes of Moroccan amber, sweet patchouli, heliotrope, and bergamot. Made of cosmetic-grade wax, fine fragrance oil, and high-quality braided cotton wicks, you are guaranteed a clean and even burn each time.
For someone who loves both luxury and the great outdoors
Help! I have fallen down a chimney and can’t get up. I want to know how the luxury craftsmen over at Diptyque have perfected the scent of burning firewood. Maybe it is the fact that they spend up to two days making each fall candle by hand to ensure the right balance between fragrance concentrate, the wax and wick. This chestnut roasting over an open flame scent really helps create an atmosphere that is appropriate for the season.
For someone who wants to mix masculine and feminine through spicy and sweet.
The good news, Boy Smells pays avid attention to the weather. Each candle in their Chromesthesia Series II line was designed to harmonize with the color of its packaging. No scent is off-limits to this gender-neutral brand, and they love to mix traditionally masculine and feminine scents together in order to play with conventional beliefs about scent. We see that risk pay off when sniffing this cannabis, suede, white musk, tulip, and amber mixture.
For someone who believes that candles are the first step in setting the mood
The key to coziness is a pair of fuzzy socks and lighting No. 04 by Maison Louis Marie. The rich intertwining of sandalwood, vetiver and amber wood really works to dominate the room. When this autumn candle is lit you are reminded that everything is going to be OK. It is simple, yet when you close your eyes to inhale it in you realize how complex the notes are — the brand makes their candles with the same high-quality fragrance they use for their perfume.
