Light Up Your Fall Semester With Our Top Candle Picks
Written by Samhita Anapu, Photos by Jennifer Han, Design by Shelby Sutton
Before the (ongoing) pandemic, most of us burned the occasional candle a few times a week: during a soothing bath, a relaxing night in, or right before our friends came over to a seemingly clean apartment. Now, we burn through a candle a week—even two on a good week! Whether to mask the scent of an overflowing laundry hamper or banish the lingering smell of crispy bacon, candles serve as the perfect cover for whatever life throws at you in our new quarantined “normal.”
$14.50 at Bath & Body Works
If you want to revert back to your middle school roots, filled with accumulating the best hand sanitizers from Bath & Body Works, welcome to the grown-up version: seasonal candles. If you act now, you may be able to catch the 2 for $20 Mix & Match Sale and add Harvest Gathering to your collection! Bringing your fall to a warm end with fresh-picked apples, autumn berries, clove buds, and essential oil scents, you will not regret this holiday purchase.
Lulu Candles Spiced Vanilla Luxury Scented Jar Candle
$14.95 at Amazon
Want to achieve ultimate serenity without leaving your house or breaking the bank? This candle is an Amazon customer favorite with a 4.4 star rating. It’s made with eco-friendly soy wax with long-lasting notes of spices and vanilla to bring the perfect balance of fall and winter atmospheres, making this a multi-purpose candle. Once your candle is burned, the remaining sleek glass jar can be repurposed for a variety of household uses.
$17 at Yankee Candle Company
With Thanksgiving having come and gone, nostalgic thoughts of family and delicious plates of food come to mind. The sweetest part of Thanksgiving: pie. Toasted pecans with hints of cinnamon, sugar, honey, and dark chocolate equal a pie baked to perfection. With hints of cloves and smoked cedar, this candle blends both sweet and musky fragrances. Of course, not breaking the bank is an added bonus.
Boulangerie Jar in Oatmeal Cookie
$18 at Anthropologie
This candle is reminiscent of Christmas at your grandma’s mixed with the set of the television show, The Great British Bake Off. A blend of cinnamon, sugar, almond, oats, and all things nice, this candle will fool anyone into thinking you’re a professional baker. The mouth-watering aromas of desserts infused in this candle create an inviting atmosphere, wherever one is lit.
Illume Balsam & Cedar Large Tin Candle
$19 at Bloomingdale’s
This candle’s lineup of scents ranges from balsam, cedar, rich oak moss, cinnamon, and eucalyptus. It invokes festive feelings in any living space, whether you have holiday decor set up already or not. The aroma of this candle reminds us of Christmas, stockings by the fireplace, and everything cozy revolving around the holidays.
P.F. Candle Co. Holiday Amber Jar Spruce Candle
$20 at Urban Outfitters
This handcrafted candle subtly combines the best aspects of winter. The impressive scent list of blue sparrow, snow pine, cedarwood, and citrus lend a welcoming and homey feel, ideal for a warm night in with a good book and a blanket. It’s the perfect pick to give to someone who's sensitive to smells (or to buy for yourself). Make sure to save the reusable amber jars once the candle is done!
Tips & Tricks
The first time you light your candle, allow it to burn until the wax pool melts all the way to the edge; for a larger candle, this may take several hours. Trim your wick each time you light the candle, removing any "bloom" from the previous burn. We recommend lighting a wick that is 1/4-1/2" in length. Ensure that your candle is placed on a heat-safe surface. Do not allow wick trimmings, dust, or other materials to accumulate in the wax pool.
Lastly, no matter which candle you choose to purchase, investing in a good candle can elevate your mood tremendously (especially when our friend, seasonal depression, decides to visit us during these long winter months). Remember that you’re not alone, and you can always find a little bit of solace in the silent flickering of a warm candle lighting up your room.