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Favorite Fall Candles find your Signature Scent

Hi All. I have been on the hunt for a great fall/winter candle that can span the entire season. Scent is very personal.  I lean toward a citrusy, fresh-smelling candle year-round, but would like an earthier, woodsy type that will last through the winter.  I am not looking for something that smells like pumpkin or is overtly Christmas.  I know it’s a challenge. Do you have a signature scent that you like, or do you need a little help in that department?  Let’s take a look at My Favorite Fall Candles and How to find your signature scent.

FIND YOUR SIGNATURE SCENT

FAVORITE FALL CANDLES-FIND YOUR SIGNATURE SCENT

If you want to purchase a “clean-burning candle” look for one that will affect our air quality the least.  Soy candles, beeswax candles, and vegetable wax-based candles that are not blended with paraffin are your best bets. Check out this article from Healthline on Clean Burning Candles. Or this one from mindbodygreen, The Best Non Toxic Candles for 2021

fall coffee table arrangement-cindyhattersleydesign

Scented candles can create mood and atmosphere just as effectively as music and lighting. Different scents can help you transition your space from season to season and room to room. Here I am burning my long time favorite, votivo red current. Works for any season.

chair with candle

The entry is a great place to establish a “fragrance story” that is your own. The right fragrance will draw people in.

entry-candle-vignette-cindy-hattersley

Light, fresh citrus scents are perfect for spring and summer,  Spicy earthy scents compliment a crackling fire in fall and winter. Clean herbal scents can calm or revitalize your mood.  Scent is extremely personal. Understand what you like and seek out scents that attract you.  Start by identifying a fragrance family that appeals to you.

FIND YOUR SIGNATURE SCENT-A GUIDE TO CANDLE SCENTS

FAVORITE FALL CANDLES FIND YOUR SIGNATURE SCENT

Aromatherapy can ‘enhance your psychological and physical well being”.

sunflowers and lemons

To further confuse you most fragrances have three notes: top, middle, and bottom notes. “Plain, simple, and delicate notes, such as citrus and some florals, do not translate well and can be altered by heat.” These notes  below might help you further refine your selection:

FRAGRANCE NOTES-FIND YOUR SIGNATURE SCENT

Favorite Fall Candles find your Signature Scent

Experiment with layering scents once you find your favorite.  You might want a clean scent in your kitchen, something more soothing in the living room, and something that won’t compete with what you are eating in the dining room or none at all.

CANDLE AND ART OF OUTDOOR LIVING BOOK

I generally prefer something fresh, citrusy, or herbal.  I do like a woody, mossy scent in the winter months. Anything sweet or overly flowery does not appeal to me.  So here is a list of the candles I own or want to try.

You might enjoy:

GLAMOUR BEST FALL CANDLES

32 FALL CANDLES HOUSE BEAUTIFUL

FAVORITE FALL CANDLES

 

I hope you enjoyed my favorite fall candles and how to find your signature scent. If you missed my Natural Collected Fall Home Tour you can read it here. I am anxious to get your recommendations.  I feel like most of the candles that are being peddled in the stores now do not appeal to me personally. What do you look for in a candle?  Do you have a favorite?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. nancy says

    I have also come across some papers soaked in resins and fragrance, some from this same company as the terra cotta pomegranate, Santa Maria Novella, and another company from France. You light the paper, blow the flame out and let it burn slowly. Oh my, it’s especially wonderful in a smaller area like a bathroom.
    These to me are a good alternative to expensive candles and the dusty reeds. You get a lot of scent for your money. You have to admit, good candles cost a lot!
    And also, good church incense from a company MonastaryIcons. This is all pretty fall and winter!

  2. Nancy says

    The most best thing I bought lately is a scented terra cotta pomegranate from Santa Maria Novella, an Italian company. WOW!! I LOVE IT! I make fun of people always saying they are obsessed about something, but I might have to admit to this right now… I put the wrapper in my purse. It’s supposed last nearly a year. The pomegranate, not the wrapper. One day I hope to have a bowl full of terra cotta pomegranates, what could be more delightful?

    Thanks for this post, I had completely forgotten about Votivo candles, I used to love Green Tomatoes.

  3. Elizabeth@pineconesandacorns says

    Cindy, I love candles, and burn them all of the time. I love “christmas scented” candles and Fall candles and in the spring and summer peonies, jasmine and that is about it. That said I have found some fabulous candles in Europe that I like but honestly I hate spending $70 for a candle. Last year at HomeGoods I purchased a candle on clearance for $30.00, it was sat one point $199.00 at HomeGoods and when I looked it up on the internet it cost $699.00!!!! What they heck, I could never ever spend that kind of money on a candle.
    I cannot wait to check out your candle finds. Thank you for sharing.

  4. Deborah Robinson says

    This is a great post and love all of the different candle manufacturer! I’m checking them out.
    My winter “go to” scent is Thymes Frasier Fir, which I use with the diffuser sticks. It reminds me of the Alpine forests of Lake Tahoe. Once we hit February, I need a change, so I’m checking out Red Current.
    Thank you!

  5. Christine says

    I adore candles, scented and unscented. I cannot begin to count the number of tealight containers I spread across the front entry and backyard for celebrations and entertaining. My favorite scents are in your “Woodsy” section, particularly Sandalwood, also vanilla and patchouli.
    Here in Southern California, I purchase candles from the son of a friend and co-worker. His created Get A Whiff a few years ago, always improving one thing or another every season. Fun names, an assortment of scents, plus they’re made to order. I don’t want to sound like a commercial, so check out the “About” section on the website. GetAWhiffCo.com. I love his products!

    • Nancy Carnochan says

      Aww Christine, you have followed him from the beginning! Thank you! He will be so touched with your comments ❤️❤️

  6. Nancy says

    The title of your blog today struck me as so funny; as if we should have such problems as being overwhelmed by candle scents! I love the post though and the previous sentence is not a criticism…it was just humorous to me.
    I love scented candles and I appreciate all this information. I try different scents each year from mostly Yankee Candle.
    I love the Balsam scents and there’s one that’s sage and something which is wonderful. It may be sage and lime?
    In recent years I have discovered some small businesses that make soy candles and there’s one that’s called, “Cranberry” and it’s wonderful. I discovered the brand in a local restaurant’s ladies room! Low and behold it was from a small in (my) state business! This was before the pandemic though and I don’t know if they are still in business.
    I’ll have to check out some of your sources.

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      Hi Nancy

      I am overwhelmed when I walk into a candle store! The combination of scents is almost nauseating.. Thanks for sharing your favorites. I agree the small companies seem to be doing the best lately.

  7. sharon says

    I was in Atlanta visiting my niece who is a designer and she had Mad et Len candles in her home that I have seriously became obsessed with. They are “small batch” done in a mountain town outside of Grasse France by a couple. They come in black metal containers and I have the Spirtuelle scent that is really quite wonderful. I now have them everywhere so it is a singular scent. They also do a room diffuser which is new t the line. I have only found them online as no local store carries the line. I also still love Cypress by Rigaud for winter/holidays.

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      Those candles are wonderful. I was trying to keep my list somewhat affordable, but I agree with you.

  8. Wren says

    What an interesting topic! I love candles but never thought about having a signature fragrance for my home. I know hotels do it and some stores which can overwhelm, even just walking by. A friend gave me a collection of 6 little bougies from Nest which have been fun to try. They are small but mighty. I also have a diffuser in my kitchen that I use with a lemongrass and ginger oil which smells clean and relaxing. I am fickle and never repeat the same candle brand or fragrance. It’s good to be aware of buying “clean”.
    I’ve not tried the Votivo Red Currant but since it seems popular, I think I will look for it.
    Thanks for stimulating the olfactory senses with these ideas!

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      Lemongrass and ginger sounds fabulous in the kitchen. My kitchen is so small now I really don’t have room for a diffuser, but it would be nice!! You will love red currant..it’s a keeper

  9. Lauren says

    Oh my you hit a nerve with me! Finding good candle scents is not easy. Many candles smell horrible….was in a store just yesterday and I recoiled after smelling a potential candle and the woman next to me said “makes you wonder how most of these get past the quality control team”…..and we both laughed because that is so true. The more expensive brands often smell better because they use the true essential oils for the scents rather than synthetic but even then the combos of scents they dream up are often bad. The other thing to be mindful of if you have guests coming is allergies and migraines…..scents often trigger these so please ask your guests ahead of time so your guests can enjoy their time with you. It is hard to enjoy a visit if you/they are struggling to breathe or their head is pounding.

    • Joanna says

      I’m glad you brought that topic up, Lauren. I’m allergic to scents and within minutes feel like I have a nasty cold – running nose, sneezing… Please be mindful of this when burning candles in your home when guests are over. It makes the guest feel bad to have to tell their hosts that the candle(s) are bothering them.,

      • Cindy Hattersley says

        Hi Joanna

        Good information to keep in mind. Do all scents bother you or are certain ones more offensive?

        • Joanna says

          All scents and heavily scented flowers such as lilies. Star glazer is particularly strong. Shortly after entering one’s home I feel like I have a nasty cold. I hesitate to tell the hostess because it’s her home but it becomes obvious quickly,

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      Hi Lauren

      I thing the small-batch companies, and of course the super expensive ones are doing well. The rest, well I am not allergic and I find them overwhelmin!

  10. dianne says

    Oh my! I cannot believe that no one has mentioned Le Labo candles or DB and Durga candles! I am obsessed with both!
    The Le Labo Palo Santo is intoxicating and DS and Durga Big Sur AfterRain is fresh and clean and so reminds me of Big Sur after a rain! Wonderful candles, in my opinion!

  11. Diane B says

    I do tend to change out the scents from room to room, soft floral in the bath, lemon verbena in the kitchen and switch out fragrance in the rest of the house according to season. I found a birch caampfire one at Marshalls a few years ago, and after lighting it at home, went back and bought the rest on the shelf. This is quite nice on a winter evening. Some scents smell nice in the jar, then when burned smell completely different. The hunt continues for the perfect ones.

  12. Gray says

    Since candles were one of our best sellers in our shop, I know a thing or two! Great info on clean candles – also, no metal wicks!
    I agree with everything you said about scent, I change a little with all four seasons. No gourmand and I alternate the other four with seasons. Favorites and best sellers were Lafco, Nest, Diptyque, Thymes Fraser Fir (winter) , Votivo, and Kai (summer). Two new ones in our area – Virginia – are Tulip & Bear and Sydney Hale – both good.
    For Fall/Winter I like Diptyque Figuer, Noisetier, Oud, and Feu de Bois, and Thymes Fraser Fir and Nest Holiday for Christmas. I want to try Maison Louis Marie candles also. Votivo Red Currant is great and Lafco has some good ones.
    I could go on and on. Great post Cindy!

  13. janet says

    I discovered Broken Top candles when we were on vacation in Colorado – I love their scents and they permeate the room. My favorite is Mount Batchelor and White Birch. They also have room sprays.

  14. Karen says

    My computer is acting up. I hope this isn’t a duplicate comment. I’m a long-time Votivo fan and like you, Red Current is my favorite. I also love their Clean Crisp White. I confess this is one of my guilty pleasures. The fragrance lifts my spirits no matter the season.
    Happy Friday.
    xo,
    Karen

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