24 of the best scented candles approved by our expert

Burn time: 110-150 hours
Size: 623g
Notes: Cinnamon, patchouli, jasmine, vanilla
Wax: Premium-grade paraffin wax

If you're not one to fan-girl over Autumn, let alone Halloween-scented candles, don't be surprised if Witches Brew takes you under a smell spell. Whether it's the mesmerizing potion of patchouli, woody cinnamon, and clove, or the dark wax in the clear jar, it's a subtle nod to the spooky season if you're not for full-on dramatic decor. When Christina lit the wax, it did tunnel (a common problem with paraffin-based candles) but on consecutive burns, it sorted itself out.

Burn time: 33 hrs/ 70 hrs
Size: 140g/770g
Notes: Smoked Woods, Birch & Amber
Wax: Mineral

The ultimate scented candle for autumn, this candle imitates the fragrance of a roaring fireplace. It's cosy, warm and the perfect addition to a living room. It's poured in the UK and comes in a classic glass vessel and it comes in a range of sizes. We buy it year after year, and guests always comment when it's burning.

Burn time: 50-60hrs/75-100hrs
Size: 230g/600g
Notes: Floral
Wax: Paraffin

This has to be our favourite candle for year-round use. Not only does it look luxurious, but it smells incredible. We tested the three-wick version and it floods an entire room with its fragrance. It even offers a clean burn, too. We love using it in our bedroom, but it works well in living rooms and hallways, too. It comes in a luxury pink-tinted glass vessel that's frosted with stripes.

Burn time: 56hrs
Size: 765g
Notes: Pumpkin, vanilla, nutmeg, ginger
Wax: Coconut, palm, paraffin

We recently picked this up in our local TK Maxx, and to say that it smells like autumn and Halloween would be an understatement. It's spicy, warm and simply just the perfect combination to burn once the weather is cold. Its fragrance also floods a large room with ease. Not to mention it's huge, it has two wicks and its large orange glass vessel will be sure to make a statement. The vessel is also etched with pumpkins and would look lovely as storage after use. 

Burn time: 35-45hrs
Size: 200g
Notes: Whisky, tonka bean, amber
Wax: Mineral

When we say that Noble Isle's Whisky and Water Candle is spicy, we truly mean it. It's also powerful so that you can smell it before it's even lit. It's great for lighting in the autumn, as it's nice and warm and impressively fragrant. We love it for a larger room, or a home office as it's quite a serious scent. The vegan formula definitely isn't one for lighting in summer or spring, whilst it sits inside a matte black glass vessel.

Burn time: 50hrs
Size: 215g
Notes: Ginger, Cinnamon, Vanilla
Wax: Soy

Searching for another candle for autumn? This warming blend can fill an entire room with its impressive fragrance. Plus, it boasts an even burn and we say to light it inside a hallway, bedroom or living room, simply because it's wow-worthy. It's never too heavy, and the cinnamon doesn't take over. With an FSC-certified wick, it's even made using soy wax and is vegan and cruelty-free. Inside the wax sits two ethical crystals that will need to be removed once the wax has melted.

Burn time: 5hrs - 135hrs
Size: 14g - 1555g
Notes: Eucalyptus, pine, cedar
Wax: Mineral

The White Company's Fir Tree candle is, without a doubt, our best pick for winter. Why? It smells like your Christmas tree, but better – and 10 times more fresh. Though wintery, it still manages to give off a slightly ozonic fragrance to leave your rooms smelling fresh. We definitely suggest placing it in your living room, otherwise, it works great in a hallway to greet your guests with a festive fragrance.

This candle currently isn't sold on The White Company website as it is out of season. Check back later in the year for a link to buy.

Burn time: 60hrs
Size: 300g
Notes: Vanilla, clove bud, citrus, florals
Wax: Soy

This incredibly gentle yet sweet fragrance has the ability to fill a room from corner to corner, and we think it's the ideal scented candle for use almost anywhere in your home. We love it for spring and summer, whilst it burns super clean. It's made using soy-based wax with a burn time of 60 hours and two lead-free cotton wicks.

Burn time: 55hrs
Size: 280g
Notes: Geranium, juniper and patchouli
Wax: Mineral

Blanc has to be our favourite crowd-pleaser scent from The White Company. Light this candle at any time of year, and in any room in your house, to wow guests and complement your interiors. This subtle fragrance is a crispy floral fragrance that fills an entire room, and we love the two-wick size the most. It works well in living rooms or bedrooms, and it burns clean though you can expect some soot around the corner of the elegant vessel.

Burn time: 35hrs
Size: 230g
Notes: Vanilla, honeycomb, gently roasted oats
Wax: Unsure

This exquisite blend will be sure to impress all year round – in both looks and design – as it's a fitting yet subtle blend of honey and oats with an impressive throw performance. We'd recommend confining it to your bedroom, hallway, or living room as it's too nice to use in a bathroom or kitchen. We've had guests comment on the scent of this candle, whilst we love the simple yet stunning white glass vessel that this candle is poured inside. It burns clean though you'll need to trim the wick often.

Burn time: 20hrs/50hrs
Size: 65g/200g
Notes: Alba rose, elderflower, blackcurrant buds, lily of the valley
Wax: Swedish rapeseed oil

This floral fragrance is eco-friendly and perfect for summer and spring, thanks to its delightful floral aroma. Perfectly subtle yet still fragrance, it sits inside a pink recycled glass vessel that's decorative, with a wooden lid to prevent dusting. It's vegan, cruelty-free and organic, and it burns clean.

Burn time: 20hrs/60hrs/70hrs
Size: 80g/290g/600g
Notes: Various
Wax: Rapeseed and coconut

This eco-friendly and handmade candle encourages you to reuse the same candle vessel (known as a Pott). Our favourite scent has to be the 100 per cent natural Mint fragrance as it's herbal yet creamy and inviting, plus it burns clean. The idea is that you can switch up your fragrance as the seasons change, and candles are scented using 100 per cent natural essential oils.

Burn time: 45hrs
Size: 200g
Notes: Damask rose
Wax: Soy

This gorgeous candle is serious without ever being too floral. It's an elegant blend of rose and smoky oud wood, making it classy and unique in comparison to other floral fragrances. Though it is strong and sometimes it can scent a room without even being lit. It comes with a lid to conceal its fragrance and to act as a protective plate when the candle is burning. Crafted with natural cotton wicks, we tested the limited edition version which had black wax. It gets top points for luxury.

Burn time: 60hrs
Size: 190g
Notes: Basil, mint, tomato leaves
Wax: Paraffin

Made in France and designed to banish odours in your kitchen whilst cooking, this candle is scented with basil, mint and tomato leaves. Light it 30 minutes before you cook and blow it out 30 minutes after to be wowed. It offers an impressively clean burn from start to finish, and its amber glass vessel looks super luxurious. From the deliciously delicate piece of fish you've just made for guests, to the rather unpleasant smell of your deep fat fryer doing its magic, it can tackle any task. 

Burn time: 40hrs
Size: 210g
Notes: Geranium, peppermint, Sicilian orange
Wax: Mineral

This herbal home fragrance is uplifting and anything but subtle as it's a unique citrus blend with added herbs and fruits. It's ideal for placing in a kitchen or bathroom, whilst it's better suited for smaller spaces and can definitely be used year-round. Filled in the UK using high-quality mineral wax, it sits inside an elegant white ceramic vessel, complete with a lid. Though it burns clean, just bear in mind it leaves behind a little soot.

Burn time: 50hrs
Size: 420g
Notes: Chamomile, ylang ylang, cedarwood
Wax: Vegetable

Light this candle for a couple of hours or so before you sleep to get you there peacefully. Fragranced with 11 essential oils to soothe, this fruity yet sweet smell is designed to fill a bedroom from corner to corner. It burns super clean and is soot-free, though you'll want to keep your wicks trimmed at all times as they tend to curl. You might want to avoid lighting it in smaller bedrooms, however, as it can be quite strong.

Burn time: 55hrs
Size: 220g
Notes: Bitter orange
Wax: Beeswax

Aather's beautifully shaped Meet in the Greenhouse smells like fresh air but even better, with a twist of bitter orange with underlying woody notes for good balance. This is why we say it works best in hallways, to flood a fresh combination scent through all of your rooms, subtly. You can really light it anywhere including in a living room on a coffee table, or even in a bathroom or kitchen to give off a fresh fragrance. Just avoid smaller rooms as its blend might be overpowering. It burns evenly from start to finish but this candle did leave behind soot when we used it at home.

Burn time: Unsure
Size: 200/g/410g
Notes: Rose, orange, lavender, palmarosa
Wax: Soy

This ESPA candle is scented with essential oils and is ideal for lighting in springtime. Whether you want something to burn whilst doing your spring clean or as you take a dip in the tub, this candle can do the job at hand. We love it. With both floral and sweet nods, this ESPA candle can fill an entire room, no matter its size. It's never too sweet or too heavy. Poured inside a white glass jar with a metal lid for standing atop.

Burn time: 40hrs
Size: 200g
Notes: Vanilla, plum, ambroxan amber, cashmere
Wax: Soy

This candle is warm, creamy and best of all: not too powerful once lit. We think this is a candle you can light at any time of the year, whether during summer on a cold evening, or in the winter for a welcoming effect. It sits inside a yellow glass vessel so as to stand out as much in looks as it does in scent. Floral Street is vegan, cruelty-free and sustainable and all of their products are responsibly made.

Burn time: 45hrs
Size: 210g
Notes: Wild mint, tea, peppermint
Wax: Mineral

Another refreshing candle on our list, The White Company's Wild Mint is a bestseller for a reason. It's unobtrusive while also being the perfect fresh fragrance for your kitchen. That being said, it also works great in a bathroom or hallway. Just avoid lighting it in small rooms as its herbal scent may become overpowering. Unlike other The White Company candles, this fragrance is housed inside an elegant white ceramic container, with a lid. It burns clean, although watch out for soot in the vessel as it may produce some whilst burning. 

Burn time: 65-75 hours
Size: 411g
Notes: Jasmine, white amber, vanilla
Wax: Premium-grade paraffin wax

What distinguishes this Yankee Candle scent from the rest of their collection is a comforting fragrance that feels like you've wrapped yourself in a cozy knitted throw or jumper. If you've been put off by sweeter scents from the brand in the past, consider this 'cleaner-smelling' wax which fills the room with neutral notes of gentle white flowers, without feeling overly feminine or sickly. Definitely one for if you want to celebrate the colder months, but don't like overtly seasonal fragrances. Looks right at home in your living room, or as a nice welcoming surprise in a guest bedroom.

Burn time: 60 hours
Size: Makes one 10oz candle
Notes: Bergamot, rose, geranium oakmoss, musk
Wax: An eco-friendly coconut blend wax

Move over candle-making workshops. When the nights get cold and you're not feeling social enough for Zoom or IRL craft sesh, this is a great DIY candle kit for having some me-time. All you need to do is remove the lead-free cotton wick and wooden wick holder from the bag, microwave the open bag of wax for around two minutes, place the wick into your chosen vessel, and carefully pour the hot liquid in. Et voila, a non-paraffin wax candle, that you created yourself. Smells like you're steeping a fragrant middle-eastern tea! Ooh, and after you're done with the biodegradable bag, pop it in your compost bin.

Burn time: 45 hours
Size: 600g
Notes: Smokey oud, spices, and antique leather furniture
Wax: Beeswax and rapeseed

Autumn (aka the spooky season) is the prime time to dress our home in creepy crawlies. But, instead of decorating your home with gross bugs, choose this gothic-chic candle that goes gung-ho on the entomology trend. Painterly fauna and florals envelop this hand-illustrated candle which is filled with smokey oud-scented, ethically-sourced ingredients from England. Yes, it's on the more expensive side, but you can easily refashion the pot into a beautiful vessel for pens, flowers, plants, or makeup brushes! Adds dark drama in a contemporary scheme, but we can definitely see this suiting a Victorian period home, with stained glass windows.

Burn time: 50 hours
Size: 235g
Notes: Ripe blackberries, sweet peaches and citrus
Wax: Beeswax and soy wax
Fresh and fruity scents aren't just for Spring! And while peaches aren't a fruit we'd associate with Autumn, when paired with jammy berries and a squeeze of zesty bergamot, this harmonious combination just works. It's a great respite to the usual spicy, gingerbready aromas we're more familiar with this time of year. Because of its clean(er) nose, we lit this candle while indulging in a bubble bath. The fresh fragrance (derived from essential oils) enhanced our self-care experience so we can imagine it would make a great gift too. We love the heritage feel of the branding, complete with rose gold stag and fawn. The mirrored silver-plated metal lid is the cherry on top of this already premium-looking product.