It's a Pumpkin Spice Showdown: 10 Best Pumpkin Candles for Fall, According to Our Editors
We sniffed our way through Yankee Candle, Bath & Body Works, Voluspa, and more.
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Personally, I won’t feel like it’s officially fall until I light my first pumpkin candle of the season. There's something undeniably comforting about the scent of warm spices (helloooo, cinnamon, clove, ginger, and nutmeg!) that makes any home feel more cozy. But since there's an overwhelming number of pumpkin spice candles out there, I'm on a mission to sniff out the very best ones.
As a self-proclaimed candle connoisseur (proof: I have over 30 different candles sitting at my desk right now), It's safe to say that I have very strong opinions on the best pumpkin spice picks. But for a more ~objective~ ranking, I recruited my fellow editors to help me review the season's top picks. We smelled over 50 different candles, including plenty of pumpkin spice picks from a variety of popular brands like Bath & Body Works, Voluspa, and Yankee Candle, then gave our honest testing notes on each.
Our top picks for the best pumpkin spice candles of 2025:
From nostalgic, sugary-sweet pumpkin desserts to elevated, woody picks that basically double as decor, these are the 10 best pumpkin spice candles for every scent preference, decor style, and budget—starting at just $7.
Rating: 9.6/10
Key notes: Wild pumpkin, masala chai, ginger
Cosmo editors say:
- I'm such a huge fan of the chai scent; feels like a warm hug.
- Feels like a signature fall scent that you'd leave burning when company is over.
- Not overwhelming at all and does not have an artificial scent—the depth of spices complements the sweetness of the pumpkin.
Rating: 9.5/10
Key notes: Cinnamon, bitter orange, clove buds
Cosmo editors say:
- When I die, I want to reincarnate as this candle. It smells so warm and festive and cozy.
- It's fresher than others, so it's perfect for those who find sweet pumpkin scents cloying.
- This dreamy scent is for the person who loves fall but doesn't want that fake pumpkin smell. It's also the MOST stunning jar, and would be something that I'd want to keep forever.
Rating: 8.7/10
Key notes: Gingered white pumpkin, caramel glaze, warm spices
Cosmo editors say:
- Smells like you're baking pumpkin bread. The perfect balance of sweetness, pumpkin, and spice.
- It's got the proper balance of spice, warmth, sweetness, and subtle milky notes to make it festive and dynamic yet not overwhelming
- If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Love this one every year.
Rating: 7.9/10
Key notes: Pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg
Cosmo editors say:
- This is a great staple candle. It's what you think of when you think of traditional pumpkin spice smell.
- Great classic spiced pumpkin, love the clove coming through!
- This smell reminds me of all the cheesy Halloween decor we had growing up, so I love it.
Rating: 7.9/10
Key notes: Roasted pumpkin, ginger, warm musk
Cosmo editors say:
- This one leans more like a true pumpkin spiced scent that's elevated and balanced with sweet and spiced notes.
- I like the subtle scent of this one and the minimalist packaging.
- SUCH a classic and nostalgic pumpkin scent. Love the spicy ginger; this is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Rating: 7.7/10
Key notes: Kabocha pumpkin, vanilla marshmallow, cinnamon spiced brûlée
Cosmo editors say:
- This is the best capture of a pumpkin spice latte, it has a creamy element that was really nice.
- The packaging is gorgeous and worth it for that reason alone.
- Scent aside, it's worth buying for the gorgeous glass jar alone. It's not as strong as other pumpkin scents, so it would be perfect for a bathroom.
Rating: 7.5/10
Key notes: Pumpkin, cinnamon, caramelized sugar
Cosmo editors say:
- I burned this one pretty much 24/7 last fall and I'm so excited to re-buy this year. It's spice-y and pumpkin-y and warm and everything you want a cozy fall evening to be.
- Smells expensive. Not overpowering, and the jar gives spooky Halloween vibes.
- I'm normally weary of cake-y scents because they're so sweet, this one is more balanced thanks to the spices. It'd make a good kitchen candle.
Rating: 7.5/10
Key notes: Creamy pumpkin, fresh nutmeg, vanilla bean
Cosmo editors say:
- This smells like a mulled fall drink or a hot toddy; it's very milky and warm. This is ideal for those looking for a bundle-up-in-a-throw-blanket-and-bed-rot while feeling festive scent.
- This one felt more sweet than spice to me, it has a caramel-y note.
- Nostalgic and on the sweeter side.
Rating: 6.4/10
Key notes: Pumpkin, spicy chai, warm milk
Cosmo editors say:
- I don't think this necessarily smells like pumpkin, but it does smell GOOD. Bonus points for the packaging; it's gorgeous and would make such chic storage after you burn through it.
- I thought I was going to love this because the jar is so cute, but it has too sweet of a smell that didn't really wow me.
- Definitely get the chai vibe, I smell cardamom and it's not overly sweet. Love that it comes with a lid, packaging feels gift-able.
Rating: 6/10
Key notes: Cinnamon, fresh ground clove, brown sugar
Cosmo editors say:
- This is veryy cinnamon forward scent. It's more nostalgic; leans more like a traditional pumpkin spiced scent.
- I like the strong spice notes of cinnamon and clove in this one, feels warm and cozy for late fall or Thanksgiving
- Reminds me of a children's bookstore in the best way, it smells like Halloween as a kid.
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