Best Fall Candle Scent Recipes With A Printable Chart
These are the best fall candle scent recipes! Print our fall candle scent mixing chart to make candles smell like fall with the best candle scent list for autumn!
If there ever was a season for scented candles, it would be fall, hands down. Don’t you agree? I think one could possibly live in an endless world of Octobers with the right amount of fall scented candles.
But who’s waiting until October? As we begin to see school supplies lining the shelves, I can’t help but think of pumpkins.
Yes, I am admittedly a pumpkin fanatic. So much so that I think it scares my husband… a little. As if eagerly waiting for Starbucks to announce the release of pumpkin spice lattes, buying enough pumpkins at the farmers market to fill our SUV, and burning fall candles non-stop was somehow scandalous? Please!
Well, scandalous or not, I love making my own fall candle scent recipes too. Especially pumpkin scented candles like Pumpkin Roll and, of course, the notorious PSL.
But, sometimes, the scent can be a disappointment. Rather it doesn’t match the scent I tried to recreate in a candle or isn’t strong enough. I’ve certainly learned a few things about making scented candles and overcoming common candle problems. Because there’s nothing worse than spending time and money to make a candle that flops.
So, that’s why I’ve tested, created, and narrowed down the best fall candle scent recipes for you!
And I promise they are not all pumpkin-scented candles. I’ve included classics like Apple Pie and Fall Cider, along with fresh crisp popular fall candle scents and earthy woodland scents. And you might even find new fall candle scent names like Bonfire Nights to inspire your candle-making.
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How can I make my house smell good in the fall?
If you’re asking my opinion, a beautifully made fall scented candle can single-handedly make your house smell good in the fall. The key is selecting aromas that represent this time of year.
What is a good fall candle scent? The most amazing fall candle scent recipes trigger memories and emotions of the season. From filling your basket at the apple orchard to finding the perfect pumpkin to carve to happily jumping in a pile of leaves as a child.
Because scent is an intersection between memories and emotions. This is exactly why a scented candle can pack quite a punch.
What are good candle scent combinations? Traditional spices used in fall cooking, such as cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg, can be blended with woodland aromas such as pine or cedarwood. Or add a splash of citrus or exotic aromas like sandalwood and amber.
Use the printable fall candle scent mixing chart below to make amazing candles or guide your candle scent combinations. You’re sure to find inspiring ideas to bring the aromas of fall into your home.
Related To: 25 Homemade Fall Candles
How do you make candles smell like fall?
You can make candles that smell like fall in minutes by following this key technique!
First, you should know how much candle fragrance your candle wax can hold. Most candle wax makers will include this on the label and/or in the description of the product.
For example, this soy wax has a maximum fragrance load of 12%. Meaning it can hold up to 12% or almost 2 ounces of fragrance per pound of wax. (If you’re unfamiliar with this term, read my scented candle guide.)
The next step is to choose your desired fragrance load within the capabilities of the candle wax. Store-bought candles have a common fragrance load of 6%. Whereas high-quality candles can have a fragrance load of up to 12%.
As the candle maker, the choice is completely up to you. Do you prefer a lightly scented candle or a strong scented candle? Once you have chosen your wax and desired fragrance amount, you can put them into a fragrance load calculator and calculate the fragrance load for your homemade candle.
If this all sounds complicated, don’t worry. I’ve made it easy to get started with tested fall candle scent recipes you can use to fill your home with all the cozy scents of fall!
3 Ways To Test Candle Scent Recipes
Here are ways to test these fall candle scent recipes at home in addition to your own ideas for scented candles.
Quick Jar Test:
For a quick test of a scent recipe, add drops of each scent according to the percentage on a cotton ball.
For example, if you want to smell the Harvest Moon scent before making a candle. Add three drops of cedarwood, 1 drop of orange, 1 drop of cypress, and 3 drops of palo santo to a cotton ball. Place the scented cotton ball in a glass jar.
After a few days, open the jar and take a whiff. If you like what you smell, make a candle or test it in a candle melt next.
Wax Melt Test:
Candle wax melts are a very inexpensive way to test candle scents. Follow my instructions to make soy or beeswax candle wax melts to test a scent. I have done this many times, and I know you’ll find it helpful too.
Small Candle Test:
Another affordable way to test a candle scent blend is to make a small candle. This can actually give the best example of how it will perform in a candle. Opt to make a small two or four-ounce candle. Make sure you give it 3 to 7 days to cure before lighting and smelling the hot throw.
Related To: How To Make Scented Candles
Printable Chart of The Best Fall Candle Scent Recipes
You’ll have a lot more fun checking out this list of fall candles to make than your fall cleaning checklist! Your home may not be clean when you’re done, but it certainly will smell good.
Each of the fall candle scent recipes is easy to test and use in various candle sizes! Because each ingredient included in a scent recipe contains the percentage to use in the candle blend.
I have also included links to high-quality, phthalate-free natural fragrances or essential oils where possible. Giving you lots of options to choose your choice of candle fragrance type to create each scent recipe.
Are you ready? Let’s get this fall candle-making party started!
Pumpkin Roll Candle Scent Recipe:
If you like Bath and Body Works vanilla pumpkin marshmallow candles, you’ll love this pumpkin roll homemade candle scent recipe! Fill your kitchen this fall with the yummy scent of freshly baked pumpkin rolls. The aromas of sweet pumpkin puree blended with warm cinnamon and nutmeg, drizzled with buttery vanilla frosting, are so good.
- 30% pumpkin pie
- 30% cinnamon
- 10% nutmeg
- 20% vanilla
- 10% caraway
For a “done for you” option, check out Makesy’s Toasted Marshmallow & Pumpkin Brûlée. It is a classic pumpkin meets gooey marshmallow candle scent with just the right amount of spice and sweetness. I have used it before, and it has an addicting fall scent!
Fall Day
As perfect as a fall day, the aromas of ginger, pear, apple, and bergamot will make any space in your home smell like autumn. Picture yourself starting the morning with a trip to the fall farmers market or spending the afternoon under the trees at the apple orchard.
Makesy’s Harvest & Clove is a great ready-made option to jump into the fall season with juicy harvest fruit notes of apple & pear, complemented with warm spices.
Harvest Moon
Maybe it’s the beginning of a new school year, or maybe it’s the crisp fall days that make this time of year feel like a fresh start. This candle scent blend is composed of aromas that can support releasing what isn’t working for you during the full moon and make way for a fresh start during a new moon.
- 30% cedarwood
- 20% orange
- 10% cypress
- 40% palo santo
If you’re looking for a ready-to-use oil, this natural Palo Santo + Sage oil from Makesy is it! Consisting of cypress, sage, palo santo, cedarwood, and a touch of clove, it wonderfully grounding aroma for clearing and cleansing. I have also used this fragrance, and I have to say it is perfect for starting a season anew.
Fall Cider
Fall apple cider is the quintessential beverage enjoyed by all ages. Hot or cold, it is just the thing to quench your thirst after raking leaves, chopping wood, or picking apples at the orchard. And now you can make your home smell just like this classic fall spiced cider with this candle scent recipe.
Look to those cozy Apple Rind and Cinnamon oil reminiscent of apple picking in the cool Autumn weather. Fresh apples combined with delicious undertones of ground cinnamon sugar and nutmeg are a top-fall customer favorite. And, rightly so, it’s the best done-for-you option to make a cider fall-scented candle!
Perfectly Autumn
What could be more perfectly autumn than a candle combination of spicy cinnamon bark, clove buds, rich sandalwood, and vanilla tonka beans? It sure is one cozy autumn candle scent.
- 30% cinnamon
- 30% clove
- 20% sandalwood
- 20% vanilla tonka beans
I’m a sucker for warm, spicy candle scents in the fall, aren’t you? This Flowering Clove + Sandalwood oil from Makesy is unmistakably spicy and beautifully bright with clove, sandalwood, cinnamon, tobacco, and raw sugar. I used this scent to make homemade massage bars too!
Fall Flannel
This fall flannel candle scent recipe is all things comfort. With notes of warm amber, vanilla, spice, cedarwood, and sandalwood with a hint of citrus, it is a subtle fall scent that many love.
- 30% amber
- 10% cedarwood
- 10% vanilla or vanilla tonka beans
- 30% sandalwood
- 10% bergamot
- 10% orange
Bramble Berry’s Warm Flannel oil is the perfect match for a ready-to-use fragrance. It’s a comforting mix of bergamot, orange, nutmeg, cream, vanilla, orchid, cedar, patchouli, sandalwood, and amber.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Bring the world’s favorite fall drink to life with a pumpkin spice latte candle scent recipe! It’s a beautiful balance of warm vanilla, freshly ground coffee, and pumpkin spice – equating to all things cozy!
- 20% vanilla
- 40% espresso
- 40% pumpkin spice or 20% cinnamon, 10% nutmeg, and 10% clove
Surprisingly, this is the only Pumpkin Spice Latte ready-to-use oil I could find. It is a sophisticated fall fragrance with an invigorating spice flourish. Touches of black coffee, caramel, and cream intermingle with the fall spices. Baked pumpkin makes up the heart of the fragrance, while caramel and cinnamon add a toasty character.
It sounds like just the thing to transport yourself to a crisp Autumn day! I haven’t tried it, so let me know if you do.
Autumn Leaves
Who can resist a walk in the woods when the leaves begin to change color and crunch beneath our feet? You’ll love this fall fresh candle scent blend of pine and cedarwood, intertwined with warm clove and cinnamon and a touch of bright orange.
Wrap yourself in the smell of the autumn air with the done-for-you Fallen Leaves oil from Candle Science. This warm and inviting candle scent of pecan and cedarwood base notes enhances the natural outdoor quality while balancing the fruit and spice notes. This oil blend is infused with natural essential oils, including cinnamon leaf, cinnamon bark, patchouli, cedarwood, vetiver, and sandalwood.
Warm Apple Pie
This is a fall candle scent recipe many enjoy year-round in their kitchen. It’s a delightful aroma of freshly baked apples and warm sugar, highlighted by fall spices, cinnamon, and clove.
- 30% apple
- 25% warm vanilla sugar or vanilla
- 25% cinnamon
- 20% clove
If you prefer a ready-made candle fragrance, Candle Science just released a new Hot Apple Pie oil that captures that nostalgic, straight-out-of-the-oven scent. This scrumptious scent starts with classic pie spices, including cinnamon and clove, with a hint of almond that enhances the juicy, freshly baked apples. The fragrance is infused with essential oils, including clove leaf and sweet orange.
Bonfire Nights
It isn’t officially fall until we’ve had a bonfire! This is one of the most unique fall candle scent recipes I’ve developed, with notes of warm amber and sandalwood blended into rich cardamom and black pepper. Together they create a candle scent that reminds me of sitting close with family and friends around the bonfire, roasting smores, and enjoying the beauty of a crisp fall evening.
- 25% amber
- 25% sandalwood
- 35% cardamom
- 15% black pepper
Makesy’s White Sandalwood + Smoke Oil is a clear match for a ready-to-use oil. It’s a natural blend of cardamom, vanilla, amber, black pepper, and hints of campfire smoke and leather for a dark, woody scent.
Finding the perfect fall candle scent is so easy with this printable fall candle scent mixing chart! Find it and countless more candle making resources in the Simple Living Library.
There’s no denying that scented candles are one of the easiest ways to make the shift from one season to the next. After you’ve tested this list from my fall candle scent mixing chart, anyone who wasn’t in the fall mood already will certainly be when they walk in the door!
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Save these fall candle scent recipes to your DIY candle Pinterest board, and while you’re there, be sure to follow Life-n-Reflection for more inspiring ideas. Tag #lifenreflection on Instagram to share your candle making with me.