We Smelled Every Bath & Body Works Fall Candle to Find You the Best

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Did someone say fall? The 2024 autumnal equinox happened this morning at 8:43 a.m. ET, meaning that it's now officially fall.

One of my favorite seasonal traditions — and I know I'm not alone — is heading to Bath & Body Works to smell all the fall candles. I have childhood memories of visiting my local mall with my mom and smelling as many as I could get my hands on, to the point that my nose was entirely blown out. (Ever smelled so many candles that you get a headache? Been there!)

In the age of online shopping, you may not be visiting Bath & Body Works in-person as frequently, but I bet you'll agree that their fragrances are as important to celebrating the season as ever. That's why I rounded up my coworkers for a Good Housekeeping Bath & Body Works fall candles smell test — to dissect the similar-but-different fragrances that can be hard to choose between based on online descriptions.

We chose a smattering of old favorites, like White Pumpkin, and new-for-this-year fragrances, like Book Loft, for a total of 24 candles (out of the over 100 that Bath & Body Works is offering this year!). Then, we smelled every candle and ranked it on a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the best) and wrote our unfiltered thoughts to help you decide between scents like Apple Crisp, Fall Apple Cider and Afternoon Apple Picking. I averaged out the scores, and present to you our ranking of the best and worst Bath & Body Works fall candles of 2024, here:

Mixed Berry Crumble 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 4/10

Tester notes:

• Accurate to its name... Perhaps a little too accurate. I found the fake blueberry a little overwhelming.

• Cloying artificial smell

• Too saccharine

Cherry Almond Shortbread 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 4.8/10

Tester notes:

• Christmas-y and sugary. I would wear it as a body lotion but don’t want my home to smell like it.

• The cherry and almond have a nice balance, but doesn't make me think of fall.

Pumpkin S'mores 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 5.8/10

Tester notes:

• I like that it's a more unique pumpkin scent. Smells very different from others thanks to the marshmallow and chocolate notes.

• Smells like sweet melted chocolate

• Would work for both winter and fall

Maple Pumpkin 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 6/10

Tester notes:

• Smells like Mrs. Butterworth's syrup on pumpkin spice pancakes

• Sweet and a little woody, I like how it has some earthiness

• A not-too-strong pumpkin candle

Vanilla Romance 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 6.3/10

Tester notes:

• Not overly sweet and I am usually sensitive to that. I like the sleek packaging.

• Smells like yummy ice cream with caramel, but wouldn't call it a fall scent

• Wish it had more spice notes for fall

Mahogany Apple 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 6.6/10

Tester notes:

• Smells like an Abercrombie & Fitch store
  

• Very musky and masculine but nice!

• Seems like it would be a crowd pleaser

Apple Crisp 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 6.7/10

Tester notes:

• Smells like apple cinnamon oatmeal

• Has a doughy smell from the sugared oats note, like a true baked apple crisp

• Pleasant

Pumpkin Bonfire 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 6.8/10

Tester notes:

• Rich and smoky with lots of spices, reminds me of a bookstore as a kid because it’s very nostalgic

• Earthy fall day scent

• Spicy and pumpkin-y but not overpowering

• Clove is strong! I wouldn’t recommend it if you want a strictly pumpkin candle, but it’s pleasant.

Together Weather 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 6.9/10

Tester notes:

• This one is cozy! I kinda love it.

• Soft and not overpowering, smells like clean skin

• Subtle, perfume-like scent

Marshmallow Fireside 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 6.9 /10

Tester notes:

• Warm, cozy and gourmand without being cloying

• A little sweet for my taste, but it’d be good for anyone who wants a more elevated gourmand scent

• I like the woody undertone.

• This is a nostalgic scent that I remember loving from year's past!

Autumn Chai 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 6.9/10

Tester notes:

• Spicy and not too sweet, love the hint of cardamom for freshness

• Smells like a vanilla chai latte
  

• It smells as described — people who like chai tea will love this one!

The Perfect Autumn 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 7/10

Tester notes:

• Smells like florals and autumn spice combined
  

• Love the cranberry notes — it's an underrated autumn scent

• Super cute packaging!

• Good for someone who wants a true fall scent that isn't overly pumpkin-y
  

Whipped Honey & Vanilla 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 7.1/10

Tester notes:

• Simple but pleasant airy vanilla, would be a great year-round candle for vanilla lovers

• Smells like a Body Shop lotion; feels more elevated

• Smells clean and fresh

Pumpkin Cupcake 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 7.1/10

Tester notes:

• Nailed the blend between pumpkin and cupcake

• Smells like vanilla icing

• I like sweet scents, so this was a good one to me. I felt like it blended pretty well with the pumpkin undertones.

• A good gift option

White Barn Sugared Lemon & Spice 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 7.2/10

Tester notes:

• Smells just like lemon cookies! I love the hint of ginger.

• Zesty and sweet citrus notes, great for bathroom

• Doesn't smell like fall, but it's a nice lemon-y scent you'd burn year-round

Pumpkin Pecan Waffles 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 7.2/10

Tester notes:

• Smells like fresh baked goods, quite sweet

• This is a good kitchen scent! This is my fave of the fall bakery scents.

• Warm, fun and very autumn

• Fun packaging — it's a popular scent for a reason

Fall Apple Cider 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 7.3/10

Tester notes:

• Reminds me of my trip to the orchard for apple picking last weekend

• Very accurate apple cider smell, nice and tart

• Bright without being overpowering

• Smells like granny smith apples

Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 7.5/10

Tester notes:

• Really smells like canned pumpkin or an underbaked pumpkin pie

• Heavy on the spice but yummy!

• A classic—it’s nothing surprising, but you also can’t go wrong burning this one in your home all season long.

Afternoon Apple Picking 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 7.7/10

Tester notes:

• Crisp, juicy, soapy — a good daytime scent

• Straight-up biting into an apple smell

• Clean apple scent

White Barn Cranberry & Gala Apple 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 8/10

Tester notes:

• This smells so juicy and delicious. The apple and tart cranberry really shine.

• It's balanced; not too sweet or too warm.

• Very cozy without being cloying. I would burn this in my apartment.
  

Sweater Weather 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 8.1/10

Tester notes:

• This one feels really timeless for fall into winter.

• I like the green notes of eucalyptus and sage.

• Great candle to set the ambiance

• Smells woodsy — could be great for the holidays as well

White Pumpkin 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 8.3/10

Tester notes:

• This is my favorite Bath & Body Works fall candle every year, and this year, it doesn't disappoint! I love the mix of caramel and pumpkin notes.

• Very autumnal, love the packaging and the fact that the scent has notes of pumpkin without being overbearing.

• A great entry to pumpkin candles

• The most complex/interesting pumpkin scent, in my opinion. It’s giving rich Midwest woman's kitchen.

Book Loft 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 8.9/10

Tester notes:

• Beautiful scent that smells almost like your favorite fall perfume. It's complex and cozy without being too on-the-nose.
  

• This one is hard to put a finger on but it's very warm and cozy! It reminds me of clean fabric, like wool.

• Would be ideal to burn while relaxing at home

• Fresh and neutral

Leaves 3-Wick Candle

Rating: 9.4/10

Tester notes:

• My favorite Bath & Body Works fall candle every year! It's warm, spicy and bright.

• A near perfect fall scent. It smells like late fall apple picking and curling up on the couch.

• A cozy scent to burn while you're entertaining

• Smells way more expensive than it is

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