How to Make Fall Scented Candles

Nothing says fall like a crackling fire and the scents of the season. Get both when you make your own DIY scented candles.

There’s a chill in the air, the wind is whistling through the trees, and you’re just about to get cozy on the couch with a book or movie. What could make it better? Fall-scented candles. There’s something about the scents of Fall that stir up so much nostalgia and comfort, probably because many of Fall’s scents are nature or cooking-based and remind us of simpler times with friends and family. If you want to add a little magic to the season and a great smell to your home, try your hand at a DIY scented candles. No need to be intimidated — they’re actually easier to make than you may think.

How to Make Candles

Knowing how to make candles is a skill many have forgotten now that we’re never without a light switch to flip, but candle making can be a fun and even meditative hobby if you want to get crafty. You really don’t need many materials to make them, and the upfront investment you make in the basics will last you a while. Here’s what you should get to start out.

What You’ll Need

To make DIY scented candles, you need three main components: wax, wicks, and scents. And of course, you’ll need a container for the candle. Choose a container that’s fire-safe, like a glass jar. If you have Mason jars in the back of your cabinets, they’ll work just fine. Ceramic containers will work, too.

Once you have your container picked out, place the metal end of your wick on the bottom of the container in the center. To keep the wick in place until the wax is poured around it, many people wind the top of the wick around a pencil or pen that can lay across the top of the container.

With your wick in place, you’ll next need to melt the wax of your choice. Melt the wax pellets in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring after each round, until it’s melted throughout. If you prefer not to use a microwave, you can also use a double boiler.

Once the wax is melted, you can mix in the scent of your choosing. There are many items you can use to create scents, from herbs to essential oils to flower essences. Using a whole herb, like rosemary or lavender, not only incorporates a great scent but adds an earthy visual to your Fall candle. Mix the scent of your choice into the wax, and then carefully pour the wax into the container, stopping short about an inch from the top.

Let the candle wax set for at least a couple of hours, longer if the container is large. Once it’s set, you can snip the wick so that roughly half an inch sticks out above the surface of the wax. It’s recommended to burn your candle for long stretches. If you only burn the candle in short increments, your wax will only melt in the middle, causing you to have a tunnel in the center of the candle. This not only wastes wax but shortens the lifespan of the candle.

You can finish off your candle with a DIY label or whatever decoration you prefer.

DIY Scented Candles Without Chemicals

While candles look and smell great, they’re often filled with chemicals that aren’t very safe to breathe in, especially if you have kids or those with health issues in your home. If you’re wondering how to make candles more clean-burning, there are a few things to keep in mind.

• Choose beeswax: Beeswax is all-natural, so you don’t have to worry about any chemical additives.
• Use a lead-free wick: A natural cotton wick is best.
• Pick organic scents: Instead of fragrances that are chemical-based, take advantage of the sweet and sultry scents of nature and use essential oils, whole herbs, or even citrus peels to achieve a smell that’s both nice and non-toxic.

How to Make Candles Fall-Scented

Need some scent inspiration? Here are some well-loved Fall scented candle ideas to get you started.

Vanilla + Cinnamon

This combo is decadent, and you likely already have the ingredients in your pantry. A dash of vanilla extract or vanilla essential oil and a pinch of cinnamon go a long way to create a warm, savory scent.

Pumpkin Spice

A Fall classic. Get this scent by shaving a bit of an orange peel along with a pinch of cinnamon, clove, and ginger into your melted wax.

Apple Orchard

It wouldn’t be Fall without an apple-scented candle. Conjure the sweet, earthy scent by mixing Douglas Fir needles with cinnamon and a citrus peel.

Fresh Mint

Cut through the rich scents with this refreshing minty candle. Combine peppermint and eucalyptus essential oil for a light, uplifting fragrance.

Calm & Cozy

Want the perfect scent for a relaxing night in? Mix 10-20 drops (depending on the size of your candle) of lavender essential oil with some cardamom and cloves.

Fragrant Forest

Nothing beats earthy smells in the Fall. Mix patchouli, rosemary essential oil, and pine needles to bring the scent of outside in all season long.

Want to skip the candle-making and get straight to the Autumn scents? Our candle selection includes warm, sultry scents to cozy up with and ingredients you can feel good about. Our Black Currant and Cedar & Suede candles are especially loved. Grab a candle, a blanket, and a book and enjoy Fall the way it’s meant to be.