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We Smelled (Almost) All of Bath & Body Works' Fall Candles. Here Are the Best.

Twenty-four candles. Ten editors. One very pumpkin-y conference room.

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a selection of bath and body works fall candless stacked on a table
Heath Owens

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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:

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

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.
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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

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
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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

    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
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    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

    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.
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    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

    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!
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    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!

    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
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    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

    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
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    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

    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
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    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

    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.
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    Rating: 7.7/10

    Tester notes:

    • Crisp, juicy, soapy — a good daytime scent
    • Straight-up biting into an apple smell
    • Clean apple scent

    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.
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