I Sniffed Every Fall Candle at Bath and Body Works, Then Ranked Them From Worst to Best

Rating: 1.5/5Smells like: Maple syrup, golden waffles, pumpkin spice, brown sugarTester notes:- The strongest scent of this whole lineup—my coworkers could smell it across the office when I took the lid off- Very, very, very sweetRating: 2/5Smells like: Heirloom pumpkin, patchouli, fall spicesTester notes: - Reminds me of walking past the bins of pinecones at a grocery store in the fall, which for me is derogatory but complimentary for others- Heavy on the patchouli and spices, which just isn’t for me- I wish I got more of the pumpkinAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowRating: 2/5Smells like: Warm cinnamon, fresh ground clove, vanilla cream, brown sugarTester notes:- Smells exactly like the cinnamon pinecones you get at the grocery store (plasticky, not fresh, too strong)- I get very minimal pumpkin in this—at first whiff, it's all cinnamon- For the person who wants a very classic fall scent in their homeRating: 2.5/5Smells like: Warm cinnamon, crystallized ginger, vanilla beanTester notes:- I get the vanilla bean upon first whiff, which I love, but the more I smell, the less I get it- Great for anyone who doesn’t like super-sweet fall candles- This is currently sold out, so it must have a cult following that I just don’t understand.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowRating: 2.5/5Smells like: Warm flannel (?), fresh fallen leaves (??), autumn air (???)Tester notes:- Smells like plastic, which I guess makes sense for a football, but also a bit like soap?!- Really strong- FWIW, a few other Cosmo staffers freakin' loved this candle and said it smelled like fall liteRating: 3/5Smells like: Honeycrisp apples, crisp autumn leavesTester notes:- The apple note is light, which I love- Not a candied apple (also love)- But there's a perfume-y, almost salty after-scent that I don't loveAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowRating: 3/5Smells like: Crunchy caramel brittle, salty peanuts, and toasted pumpkin seedsTester notes:- Shockingly, the sweetness isn't overwhelming- If I was drinking a pumpkin spice latte and walking past a roasted nut street cart, the air would smell like thisRating: 3/5Smells like: Fresh bergamot, heirloom mahogany, soft muskTester notes:- Smells like a '00s-era Abercrombie model- Might not be a scent that I want burning in my home necessarily (might smell better as a cologne)- Really fills a room, though!Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowRanking: 3/5Smells like: Citrus zest, woodland sage, Red Delicious applesTester notes:- A great option if you want a fall-themed scent that isn’t gourmand at all- Might be a bit too intense for a small space (I want to burn this in a suburban home, not really my tiny NYC apartment)Rating: 3.5/5Smells like: Freshly baked coffee cake, cinnamon sugar crumble, gooey caramel swirlTester notes:- If Crumbl Cookies made a coffee cake, it'd smell exactly like this- I love that I can really smell the caramel note amidst the coffee and cinnamonAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowRating: 4/5Smells like: Warm sugar cookies, ground cinnamon, fresh nutmeg, sprinkled with sugarTester notes:- The name is perfect—this smells exactly like a pumpkin snickerdoodle- I really get whiffs of the cinnamon note that majorly helps tamp down the sweetnessRating: 4/5Smells like: Fresh sage, juniper berries, aromatic eucalyptus, fresh woodsTester notes:- Perfect for those who hate sweet scents- Can be burned in fall and winter- Smells like a cabin in fallAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowRating: 4/5Smells like: Toasted marshmallow, smoldering woods, fire-roasted vanilla, crystallized amberTester notes:- The way I want to cuddle up next to someone in a cozy knit sweater while this burns in the background...- Kinda smells like cologne, but one you'd only wear during the cold months- I love the touch of sweetness from the toasted marshmallowRating: 4/5Smells like: Bold Irish whiskey, splash of vanilla, hint of coffeeTester notes:- Lowkey smells like a fancy cologne- Not as traditionally "fall" as some of the other scents I testedAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowRanking: 4.5/5Smells like: Soft cashmere, freshly fallen leaves, “blend of comforting spices” (whatever that means)Tester notes:- Very strong scent, even without burning it- Exactly how I want my house to smell during a cozy-night-in- There’s a slight powderiness to it, likely from the cashmere, that reminds me of throwing on a worn-in, vintage sweaterRating: 5/5Smells like: Red Delicious apple, fall pumpkins, fresh ground cinnamon, clove budsTester notes:Best of both worlds in terms of iconic fall candle scents (pumpkin and apple)Smells like it should be way more expensive than it is, IMOHas a very strong scent that lasts in the air for a whileAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowRanking: 5/5Smells like: Warm brown sugar, sweet cream, pinch of sea salt, melted butterTester notes: - Even staffers who hate sweet scents enjoyed this gourmand candle- Could be burned from now through mid-winter without feeling too heavy- The hints of sea salt and sweet cream make this smell so layered and lovely; it definitely smells more expensive than $25Rating: 5/5Smells like: Golden nectar, crisp red apple, warm clove spiceTester notes:- Provides the perfect scent throw: not so much that it's overwhelming, but you can still smell it throughout your room/home- Spicy notes make the apple smell a bit less foodie, so it's great for your entire home, not just the kitchen- Legit smells like quintessential fallBeth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.