Today we’re on a mission to find the best fragrance oils for DIY pumpkin candles that will make your space smell amazing. We all know how important scents are in creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere, especially during the fall season!
I’ve gathered a bunch of pumpkin-inspired fragrance oils and put them to the test. Get ready to discover the most delightful and authentic pumpkin aromas that will make your homemade candles truly special.
And maybe cross a few off your list that don’t meet expectations!
Smelling candles is a pastime of mine, I can’t walk past a Bath and Body Works from August through December without sticking my nose in at least a dozen jars. At the same time, I’m incredibly cheap and I can’t be spending $24 dollars on a single candle.
Instead, I make them, by the dozens. As a fall girlie, my favorite fragrances are pretty much all pumpkin related so it only made sense to do a deep dive into finding the best pumpkin candle scent.
Last year I did something similar, testing out a bunch of Christmas fragrance oils from Candle Science and forcing my family to smell them all (we even made it into a fun party game at the family Christmas party!).
Find out the Best Christmas Candle Fragrance for DIY Holiday Candles
This time I decided to mix it up and buy fragrance oils from two different companies, honestly I would have loved to include even more but shipping prices ruin everyone’s fun!
I’ve used fragrance oils from both Candle Science and Nature’s Garden before so I kind of knew what to expect but every oil is a little different and reacts in wax in its own way. Really the only way to find the best pumpkin candle was to put on my mad scientist hat and get mixing!
Making the Candles
I have a whole post about making soy way candles so if you’re interested in making your own, definitely check that out, this little intro is just going to explain the basic parameters of my incredibly scientific experiment.
Learn How to Make Soy Candles
All of the candles were made the same way:
- weighing 15 oz of wax
- melting it in my Presto Pot to 185 degrees
- pouring it into a glass measuring cup
- adding 1 oz of fragrance oil and liquid candle colorant
- stirring for one minute
- pouring into prepared jars at 120* degrees
- ignoring for a week
I used Golden Brands 464 way and ECO 12 wicks in 16 oz jelly jars. I used a variety of orange, red, and yellow colors from my candle-making stash.
Soy will give you the best fragrance if you give it time to cure, the minimum is a week for the best burn but if you can wait longer do it!
*I was impatient and poured the first few candles too hot and they all had ugly, tunneled tops. It’s worth waiting for them to cool!
Pumpkin Candle Fragrances
On to the fun! Since we’re (mad) scientists today I’ll share my highly technical method of finding the oils I purchased.
I went to the Candle Science and Nature’s Garden websites, typed the word ‘pumpkin’ in the search bar, and then opened up a butt load of tabs. My computer, much like my brain, usually has a lot of tabs going at once.
To keep things unbiased, my kids and went through them, covered up the labels with painter’s tape, and tagged the bottle and corresponding candle jar with the same letter. This way the name of the oil won’t be able to influence any opinions.
When the candles were fully cooled I replaced the tape with cute vinyl pumpkin stickers I made on my Silhouette because that thing was expensive and I need to use it more!
From my “research”, I’ve found there are really two categories of pumpkin candles, the most popular is the bakery-style where you get a lot of spices and they smell like something you’d eat, the less common is the more vegetable, outdoorsy fragrance that focuses more on the pumpkin and less on the spice.
When it comes to judging candles my criteria are:
- does it smell good?
- does it smell like what it’s supposed to?
- does it have a good hot and cold throw?
They’re all pretty subjective, especially the first two, and that’s where the familiar torture element comes in. I wait until everyone is relaxed after a Sunday dinner before whipping out my box of candles and making people smell them.
The Christmas candle experiment taught me that no one (in my family at least) can identify what candles are supposed to smell like so I switched things up this time.
Instead of making them guess what each one was specifically, I made them pick their favorite, least favorite and point out any that weren’t fall candle-appropriate.
The rating scale:
- Pass – Don’t waste your wax
- Meh – Nothing wrong, just too generic
- Meh+ Sort of generic but with something extra that makes it stand out
- A+ Cream of the crop, best of the best
Pumpkin Eggnog (Nature’s Garden) – Pass
Out of the bottle, before it went into wax this oil smelled exactly like bubble gum and candy.
In a candle, it’s not much different. Most of the reviews for this one mentioned the bubble gum connection so I can’t say I’m shocked but this one is going in the skip pile for sure.
There is literally nothing pumpkin or even fall about this candle fragrance.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Creamy Vanilla Custard, Fresh Pumpkin, Apple
- Middle: Cinnamon, Clove
- Base: Cedar, Musk
Pumpkin Eggnog is soap and lotion-safe.
Pumpkin Walnut Biscotti (Nature’s Garden) – Pass
This fragrance oil was a journey. Out of the bottle, it smelled like banana bread, once it settled into the wax the scent changed completely.
There is a really strong cherry and almond scent, at first it really slaps you in the face and almost gives off cold medicine vibes.
Once you get past that you can pick up on some vanilla, cinnamon, and cake but I really couldn’t find the pumpkin at all.
When I was burning it it still had that odd, cherry-cold medicine scent. I can’t actually say that I hate it, it kind of grew on me, but it’s absolutely not a pumpkin candle.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Almond, Cherry
- Middle: Pumpkin
- Base: Biscotti Cookie, Walnuts, Vanilla
Pumpkin Walnut Biscotti is soap and lotion safe, it does have a lot of vanillin in it so expect a lot of discoloration.
Spiced Pumpkin Latte (Nature’s Garden) – Pass
There is more coffee to this than anything else, which based on the fragrance notes isn’t shocking. They don’t even list pumpkin which is odd for a candle fragrance called Spiced Pumpkin Latte.
It’s not bad for a sweet coffee or latte candle, but it’s not a fall candle and in my opinion, it’s not even slightly a pumpkin candle.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Butter, Bread
- Middle: Nuts, Coffee
- Base: Cream, Sweet Vanilla
Spiced Pumpkin Latte is soap and lotion-safe.
Frosted Pumpkin Type (Nature’s Garden) – Pass
I usually avoid the ‘type’ fragrances, they are based on another candle vendor’s fragrances. In this case, it’s a discontinued Yankee candle so you can’t actually buy one unless you’re willing to sell a limb and get a half-burned one on eBay.
I can’t say that I’ve ever smelled the OG Frosted Pumpkin candle but I can say I’ve smelled this one and it’s a pumpkin candle.
That’s about all I can say, there is more ginger than most of the others but that’s about all that separates it from the rest.
When it comes to hot throw it’s really weak, when you burn it you get a little cinnamon. I had it burning on my desk and I kept forgetting I had a candle burning at all.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Citrusy Lemon
- Middle: Creamy Pumpkin, Nutmeg, Ginger
- Base: Maple Sugar, Vanilla Frosting
Frosted Pumpkin Type is soap and lotion-safe.
Pumpkin Souffle (Candle Science) – Meh
During the course of this project, I discovered a phenomenon I call the ‘generic craft store pumpkin candle’. None of the candles in this group are bad, they’re just generic.
A little boring and very similar to every pumpkin candle you’ve ever smelled at any craft store from late August through November.
We’re starting out the category with Pumpkin Souffle which has a lovely fragrance and it’s a great option if you’re looking for a basic witch pumpkin candle.
It has a great hot throw and it’s a very strong candle so if that’s what you’re after it’s a great pick.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Cardamom
- Middle: Pumpkin, Sugar
- Base: Cinnamon, Pie Crust, Butter, Cream, Vanilla
Pumpkin Souffle is soap and lotion-safe.
Toasted Pumpkin Spice (Candle Science) – Meh
One more for the generic pile, if there was just a little bit more smoke this might really be something special but instead, it’s just a nice fall candle.
Again, I’m not saying it’s bad, it’s not at all. It would make a perfectly acceptable fall candle.
It has a decent hot throw and was able to fill up my office with the generic fragrance of fall.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Clove, Cinnamon, Nutmeg
- Middle: Pumpkin, Buttercream
- Base: Vanilla, Smoke
Toasted Pumpkin Spice is not soap or lotion-safe.
Pleasingly Pumpkin (Nature’s Garden) – Meh
I had high hopes for this one, based on the fragrance notes I was expecting something on the tropical or floral side. Alas, it’s another one for the generic category.
It has a nice balance between the sweet & spice. When I burned it in my office I did pick up on a bit of a floral scent, which I can see being appreciated by anyone looking for something new or hated by anyone with a vendetta against floral candles.
That said, I rarely reach for a floral candle but I’d happily burn this one.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Coconut, Strawberry
- Middle: Pumpkin, Heliotrope, Nutmeg
- Base: Vanilla Extract, Butter, Pecan, Cedar, Musk
Pleasingly Pumpkin is soap and lotion safe.
Pumpkin Apple Butter (Nature’s Garden) – Meh
I was really excited about this one, I’m working on an apple candle comparison while I’m working on this and this fragrance covers both!
Then I made the candle and my excitement diminished.
This is the most generic fall candle I’ve ever smelled. You could do worse, but you could also do much better.
The hot and cold throw are strong and exactly the same.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Orange, Apple, Pear, Pineapple, Cherries,
- Middle: Pumpkin, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clove
- Base: Warm Vanilla
Pumpkin Apple Butter is soap & lotion safe.
Pumpkin Crunch Cake (Nature’s Garden) – Meh
You already know what I’m going to say, this is a generic pumpkin candle you can find for 3/$10 at any craft store from August through September.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s really nice but it’s nothing special.
I had a horrible tunneling issue with this candle (my fault, I rushed and poured way too hot) so until I can melt and repour the candle I won’t be able to burn it.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Coconut, Orange Juice, Churned Butter
- Middle: Pumpkin, Star Anise, Cinnamon, Clove
- Base: Vanilla, Baked Crust
Pumpkin Crunch Cake is soap and lotion-safe.
Pumpkin Pie Spice (Nature’s Garden) – Meh
This candle smells exactly like pumpkin pie spice, if that’s what you’re looking for this is perfect.
If you want something a little more interesting you can do better.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Sweet Cream Pumpkin
- Middle: Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger
- Base: Butter, Vanilla
Pumpkin Pie Spice is soap and lotion-safe.
Pumpkin Roll (Nature’s Garden) – Meh
I didn’t have high expectations for this one, it’s a pretty generic name and it makes a pretty generic candle.
This one belongs in my ‘craft store fall candle’ category. It’s not bad, it’s not incredible, it’s not unique, it’s just a decent pumpkin candle.
It does have a stronger spice scent than the rest of the generics, it’s mostly cinnamon, so if you prefer that over a sweeter candle, this would be a good pick.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Sugar Pumpkin, orange, Sweet Butter
- Middle: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Maple
- Base: Vanilla
Pumpkin Roll is soap and lotion-safe.
Pumpkin Chai (Candle Science) – Meh+
I almost put this in the generic pile. There is a lot of spice, a little less sweetness, and a bit of something unexpected that I’m guessing is the black pepper that saves it from generic candle land.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Cardamom, Apple
- Middle: Pumpkin, Brown Sugar
- Base: Black Pepper, Vanilla, Clove, Cinnamon, Cream, Praline
Pumpkin Chai is lotion-safe but not soap-safe.
Pumpkin Caramel Crunch (Candle Science) – Meh+
This is a great pick for a sweet bakery pumpkin scent that’s light on the spice. It really does smell like a cake or cookies with hints of vanilla and a lot of caramel.
It’s not a super unique candle fragrance but in my opinion, it’s a great choice for a sweet autumnal candle that’s going appeal to a lot of people.
This candle does have a bit of a surprise going for it, I had it burning in my office for a while and I kept getting wafts of movie popcorn. It wasn’t unpleasant and oddly seemed to blend well into the other scents but you might want to skip this one if you hate popcorn!
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Orange Peel, Butter
- Middle: Pumpkin
- Base: Caramel, Maple, Pecan, Vanilla
Pumpkin Caramel Crunch is soap-safe but not lotion-safe.
Pumpkin Praline Pancakes (Nature’s Garden) – Meh+
As a Pumpkin Pecan Waffles BBW candle fan I had high hopes for this one, and I wasn’t disappointed. It hits all the notes you want it to, it’s sweet, it’s spicy, it’s pumpkiny and it’s got some maple vibes.
It’s a step above basic and you can really make an awesome fall candle with this one.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Yellow Pumpkin, Golden Waffles, Peach Skin
- Middle: Cinnamon, Maple Syrup
- Base: Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Sweet Musk
Pumpkin Praline Pancakes is soap and lotion-safe.
Sugared Pumpkin Delight (Nature’s Garden) – Meh+
This is a new fragrance, and actually, the one that inspired this entire project thanks to a coupon (nothing like saving a dollar on a $100 purchase…).
This is a very strong SPICE candle, the first thing you’ll notice is the cinnamon and clove. Unlike a lot of the others, there isn’t a lot of sweetness which is odd considering the name.
It’s not just spice, there is a bit of pumpkin but it’s definitely in the background!
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Lemon Zest
- Middle: Pumpkin Puree, Clove, Cinnamon
- Base: Maple, Buttercream Frosting
Sugared Pumpkin Delight is soap and lotion-safe.
Pumpkin Cheesecake (Nature’s Garden) – A+
I’ve been using Nature’s Garden Pumpkin Cheesecake fragrance oil for over 10 years and before this experiment (and even after), it was my go-to for a DELICIOUS pumpkin candle.
The fragrance notes are wild, I can’t say I’ve ever picked up on carrot zest but I do know my children are obsessed with it and I’ve used it for everything from candle and wax melts to bath salts, bath melts, and sugar scrub bars.
It is the perfect fragrance for a sweet bakery pumpkin candle, or pumpkin soap or pumpkin body scrub.
When it comes to hot throw this one is hard to beat. My fiance stole this one and burned it in his large living room and it managed to fill the entire space with the most delicious pumpkin scent!
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Pumpkin Puree, Maple Sugar, Cocoa Powder, Carrot Zests
- Middle: Cardamom, Clove, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Butter Rum
- Base: Coconut Milk, Honey Butter, Cream Cheese, French Vanilla, Caramelized Sugar, Whipped Cream
Pumpkin Cheesecake is soap and lotion-safe.
Learn How To Make Pumpkin Cheesecake Sugar Scrub Bars
Pumpkin Spice Buttercream (Candle Science) – A+
This a perfect blend of pumpkin and spice, and the spice is not just cinnamon like so many on this list. The extra notes of cloves and nutmeg add a lot of depth and warmth.
This is the kind of candle you can get lost in. When you close your eyes and breathe in you’re immediately transported to a cozy cabin in the woods with rustling falling leaves and a freshly baked pumpkin dessert cooling on the counter.
It had a pretty good hot throw, it easily filled my office (11×22) when I had the doors closed. I find a lot of bakery scents can be overpowering to the point of causing headaches and I don’t see that happening with this one.
Overall, it’s definitely one of my favorites and I can’t recommend it enough.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Pumpkin, Brown Sugar
- Middle: Cinnamon, Clove
- Base: Butter, Vanilla, Nutmeg
Pumpkin Spice Buttercream is not soap or lotion-safe.
Pumpkin Pie (Candle Science) – A+
Right off the bat, this smells exactly like pumpkin eggnog, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. I think it’s the nutmeg that really drives home that comparison.
It has a great blend of spices, it’s not just cinnamon, and you really get the pumpkin and vanilla that a lot of the other candles were missing.
It’s a delicious candle and I wish I bought a bigger bottle so I could put some in some Halloween Melt and Pour Pumpkin Soap.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger
- Middle: Clove, Pumpkin
- Base: Pie Crust, Vanilla
Pumpkin Pie is soap and lotion-safe.
White Pumpkin Amber (Nature’s Garden) – A+
This is not your traditional pumpkin spice candle and it’s likely the most unique in the bunch, the cedar and sandalwood take away any hint of bakery/food fragrance you’d expect.
But, it’s really nice. It’s definitely not going to be for everyone but if you’re looking for a more a woodsy vibe, with hints of pumpkin and spice you’ll love this.
On first sniff it has a bit of a men’s cologne vibe, likely from the sandalwood or cedar, but if you give it a chance it really is something unique and lovely for the autumn and winter months.
It has a decent hot throw, not quite at the knock-you-down level of the Pumpkin Cheesecake, but definitely enough to fill a room.
I also prefer this kind of woodsy candle to be a little more on the subdued side, that way the room smells great without feeling like you’re trapped in an air freshener.
Fragrance Notes:
- Top: White Pumpkin, Coconut, Red Berries
- Middle: Cinnamon, Clover, Amber
- Base: Cedar, Sandalwood, Vanilla
White Pumpkin Amber is soap and lotion-safe.
The Best Pumpkin Fragrances
Once again, this is subjective, and not everyone will agree! But we have to start somewhere and unless you’d like to spend over $100 on fragrance oils to repeat this experiment this is a good place to begin.
After the candles had sat for about 2 weeks I went through them, gave them all a good sniff, and took some notes. At this point, I’d completely forgotten what letters corresponded with what fragrances there was no bias for names or even the supplier.
Then I went back through and burned a lot of candles.
In the end, there were 4 standouts. Three were on the bakery/sweet/food side and one was more on the woody/environmental side.
- Pumpkin Cheesecake (NG)
- Pumpkin Pie (CS)
- Pumpkin Spice Buttercream (CS)
- White Amber Pumpkin (NG)
Not surprisingly, a lot of these candles smelled very similar. I even had a group I called the “Generic Craft Store Fall Candle” which ended up with 8 members, they were:
- Apple Pumpkin Butter (NG)
- Frosted Pumpkin Type (NG)
- Pleasingly Pumpkin (NG)
- Pumpkin Caramel Crunch (CS)
- Pumpkin Crunch Cake (NG)
- Pumpkin Pie Spice (NG)
- Pumpkin Roll (NG)
- Pumpkin Souffle (CS)
They’re not necessarily the same, but they all fill the same pumpkin bakery niche and you’ll get a decent pumpkin candle out of any of them.
If I had to pick one I’d go with Pumpkin Caramel Crunch for its sweet, caramel notes or Pumpkin Roll for a more cinnamon-forward candle.
Do you have a favorite Pumpkin fragrance oil for candle making and bath and body? I’m always willing to make more candles so leave any recommendations in the comments below!
Check out my Candle Making & Wax Melt page for more or start here:
