Fall Candles Are Great, but These Halloween Candles Are More Festive—and Under $30

I don’t want to make any unnecessary enemies here, but I have an unpopular opinion I’ve been wanting to share. Fall scents are having a moment right now—pumpkin apple candles and mums that smell like pumpkin spice—but I kind of want to forego the whole fall candle thing, and skip to the good part. And for me, that’s Halloween candles and Halloween candle holders.

Pumpkins and leaves are great and all, but I want my fall scents to be enveloped in something sweet and scary—a skeleton candle holder that’s cradling a brain, or ghoulish ghosties to pepper along the table runner. It can smell like fall, of course, but in my humble opinion, it should look like October 31. I don’t know about you, but I’ll save the tamer autumnal vibes for the other “Ber” month, AKA November. For the rest of September and all of October, I’ll be the one buying every creepy candle I see. Black Flame Candle, who?

If you’re a Halloween girlie, too, shop my top picks from Amazon, Anthropologie, and Bath & Body Works. Each of these gems is under $30, with some finds up to 50% off. 

Supersun Skeleton Candle

When I think of Halloween, I think of this quintessential skeleton candle that was all over my feed last year. A year later, and it’s still a must-have for the season. Right now, it has a $4 off coupon, so you can get it for only $19. It’s made of natural soy wax, and has a fresh lavender scent, but I personally don’t even want to light it. I’d rather just put it out with my annual decor like a novelty piece because it’s the scene I enjoy, not necessarily the scent. If you do want to light it, however, it has a 48-hour burn time.

Crow Candle Holder

As far as Halloween candle holders go, this one is a real standout. It holds one taper candle, and is made of durable iron that has intricate detailing in its feathers upon second glance. There’s something about a black crow that feels way more sinister than something more abstract—like a ghost or ghoul. Part of Anthropologie’s first-ever Halloween collection, if this candle holder is any sign of what’s to come for Anthro’s seasonal decor, I’m here for it. 

Shuminkl Bleeding Skull Candle

Now this is a must-have in every witch or wizard’s home. This Halloween candle is a black skull, and included with your purchase is a matching black tray that’s meant to catch any melted wax. And there will be melted wax because the throbbing red brain that sits inside the skull is a candle. As the wick continues to burn, the brain melts away slowly, through the eyes of the skull, giving off a bleeding effect. If you go through it too quickly, and find yourself wanting to start the fun all over again, you can buy a two-pack of brain candle refills for $17. I want one—no, need one—in every room of the house, and yes, I will be buying refills. 

Ptyfavr Black Skeleton Hands Halloween Candle Holders

Another fun Halloween candle option this year is this creepy decor that comes with everything you need to make an even creepier scene. It includes two foam hands, flameless LED candles, 20 grams of faux webbing, and two spiders. The hands adhere to a surface—an indoor, outdoor wall, siding, door, window, etc.—with the help of the included foam rubber stickers.

Mtlee Six-Piece Halloween Ghost Candles

A number-one new release on Amazon, this six-pack of ghosts toes the line between scary and cute (although it definitely veers closer to ‘cute’). Ghosts come in three different facial expression options, and measure 2.6 inches x 1.1 inches, which makes them perfect for lining across the dining room table like a centerpiece, or on a shelf.

Tuitessine 10-Inch Halloween Taper Candles

If cutesy is more your Halloween aesthetic, this four-pack of white taper candles features little spiders, jack-o-lanterns, and bats printed all over. It’s completely scentless, so it’s more for decor than anything else, but each candle looks awesome in a festive candelabra or a brass or black candle holder. Plus, it’s only $14 for four.

Ashland Ash Two-Pack White Bone Taper

This set of two taper candles looks so authentically like real bones, that it’s creepier than expected. You might even have to do a double take every now and again to remind yourself that they’re made of paraffin wax. Each bone-white candle is 10 inches tall, and has knobs and yellowing patina in all the right places.

Cnhoqc 12-Piece Halloween Mini Candles

Take the tiny ghost candles to the next level with this mix-and-match set of mini ghosts, vintage-inspired black cats, and jack-o-lanterns. Each Halloween-shaped tea light is 2.2 inches x 1.6 inches, and smells like gardenia.

Chalice Three-Wick Candle Holder

One of the most popular searches this year is for Bath & Body Works Halloween candles, and there’s a heck of a good reason for that. The candle and bodycare company makes some of the coolest candle holders I’ve ever seen, including this one for three-wicks. The candle isn’t included, but the 4.88-inch x 7.28-inch candle holder has an antique-looking gold sheen, a bright red gem, and faux blood dripping down the lip.

Holographic Portrait Frame Candle Holder

I also love this Bath & Body Works candle holder because it’s so deliciously creepy. With haunted mansion vibes, it gives off an authentic Halloween aesthetic that feels true to a real horror movie. It, too, is big enough to hold a three-wick candle at 4.52 inches by 6.88 inches, and the eerie face in the middle of the baroque candle holder is actually holographic, so it changes faces as the candle burns.