If you’re committed to doing October right, chances are you’ve got a slate of Halloween-themed activities planned to celebrate spooky season. I’m talking scary movie marathons, boozy costume parties, haunted house decorating, and So. Much. More. And what do you need to have burning in the background at each eerie extravaganza? A Halloween candle, of course.
You can always count on candles to set the tone, which is why you need one that both looks and smells a little ~spooky~ when you’re trying to play up the Halloween mood. Now, I hate to say it, but sadly, finding the perfect option can be a biiiit tricky, especially since there are so many cheesy ones out there. (No shade to the tacky candles options—we need you too!) Lucky for you, I love a challenge, so I found a plethora of scary-good options that’ll convey all the creepy vibes without ruining your aesthetic.
Scroll down for some candles that “bleed,” some shaped like skulls, some with a freaky deeky surprise inside, and more. Happy Halloween from one candle lover to another!
This candle is bad to the bone (in a good way)—that’s why it’s rated R like your favorite scary movie. Sniff away for notes of cognac, lemon, and orange.
These tapered candlesticks are black on the outside, but “bleed” a dark red wax when lit. Long story short, they’re gruesome perfection and you need them for your Halloween tablescape. Your inner goth girl is begging you.
The best holiday of the year is October 31st, and this candle will make sure you never forget it. The fragrance is also layered with notes of bergamot, cinnamon, and mahogany, which you’ll want to burn all year round.
Everything about this candle is as matte black as the night sky—from the sleek votive to the cedarwood- and sandalwood-scented wax. To die for! (You see what I did there?)
These hand-poured skulls are made to look like Medusa—and boy, do they ever. Take your pick of white, black, or bubblegum pink. (Insert snake emoji here.)
With a near five-star rating, this candle is ~The One~ if you want to bring all the spooky energy to your space. One reviewer said there's "earthy elements" in the scent—and if that doesn't scream eerie cemetery to you, then IDK what will.
Light this bad boy up when you and your pals gather together to tell some scary stories. It'll totally set the mood with its toasted marshmallow and campfire smell.
Maybe you're not exactly looking for a scent that has Halloween written all over it—no prob, because I hear you and I gotchu! This bb smells like a light cologne (we know how much we all secretly love that scent) while still giving off mysterious inflections.
With notes of English rose, champagne, and peony, this Catbird scent wants you to imagine yourself in a "lost estate... where sylphs wound through the damp, thorny gardens at night." And honestly? Sure. Sign me up.
According to the description, this blood red candle is "equal parts fruity, floral and frightful," with notes of midnight jasmine and Transylvanian plum.
Hannah Chubb is the associate lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things home, travel, food, health, career, and more. She spends pretty much every hour of every day curating the internet for the best new products, trends, and travel destinations. You can typically find her looking for houses she can’t afford on Zillow or Airbnb, planning her next meal before she gets to the restaurant, or taking all of the Justin Bieber classes over and over and over again on Peloton. Follow her on Instagram.
Megan Uy is the assistant shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.