This Super-Cool Roundup of Halloween Candles Include Coffins, Brains, and Skulls Galore

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When we think of Halloween-level ambiance, we immediately think of turning the lights down low and sparking a few candles to get just the right creepy vibe (while decked out in those last-minute Halloween costumes, of course). And with these Halloween candles, you can truly choose how ghoulish you want to get.

Are you into the theatrical side of the season, looking for a color-changing candle that melts into a pool of blood-red wax? (We definitely are!) Do you prefer a refined, subtle vibe, using tapers, tea lights, and sculptural shapes to set the gothic mood? Or are you purely interested in enjoying the rich, spicy scents of the fall season, with its olfactory reminder of all the macabre celebrations in store?

No matter your scary preference, these are the best standout Halloween candles — all available online, as well as from makers and small businesses — that will light up the witching hours ahead.

Ghost Scented Candles (Set of 4)

These downright adorable ghost candles are almost too cute to burn. They look absolutely fun “haunting” your bookshelves or buffet tables and can even act as placeholders during a sit-down party. Bonus: They’re rose-scented!

More: 14 Best Halloween Wine Glasses That Every Classy Witch or Warlock Needs

Official “The Nightmare Before Christmas” LED Flameless Candles (Set of 3)

If Halloween > Christmas, this one’s for you. This stunning battery-operated ode to everyone’s favorite stop-motion Halloween film, The Nightmare Before Christmas, comes in a triptych set of different patterns that have flickering LED lights for a realistic effect.

It comes with a 5-hour energy-saving timer, which is plenty of time to keep the lights on at your monster bash.

Loki Cat Skeleton Candle

With a burn time of 20-25 hours, this graphic rendition of a witch’s most iconic familiar, the black cat, is an artsy version you can display even beyond the Halloween holiday.

If you do muster up the courage to burn the beautiful thing, though, you’ll be treated not only to a classy cedar scent (or vanilla, if you so choose) but also to a goth cat skeleton revealed once the wax fully melts — so Loki can live the rest of its eight remaining lives forever on your mantel.

Skeleton with Rose Petal Milk Bath

The best combo of horrific and hilarious, this lightheartedly macabre candle features a cheeky skellie taking a self-care moment bath in a tub with rose petals. It’s made of 100% natural soy wax and is nontoxic.

At just a little over 4x4 inches, we love this Halloween candle as a book or shelf topper, as well as lit up on a coffee table or entryway at parties — or, yes, your guest bathroom!

Vampire Tears Candles (Pack of 4)

This set of four features Halloween candles that are around 9 inches tall and a half-inch thick that “bleed” as they melt. We love their decidedly gothic take on regular tapers, but also appreciate how they go the more minimalist route if your décor aesthetic is on the sleeker side.

Gothic Candle Bundle (Set of 4)

Want an elegant, all-inclusive set that hits all the right Halloween notes? This black, creepy-chic bundle features a spine candle, a skull candle, and two black votives, so you’ve pretty much got all you need to goth up your living room in one go.

Ghost Scene Bowl Candle with Jack-O'-Lanterns

If the cheeky ghosts and jack-o’-lanterns don’t get you, then maybe the “Hey, Boo!” sign will! This fishbowl-type candle comes with clear wax and, at around 4 inches, makes a charming centerpiece or bookshelf accent.

We especially love it for a kiddie Halloween party, giving just the perfect amount of trick-or-treat vibes right by the candy station.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Candle

Noble Objects makes a slew of fun, premium literary-themed candles for bookworms and literature enthusiasts, and, of course, we’re obsessed with this nod (heh) to the classic Headless Horseman tale.

Hand-poured in Santa Monica, this 40-hour-burn candle is made of 100% premium soy wax and has a cotton wick. The Sleepy Hollow candle also boasts of a “Foggy October Scent,” which is every bit as evocative as it sounds: A fall-forest blend of citrus, cinnamon, green leaves, apple, cedar, pecan, maple, and bourbon is absolutely spot-on for a dark and stormy night reading by the fire.

Large Coffin Skeleton Candles (Set of 3)

What’s creepier than a coffin-shaped candle? Three coffin-shaped candles! Another melty masterpiece, this set reveals skeletons inside for those who are fans of classic Halloween imagery.

This Halloween candle is 3x3 inches tall and makes for apropos table toppers or even giveaways during a party.

Spine Candle

Only true Potterheads will understand the appeal of this spine-shaped candle. (Professor Lupin’s tower was decorated with them, duh!)

This best-selling candle is 8 inches tall. Unscented and handcrafted with a realistic vertebrae design, it has a 6-7 hour burn time, is made of soy wax, and has a lead-free cotton wick. Get two and create some makeshift gothic bookends for true crypt-like vibes.

“Hocus Pocus” Black Flame Candle

Thankfully, this amazing replica of the Black Flame Candle from the Hocus Pocus franchise does not list the fat from a hanged man in its ingredients (only real pillar wax, actually). But it does have a black wick for added authenticity.

Handmade in Texas, its hefty dimensions — 9 inches tall and 3 inches wide — make it a fantastic pièce de resistance on a mantel, Halloween tablescape, or, hey, your witch altar.

More: Everything You Need to Throw a Hocus Pocus-Themed Halloween Party

Pink Baby Head Skeleton Candle

If you’re into terrifying, scary-kid/murder themes for your Halloween aesthetic, this melting baby doll head is pretty much what nightmares are made of.

The very (dis)embodiment of the creepy-cute aesthetic, these doll head-shaped candles reveal a metallic candy skull charm once melted. Measuring 4 inches tall, it has a burn time of up to 4.5 hours.

8-Inch Blood-Effect Taper Candles (Set of 4)

Want to get really on the nose with that bloody murder theme? This pack of four candles, though designed otherwise, is actually dripless — so yes, you get the effect but without the mess! (A serial killer’s dream, but, uh, we digress.)

Mix and match with some black spiral tapers for a full-on dungeony feel.

Large Skull Pillar Candle

Although this skull-composed pillar candle is practically made for horror fans (remember Tales From the Crypt?), we think its construction is actually chic enough to be displayed even as part of your regular fall fare.

Placed next to your pumpkin gourds and hay bundles, this 4-inch pillar hints at some darkness lurking around the corner — aka what Halloween vibes are all about.

Crow Skull Candle

The Birds is an iconic Hollywood horror-thriller and forever changed the way we think of our feathery friends. The fact that no music was used in the movie added even more impending terror to the film, as we never knew when the murderous flock would strike.

With this masterfully crafted candle, all you need to strike is a match, and poof — you’re instantly Tippi Hedren.

Floating Candles with Wand (Set of 20)

Even if these are flameless, we’d be remiss not to include these wildly trendy remote-controlled floating candles, because one, we are Potterheads in this here house, and two, you have to admit these are the coolest thing!

“Feels like you’re inside the Great Hall!” raves one enthusiastic five-star reviewer, adding, “As far as value for overall aesthetic, this is a home run and if you're considering floating candles, stop browsing, throw this one in your cart and check out with absolute confidence.”

These come with a fishing line, 20 sticky hooks, and yes, are controlled via a wand remote to add to the magic.

Raven Skull Candle Set

We love the medieval tinge to this black raven candle set that hearkens back to the literal Dark Ages — around the 1300s, to be exact, when doctors treating those afflicted with the bubonic plague wore bird-like masks for safety.

The set comes with one raven skull and two black votives (and a free poster!) to set the mood, and it comes in a Spa Forest scent, too. Let’s light a candle to modern medicine, shall we?

Tombstone Soy Wax Candle (Set of 2)

Realistically, eerily gothic (you can almost envision the dank, foggy cemetery they inhabit), these 3x2-inch tombstone soy candles also come with a surprisingly elevated scent. Orange blossom, cedar, patchouli, incense, and clove offer up some old-school ecclesiastical horror stoicism, and we’re impressed.

Reviewers love how beautiful these are, and we agree — we love them as seating placeholders or as adornments to an altar.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas“ Sally's Deadly Night Shade Jar Ceramic Candle

Another one for the Burton stans, this officially licensed The Nightmare Before Christmas candle is the cutest replica of one of Sally the ragdoll monster’s herb jars from Dr. Finklestein’s lab.

It is made of soy wax with a 30-hour burn time and has a beautiful (and yes, non-poisonous!) blend of jasmine and vanilla — as sweet as Sally herself.

Blood Red Heart Candle

Anatomical horror meets ambient lighting! This black cherry-scented heart looks almost too much like the real thing, and when it bleeds... it's a heartstopping experience.

Human Brain Candle in Skull Candle Holder

This two-piece Halloween candle is for die-hards only. Choose the colors for both the brain and skull, and the seller will craft it just for you. Just make sure you allow some time for delivery.

With any type of candle that melts as this one does, it’s a good idea to rest it on a candle tray to ensure that the wax doesn’t stain or damage your furniture.

Spooky Scary Beeswax Taper Candle

Users rave about the detailed expressions on these mad-as-hell candles! And if you’re a Beauty and the Beast fan, you’ll love this Halloween candle that reminds us of a Bizarro version of the film’s effusive talking candelabra, Lumière. (No, you may not put his service to the test.)

Made from natural beeswax, it comes in its original beige color, is 6 inches tall, and fits perfectly in most standard holders or candelabras.

Bleeding Hand Candle

In a similar vein to the brain-dripper, this bleeding hand candle is one of the coolest and most original Halloween candles we’ve come across — and over 400 five-star Etsy raters agree!

This handmade, unscented candle is a life-sized replica of a human hand that oozes blood from each finger as it melts. Prepare to constantly get asked where you got this conversation starter from.

Bleeding Skull and Snakes Candle

Another showstopping bleeding offering, this intricately molded, made-to-order Halloween candle is probably one of the most detailed yet. It also comes in a variety of surprisingly luscious scents, like Vanilla Buttercream, Mahogany and Teakwood, Pomegranate Cider, Sea Salt Orchid, and Sandalwood and Suede.

If you’re looking for a game-changing centerpiece for your Halloween party, look no further than this slitheringly stunning creation.

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