Despite being an August Leo, I am very much a fall person. From Labor Day through Thanksgiving, I’m living in a state of bliss. I split my time between hiking, cooking, and camping so I can maximize crisp temperatures and peak foliage with a desire to wrap myself in a blanket with a book, a warm beverage, and scented candle (or three) burning. There’s probably something bubbling on the stove, and a freshly-baked snacking cake cooling on my kitchen counter. If you’re also extremely into autumn, keep reading for my essential items for cooking and keeping cozy during what I consider to be the *actual* most wonderful time of the year.

A grill that’s also a fire pit: Barebones Cowboy Firepit Grill

I like to stay in denial about the decrease in daylight that accompanies my favorite season, so I embrace the gentle transition from cooking dinner outside to hanging around a fire pit. This Cowboy Grill from Barebones Living lets me live out my live fire cooking Francis Mallman fangirl dreams thanks to its versatile design and very sturdy construction. I love that I can start with an afternoon bonfire that becomes the fuel for a multi-course dinner of smoked meats, fire-roasted vegetables, breads, cobblers, and beans baked in the coals. Once the meal is over, this grill doubles as a fire pit where I can hang out, make s’mores, and count the stars.

An indoor-outdoor Dutch oven: Snow Peak Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Because I test kitchen products for a living, I’ve tried a lot of Dutch ovens. And yes, Staub and Le Creuset’s enameled options are colorful and functional, but I wouldn’t want to use them to make a stew over an open fire—which is usually what I want to do on a chilly fall evening. Snowpeak’s cast iron Dutch oven has sturdy metal handles (so you can hang it like a cauldron), and can be used on everything from induction stovetops to campfires. It comes with a lid, a pot, and a deep skillet that you can mix and match to suit your needs.

A versatile folding knife: Opinel Nº8 Folding Knife

I have an Opinel No. 8 knife in the glove compartment of my car, my camp cooking kit, and just about every tote bag I own. The folding design makes it easy to carry just about anywhere, so I love having it on hand for on-the-fly charcuterie boards and splitting pastries with friends.

A packable puffy blanket and jacket: Nomadix Puffer Blanket and Eddie Bauer IgniteLite Stretch Reversible Hooded Jacket

As someone who loves to be outside but is always cold, I’m deeply invested in the art of layering. Once the temperatures start to drop, I always keep a Nomadix puffer blanket and my Eddie Bauer reversible hooded jacket in the trunk of my car. I’ve had his jacket for three years, and I wear it for everything from autumnal grilling sessions to long hikes and jaunts through an apple orchard. It’s reversible, water- and wind-resistant, and has zippered pockets and a hood. The Nomadix blanket is super lightweight, packs to around the same size as a water bottle, and makes the inside of my tent feel like a fancy hotel bed.

My favorite fall cookbooks

I’m a huge fan of a fall baking project, and Lauree’s Sucre cookbook is my favorite source for personal pastry challenges. The moment apple season comes around, I’m cracking this open to make a triple batch of chausson aux pommes. It’s a labor of love that starts with homemade puff pastry and involves a slightly finicky, ultra-buttery filling, but it’s absolutely worth the effort.

On the other hand, I want my savory food in autumn to be simple and comforting—the kinds of dishes I can throw together while my puff pastry chills between turns. That’s where Nigel Slater’s Greenfeast comes in. This hyper-seasonal cookbook not only has great recipes, it’s also perfect for people like me who often use cookbooks as a source of inspiration rather than something to follow to the letter.

Cozy candles: DS & Durga Breakfast Leipzig and Loam Midnight Moon

The Breakfast Leipzig candle was a controversial topic in the BA office during last year’s gift guide selection season, but it emerged as one of my personal favorites. It smells like sitting in a European cafe in the 1700s—there are notes of coffee and pastries, but also leather, tobacco, and firewood. The smokey scent is strong, but incredibly evocative. I’ll be rotating this with Loam’s Midnight Moon scent, which combines all the spicy, floral, musky notes I love.

Hydrating hand cream and lip balm: Evolve Together Hydrating Hand Cream and Lip Balm

Since I spend so much time outside in the fall, I need to start my cold-weather skincare routine early. This year’s MVPs are the hydrating hand cream and lip balm from Evolve Together. I love how quickly the hand cream dissolves, and the woodsy cardamom and oud scent is perfect for the season. All of the brand’s products are made from all-natural ingredients, and the sleek minimalist packaging makes me feel like I have my life in order.

The junk drawer: a little bit of everything else I have in my cart

I always tell people I don’t have a favorite book, but that’s a lie. If I had to pick just one, it’s The Hobbit. I often re-read it in the fall to manifest my ideal Hobbitcore lifestyle, so this year, I’m springing for the Folio Society edition. It’s the perfect thing to read while baking a pot pie and planning my next hike.

If I’m not having some kind of outdoor adventure, I’m probably inside baking. And baking calls for good vanilla. Once I tried Heilala’s vanilla products, I was ruined for all other vanilla. It has a distinctly floral, slightly fruity flavor that makes people ask me what I put in that cake or cookie. I’m especially fond of the vanilla bean paste.

I’m a firm believe that food people are also scent people, and 2024 has been the year I finally committed to finding a signature fragrance. I picked up a sampler pack from DS & Durga earlier this year and landed on these two favorites. I wore Debaser all summer long like an ancient, beloved T-shirt. It has a lot of notes I typically love (blonde woods, Tonka, moss) with some unexpected twists (fig, iris, coconut milk). It layers beautifully with the perfectly autumnal Amber Kiso, which is more my usual style—cedar, cypress, patchouli, leather, incense. It smells like taking a walk though an enchanted forest.

Moving from summer to autumn is all about layering, and big button-down shirts are essential. I’m obsessed with everything Big Bud Press makes, and this year I’m adding their corduroy overshirt in burnt terracotta to my cart. Also on my wishlist is Outerknown’s ultra-soft blanket shirt. Catch me tossing these over my favorite jumpsuits while I cook over a campfire.