Right now it smells like umbrella drinks and sunshine, with sea breezes carrying whiffs of suntan lotion. I'm not on a beach — I'm at my desk at home, typing away, a Coconut Bay tumbler burning nearby. An observant visitor will notice a few things about my home: I'm a bit lax on the cat hair, and I have a thing for Yankee Candles.
I grew up in Connecticut, about 45 minutes south of Yankee Candle's Deerfield, MA flagship. The first time I visited as a kid, my nose went into overdrive. It was like those rad scented markers times a million. I was fascinated that Christmas Cookie smelled exactly like holiday baking and Macintosh was the perfect juicy apple. I was hooked.
A few years ago, I lived with a friend, and he shared my Yankee Candle passion. We'd stock up at the BOGO sales and our apartment always smelled like fresh-cut roses or mango salsa, even if we hadden't stopped at the florist or weren't cooking. He lives in San Francisco now, so I light a Meyer Lemon and think of my bestie and California citrus.
I'll smell candles wherever I go, and sometimes I indulge in a pretty tin or an interesting scent, but Yankee Candles are still my favorite. They're my escape from the everyday.
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I don't use any scented products, and passing by the Yankee Candle store in the mall I have to hold my breath, it's SOOO strong.
However, in days gone by at a previous job we always had Yankee Swaps at Christmas, among the staff. Yankee candles were the number one top item fought over in these swaps. So many people feel the same as you, it appears!
I used to like them too, until I thought about what goes into them. They use a petroleum (as in gasoline) base. And look at those black soot marks in the middle jars. That's getting into your lungs and is now all over your house. I now avoid all artificial air fresheners.
Frederic Malle (Jurassic Flower! Russian Nights! 1er Mai! Cafe Society!) candles are the best. Cire Trudon is also pretty good (Abd el Kader & Ernesto in particular). A little pricey ($80-$100) but completely worth it.
Prefer soy and beeswax candles to paraffin, and try to avoid petroleum based products (and by-products, such as paraffin) as much as possible.....
My mom, sister and i are also obsessed. If you open certain closets in each of our homes it looks like a mini yankee candle store :)
I tried one of these and thought it smelled acrid when burned. That plus the sooty container and the wicks that tended to drown made me never buy another.
The only candles (aside from at Christmas) are in the bathroom with a handy little book of matches for, er, reasons that you might need a scented candle in the bathroom.
I like scented candles, but I find it too hot in the summer to have any lit in my home. I save them for cozy winter evenings, or when the power goes out.
I, too, grew up with YC and now live in MA with my husband who is also obsessed. We stop in Deerfield a few times a year on the way to/from my family in NYS. We stock up at the outlets. We fight over scents. It's a way of life here. For the record, Macintosh is one the best.
Gotta keep those wicks trimmed, people! Every hour or so and you'll get no black soot and no drowning wicks.
Is this a sponsored post?
You and my mother share this addition. I grew up about 45 minutes west of the Yankee Candle Factory and I'm certain she had a secret passage straight to the back stock room. She has cabinets & dressers filled with Yankee Candles fit for any and all occasions, my parents house always smells of the appropriate season or holiday. Sometimes I long for that Macintosh scent in the fall when I walk into my mismatched apartment with no fire burning on that first raw & rainy day in October, and just about now is when the waft of a "Midsummer's Night" would be dancing about reminding me that I should get my but back outside and enjoy the every last drops of summer. Now that I am err what some might call "an adult", I think I too might be starting a bit of a candle addiction.
Funny, because I have the complete opposite reaction. They smell very fake to me and I try to stay away from the area in the store where they are. Just associate them as low quality candles. Much prefer soy ones.
... but really, is this a sponsored post? I wouldn't be surprised if it is.
Ugh I hate those candles! I feel sick just walking past a display of them in a store. I live near Deerfield and I feel queasy just thinking about them as I drive by that place.
I'm admittedly a snob about a lot of things, but I can't dis Yankee Candle. Granted, I'm not fond of all of their scents, but there are a few that I buy seasonally because certain memories are attached to them. A lot of people hate on YC and go on about Votivos or Diptyques. I've received a couple of those as gifts and they're quite nice, but I can't fathom spending $50+ on a freakin' candle.
So much hate going on here... who gives a crap if it's a sponsored post? If you don't agree, you don't have to post something hateful... it only makes YOU look small. Maybe... you need to get a life!!
I don't like any artificial scents - so even expensive "luxury" candles are out!
Hello, this stuff is toxic to humans, animals, and the planet.
http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=222
I am extremely sensitive to scented anything (I get headaches, stuffy nose, and a burning feeling on my skin), but I am only the canary in the coal mine.
(Also, bring on the hateful responses. I am used to it. But your perfume and scented dryer sheets are polluting the environment and making me sick. And for what big gain, really?)
Yup not a fan at all. Give me lavender, sandalwood, or rosemary.
I think their Man Scents are hilarious [Riding Mower! 2x4!]... too bad they all give me a headache.
+1 for Duckster. Although if everyone who likes scent would indulge in the occasional Yankee Candle and leave off the scented detergent/dryer sheets that seem to pollute the entire neighborhood while the dryer is running, I'd be happier. I don't like the candle scents but at least they seem to stay in the room where the thing is burning. The laundry stuff is all over the place. I hate it when a whole block smells like on person's product. I hate it when I'm on a walking trail and I can smell the detergent from the people walking 15 feet in front of me.
To add insult to injury now the detergent makers are advertising "longer lasting scents" which I think means the fragrance chemically bonds to the fabric. Ick.
I grew up even closer to the mothership of evil. Drove by it five days a week for two years to get to school. The smell oozing across the road and insinuating into the car is something I get shivers about even now. Every day was a new and more revolting smell. O the horror.
The son of the man who started Yankee Candle now has his own company called Kringle Candles, and I think I like those better! My mother-in-law always stocks me before I go back to NYC. I still haven't found a Kringle better than YC's Sparkling Cinnamon though.
@Naner: Because what you just posted makes you look like the bigger person? Not every comment needs to be all hunky dorey. Dislike of something doesn't automatically make it hateful.
I love Yankee candles, too. They are true to the scent; if the name is Fresh Cut Roses, the candle smells exactly like fresh cut roses.
Another brand that smells good and is long lasting is Root candles. Root used to be about the same price point as Yankee, and Root are part soy, I think.
I just got a candle from Archipelago,and it smells divine, even though it's still wrapped in paper and encased in bubble wrap. Archipelago also sells oil diffusers and reeds for those who do not wish to burn candles.
Someone else mentioned keeping the wick trimmed to prevent excessive soot and "mushrooming" of the wick, and it's true. It does help.
I love for my house to smell good. I use candles, wax tart/chip warmers, and reeds with oils.
Oh candles! I try and try and try to find a good scent that actually smells nice when lit. Another problem of mine? I have a terrible sense of smell. It's quite embarrassing, actually.
MrsBerg, it begs to ask why you even desire a scented candle then? I think you like the idea better than you can enjoy the reality.
not a fan here < agree with the posters that are concerned about the chemicals.
My house does not need a artificial smell IMO
Blooming Jasmine makes the house smell so nice. I get sensory overload when I'm in the store though and can only handle about 2 or 3 scents before they all begin to smell identical. I wish the stores would keep bowls of coffee beans around or hand everyone a small cup of coffee beans if the communal thing is too gross (and I imagine it could be).
Really? I think they're sickly sweet and likely noxious...
The only scented candles I use are Votivo, and sparingly. (Yankee Candles makes me gag.)
Why do so many people have to have artifical smells in their homes do they stink, cause those candles do nothing but make a stink. Sorry, but they are soooooo bad. What's so wrong with fresh air?
I prefer clean burning candles and tend to use real scents (if any) in my home when possible. Artificial stuff seems to give me instant headaches. At least Yankee Candles stay in your home, so you can enjoy them without bothering anyone else that doesn't happen to like them. I just hope you're considerate when you have guests over!
Now... can we do something about the people that have an almost visible cloud of chemical-tastic body spray scents hovering around them? Scent is supposed to be intimate, not broadcast for a block!
"hadden't"? Please, AT, hire a few editors!!
@Clace - no candle on Earth is worth $80-$100. None!
I was really into Illuminations, until this company killed them. Not only do not care for these candles, but the jars look something you would pick up in the everything is $1 store.
I really like Yankee Candles too. I have a mini store in my basement but I think they are not as smelly as before. The scents seems very subtle to me now. I usually use these in the winter. Maybe it's my imagination or maybe they are cutting back on the amount of scents they put in? I still love them and have to restrain myself when a good coupon comes in!
Living in the Berkshires these are pretty much everywhere. My wife adores Christmas Cookie so my family knows to get her one every now and again.
The factory store is quite interesting to visit, though if you make the trek out check out some of the nearby towns and villages (Ashfield and Conway are quite beautiful but resist the urge to checkout Northampton. It's really just a crappy college town.)
Oh and the "real" Santa Claus hangs out at Yankee Candle in his off season. ;)
@BabyB, I still miss the Illuminations store. Some of their candles like Thai Market or vanilla ginger were really subtle and pleasant. Yankee Candles, otoh, is over the top strong and synthetic-smelling.
I like the Yankee Candle car air fresheners - the crisp linen one in particular. It's an inexpensive way to cover up dog smell in the car in between rug shampoos! And now the smell reminds me of road trips and summer days. I love it.
I prefered Slatkin & Co candles over Yankee's any time but some of yankee's scents are pretty good
Gross.
I love Yankee candles too! My mother always would get them cheap from where she worked and always had bags and bags of the tarts and samplers. Butter cream and Meyer Lemon are my favorites. I recently got Buttermilk Pancakes and it smelled amazing, but it is no longer available. :(
i miss the green grass scent, that was my favorite yankee candle.
aspen bay candles are the way to go.
Oh yuck, I just hate these. I find them incredibly fake and overpowering. The ones that imitate baking smells (like vanilla or cake batter) are just the worst.