Yankee Candle’s 2023 Scent of the Year Embodies Optimism
Who couldn’t use a little more child-like joy in their everyday lives? Yankee Candle just announced it’s fifth annual Scent of the Year, and this one is meant to bring the nostalgia.
Yankee Candle’s 2023 scent is Wonder, a combination of white florals, fruits, and clean top notes with a warm, comforting amber base that’s meant to evoke optimism, joy, and gratitude in the everyday.
“When approaching this year’s fragrance, we wanted to incorporate the joyful feeling of optimism that many people are experiencing in 2023, as they look to take time away from their busy schedules to create a lifestyle that allows them to enjoy life’s simple moments,” said Taylor Perlis, Senior Fragrance Evaluator, Newell Brands. “Wonder’s unique scent combination incorporates familiar fragrances of white floral and spring fruits with woody and amber tones, creating a robust scent profile for consumers to enjoy as they appreciate the unabashed wonderment in life’s everyday moments.”
Perlis walked me through the fragrance during a recent interview, starting with the clean, almost soap bubbly, top notes that mix with ylang petals and citrus. The mid-notes of fresh grass, berries, and white roses are familiar and nostalgic, with cedarwood, warm amber, powder, and patchouli creating comforting base notes that mimic our much-needed human connection, she said.
While recent Scents of the Year like Inspire and Discovery have been quite citrus-forward, Wonder backs away from that profile, but Perlis says those tart smells aren’t going out of style. “Citrus radiates positivity, and it’s not going anywhere,” she said. However, she does note that ambers, traditionally seen more in fall and winter scents, are trending for spring and summer. Summer amber brings the nostalgia with a “sun-kissed skin” scent, she adds.
Perlis wants to remind you that candle care is an important part of making your favorite scents last as long as possible. Always trim your wicks before burning each time, and burn your candles for at least four hours when you first light it, so that the wax is fully melted to the edge of the vessel — this prevents “tunneling” of your candles.
Candle warmer lamps are trending right now, and Perlis sees the benefit for extending your candle’s life, especially if you’re in an environment where open flame is discouraged. She’s not throwing out her matches anytime soon, though: “It’s a nice way to experience the fragrance, but I personally love the flicker of a candle flame.”
Yankee Candle Rewards Members can purchase Wonder starting today, March 15. The fragrance will be widely available on March 21, in conjunction with National Fragrance Day.