People get very angry about scented candles. The good ones cost a fortune, the cheap ones only smell nice for the first fifteen minutes or so, and all of them get wasted if you have to blow them out too soon on the first burn. Who knew one little jar of wax could cause such problems?
This is why I love the Yankee Candle Company. They straddle the middle ground between your once every five years Diptyque indulgence, and those cheapo pound shop candles that seemed a good idea at the time until you got them home and your flatmate told you they smell like B.O. There is a Yankee Candle in just about every scent imaginable, and if you use them properly, they're as economical as you're going to get for a candle that keeps its scent until the very last inch. Some people may think they're an unnecessary expense, but if you have an open plan kitchen and living room like I do, something to diffuse cooking smells is a must.
And I'm not the only one that loves them - in fact Yankee are currently celebrating getting 1 Million fans on facebook with a big competition and some special limited edition versions of their bestselling Vanilla Cupcake candle. Here it is, in situ with my current collection...
Yankee succeed, I think, not just because they are more affordable, but because their candles really do smell exactly like they're meant to. Vanilla Cupcake is a sickly sweet confection. Christmas Tree is rich and piney. Freshly Cut Roses smells like a florists shop.
But it's when they let their imagination go wild that things get interesting. Take the My Favourite Things range, inspired by the song from The Sound Of Music. Crisp Apple Strudel remains my favourite Yankee of all time - others were a little more surprising. Do you know what Brown Paper Packages smell of? How about Warm Woollen Mittens?
So as a die-hard member of the Yankee fan club, what would I recommend to a newbie? You can't beat the classics and anything in a white jar is a safe bet - Clean Cotton, Midnight Jasmine, Baby Powder. This Summer, Black Coconut has caught my eye, and I'm a big advocate of any of the foodie scents, especially the cakey ones. If you're not a fan of sweet scents, opt for something crisper. Whichever you choose, their prices are fantastic - the medium candles are just £16.49 and have a burn time of 65-90 hours.
Oh my goodness I ADORE Yankee Candles! Whenever I find a store that sells them I lose days.
ReplyDeleteThe only ones I've sniffed are the sweet ones (basically all of the ones in Gemma's flat). I hate sweet candles so I've always avoided them and opted for True Grace instead. Maybe I should look at the other scents...
ReplyDeleteI like all the Autumnal ones, like Farmers Market (my very favourite) and the Christmas ones are lovely. My favourite ever though is Muji's Log fire
ReplyDeleteTrouble is, anywhere that stocks YCs smells worse than a 1980s BodyShop (if, like me and Siany you're no fan of the sweet scents). That coupled with the 'meh' branding makes the whole thing a bit blurg. I'd rather have a Jo Malone once in a blue moon than a constant supply of YC.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, I've never met such a die-hard group of fans!
DeleteThey happened to be on sale at a Clinton's that was closing down in Hounslow, about £.80 p each and I went slightly mental buying them. I sometimes find them on sale in Morley's and go nuts yet again. It's saved me having to wait for trips to the US so I can buy them.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, yes, they do do one too many sweet scents. My favourite non-sweet scented ones are from Muji, the Hinoki wood one and Jasmine and Olive one.
I think the sweet candles have put a lot of people off. They're not my favourite candle brand, but people really like the scents. Gemma's on holiday (in Antigua, damn her), she can't wave her Yankee fangirl flag.
DeleteMy mum absolutely loves Yankee and her favourite scent is Macintosh Red apples, but they've stopped selling it in the UK :( She loves it so much that for her birthday I had one shipped from Canada! I'd looked everywhere in the UK for it but to no avail. I really hope Yankee bring it back for us Brits.
ReplyDeleteThere's a discount Yankee Candle store in the Lowry Outlet Mall in Salford. Well worth a visit.
ReplyDeleteClean cotton and fluffy towels!
ReplyDeleteAlthough Ive switched to the Kringle Candles, they are made by the original Yankee Candle Owner, before they were bought out and the quality went downhill (in my humble opinion).
Their Baker's Vanilla is my all time favourite, rich vanilla scent without being sickly sweet.
Soft blanket will cure anyng you've got! Much more effective than chocolates or gin -- but best, in the bath, to go with all three...
ReplyDeleteMy house is OBSESSED with them. My fella got some "Manly" Yankee Candles for his birthday, one smelt like aftershave and the other smelt like leather.
ReplyDeleteBoundary Mill near Burnley, Lancashire also have a selection at great discounts. My mum always picks us one up when she is there. Last time I went they were selling LARGE Clean Cotton ones for £14!
I don't like them. :/ I think they smell too strong! Shame.
ReplyDeletecan you use them as room diffuser without lighting?
ReplyDelete