Yankee Candle | Candlefind Review Board Archive

Dawn wrote an excellent review recently about Yankee Candle tarts. It reminded me to try some that my cousin recommended - Lemon/Lavender and Queen Anne's Lace. I also tried one called Vanilla Oak and purchased a few in the summer drinks category -- e.g., daiquiri and margarita. The Vanilla Oak smell was lovely - kind of spicy and mossy. I notice I seem to like candles and melts that have the word "oak" in them for part of their scent. Going to file this scent away to try again in Autumn when I like a "cozy" smell in the house. The Lemon/Lavender melt scent was lovely and the throw was amazing. I had my air conditioner on, and this scent helped make the air smell clean and fresh and got rid of that state air smell. The throw spead to 2 moderate sized rooms and get this -- I was able to reburn this melt 3 times for about 4 hours each time and still the scent threw perfectly! A nice cost saver if you burn melts every day as I do. The Queen Anne's Lace was a delicate but minty/powdery smell - nice and soft for a bathroom. I haven't burned the summer drinks scents ones yet but their cold smell is fruity and cheerful and I think they to will help also when the a/c is running. I agree with the previous poster before me who had problems with Yankee jar candles but think their melts are superior. I agree 100 percent -- so perhaps this should be a clue to Yankee that, as she recommended, they double wick? If their nelts throw so well -- then there has to be a reason the large candles do not throw as well if it's the same scent? At any rate, I am glad Dawn's review reminded me to return to my first love to try a melt -- or 10. The new look for the website is splendid, Carolyn, and I enjoy your reviews and Christina's also, as well as Dawn's.

Patsy

June 17th, 2006

I have to say that the Housewarmers are my favorite candle. If you use a jar topper they do not soot and the entire candle burns down to nothing. I have about 50 of these in my closet and I do not work for Yankee! LOL I just can't seem to be without one. I have burned these for about 10 years and have tried other kinds but always keep these on hand. I have had a few that I couldn't smell but in general, I can smell all my favorite scents. The ones that I coldn't smell, I just take back or try again in a smaller room. They will soot if you have them in the wrong place or do not trim the wick. I use a jar topper with all my candles and that eliminates that problem. I have not had them soot at all with those. My jars are clean and nothing is left when they are done. They make my whole house smell good and I get so many compliments on these. I get more compliments on these than any other candle. I have never met anyone rude at the stores or in the customer service department. They really want you happy and you can return a candle at any time if you are not happy with it or just don't like the way it smells. I do not think they are any more expensive then any other candle. They do send coupons and have great sales. I love these!

Whisperleaves

October 17th, 2005

I've been buying Yankee Candle candles for 6 years and I've just about loved all of them. They burn nicely, never had a problem with the wicks. Favorite right now is Fig and Rose, very juicy smell. I just bought Vanilla & Oak, too light for me. Home Sweet Home is one that every other candle company tries to duplicate, but Yankee's is the best. I prefer tarts to jars, so I can get more variety. I miss Baby Powder and Warm Chestnut and Autumn Lodge. I got my mom and an uncle hooked on burning tarts, and even my husband will start a few burning throughout the house if I haven't already done so.

Emelle

March 20th, 2006

I had a sale coupon and so bought two 14.5 ounce candles at my local Yankee Candle shop this past week. The Autumn Leaves scent is the first one I have burned. I immediately put one of those metal caps on the candle and must say this candle has burned perfectly -- no soot, large wax pool and absolutely no residual wax on the sides or tunneling and no smoking whatsoever. The Autumn Leaves smell is spicy and pumpkin-y and while I cannot identify any one ingredient in it, Autumn Leaves sure smells like Fall and looks very pretty with its bright orange color and has kept its scent throw, moderate to high, with each relighting. I am very pleased with this Yankee candle. I haven't burned the other candle yet. It is called Cranberry Chutney but the cold smell is tart and spicey and the candle is a beautiful ruby red color. Both candles look exactly right for the rich hues of Indian Summer in the trees that are starting to change color where I live. I also picked up some Yankee tarts --- in my new favorite Yankee scent, Lemon Lavender, which Cristina reviewed a while back. LL is a pretty lavender color and the usually sharp lavender smell is cut down softly with a lovely light fruity blend. The other tarts I got, which I haven't tried yet, are Peaches and Berries and the cold smell on this tart is strong, sharp and crisp. I am glad I gave Yankee another chance because when they are good that are very good and I have had absolutely no problem with the Autumn Leaves candle. Yankee was my first love when I started my ongoing love affair with scented candles.

Patsy

September 11th, 2006

I deleted my old Yankee review. Anyone familiar with me knows I love Yankee Candle. If you're not familiar with me, now you know- I love Yankee! This review will focus on three particular scents and my opinions on each one. Let me first start by saying, I think I've finally mastered the art of burning a Yankee Candle without it tunneling on me. I know you always hear about wick-trimming, but in Yankee's case, I do not trim the wick on the first burn. Yes, the flame is a bit high, but I find that you can usually get a full wax pool within 3-4 hours by not trimming the wick. The wax pool on your first burn is indicative of how your candle will burn on subsequent lightings. If you don't have that full wax pool when you blow it out the first time, you will more than likely run into tunneling problems, as your candle's "memory" will remember that you blew it out before it completely liquified. On the second burn and each one after, I do trim some. I make sure to get rid of the "mushroom" if there is one, but I still leave the wick slightly longer than the 1/4 inch that is recommended and always burn until I get a full wax pool. All three of the candles I will be reviewing have burned completely evenly with little to no residue on the jar, and this was without burning it with the Illuma-Lid, which I find I use less and less lately. Ok, now on to the scents! Pomegranate Cider: I am not much of a one note fruit person. I like my fruit scents to have a little depth. This scent is perfect if you like your fruit scents to be a bit more complex. It is tart, but not too tart. It's sweet, but not overly so. It's got a hint of spice to it, but I wouldn't call it a spicy scent. I bought the candle because I thought it would be a nice cozy scent to have burning this winter, and it is, but I would also use this any time of year. I would describe the scent throw as medium. It fills my average size bedroom with fragrance nicely. Oatmeal Cookie: This is a scent from their Returning Treasures line and I'm guessing it's a retired fragrance that is back for a limited time. I'm glad they brought it back because I have really enjoyed this candle. Yankee has an abundance of fresh and floral scents, but I feel their variety of good old fasioned, cozy bakery scents is pretty limited. And they do them so well! This fragrance is warm, rich and very comforting to me. I don't distinctly smell oatmeal in it, but it does smell like cookies baking. I would describe the scent as a medium throw. It fills my bedroom with fragrance just fine. It also does well in the living room, the fragrance is just more subtle. Blueberry Scone: I have saved the best for last. This has become one of my very favorite scents from Yankee and can only hope they don't decide to retire it any time soon! This is a wonderful scent! Authentic blueberry fragrance blended with a rich and delicious scone scent. If you like blueberry and bakery scents, this is a must-have! This is also one of Yankee's strongest candles that I've come across. I would definitely describe it as having a strong throw. I will definitely buy this scent again. Yankee Candles can be expensive, so make sure to register online at their website to recieve coupons via email and also to recieve their catalog in the mail, which always include a great coupon. Between their occasional sales and the frequent coupons, I never pay retail price for my candles and tarts.

candlefaninokc

January 14th, 2009

I have been a fan of Yankee from the first time I started using candles. I find that as long as I use their illuma lids, trim the wicks, and let them burn a long time I have no tunneling or soot issues. They also give out a good scent throw from the beginning to the last little bit of wax left in the jar. Their tarts are wonderful and their votives put out a lot of scent for their size. All in all Yankee is my favorite candle company. You can register online for coupons and that helps cut the cost. They also have good sales. You can always return a candle, burned or unburned for a full refund or replacement--no questions asked.

trep

August 10th, 2009

My review is on Sugar Cane & Vanilla tart by Yankee Candle. I am not typically a vanilla scent lover, but for some reason the sugar cane and vanilla combo sounded interesting. When I finally burned the tart, I noticed this scrumptious smell. I can't explain it really, but it is a sophisticated, exotic vanilla that is simply delicious. The best way I can describe it is like a warm ice cream cone. It only took a few minutes for the smell to fill the air. Of course it is getting retired from what I am reading online, but if you happen to find one of these little gems, give it a try. It turned a non vanilla lover into one. ******************* My review is on Canary Island Banana by Yankee Candle. When I first saw the name on this candle, I was intrigued. After smelling it I was pleasantly surprised . It has a nice banana daiquiri kind of smell, and not too strong. The scent throw was decent as well. I tend to like different smells, that eventually become discontinued so I try to grab this scent up whenever I see it. *************************** My review is on Jasmine Green Tea by Yankee Candle. I love jasmine green tea and felt that the scent was true to its name. It smells like the jasmine tea that you typically are served at an authentic Chinese restaurant. The scent is unique and is a nice change from the sugary, citrusy, flowery aromas that are so popular. It is not an easy candle to find in yankee candles stores in my area and I think it is on the verge of getting discontinued. I did manage to find it online at candlestomydoor.com, which was great. I need to start nabbing them up before they are gone.

enlightened75

November 18th, 2008

These things roxxorZ

candlefreak

May 17th, 2011

The last few years I have mixed reactions with Yankee candles. Some (Pink Grapefruit, Citrus and Sage) have a real good throw; others don't. Sometimes the jar candles tunnel or burn smokey - some do not. I had to go to their outlet yesterday to buy an electric tartwarmer for a bridal shower gift. (Got a lovely large one in beautiful Autumn colors and decorations.)Since I cannot be anywhere near candles without buying some, I started looking around for myself. There was a small section of blended jar candles called "Swirl" in various combinations and I bought one that combined 2 of my favorite YC scents -- "Home Sweet Home and Sage & Citrus." Glad to report, this is a winner. It did burn smokey at first, but I trimmed the wick twice and finally the flame burned steady and clear. And then, I read a reminder here tonight by another poster to put an open lid on so I found one I bought from Old Virginia and the candle is burning perfectly now. The scent combination is real pleasing -- sort of an Indian Summer type smell to it. The drawback, as always with YC,is price - $19.95 for a 14.5 oz. jar. Still, I like this candle a lot.

Patsy

August 28th, 2005

I absolutely LOVE thier tarts . Im not crazy about the candles since they soot a lot and are overly priced. THier tarts are all very strong . they smell my entire apartment always. My favorite scents are sunwashed linen, clean cotton and meadow mist. ive tried many scents and they are all true to what they say it should smell like. for those of you who like yankee candles you should go to thier web site and sign up for thier email. last month they had a great special and had 50% off all thier summer scents. shipping is a flat rate and very very cheap.

italian276

September 10th, 2005

I only burn tarts in my office and Yankee seems to be the best one, no matter which scent I choose to travel thru not only my office, but the entire lobby and shop area. I work 10 hour days and they go strong the entire time! Their jar candles on the other hand are another story. They don't seem to be scented down to the bottom of the jar. It seems like if I can burn 1/2 way thru a candle and still smell it, great! If I get 3/4 of the way thru a candle and still smell it, I feel lucky. The jar candles tend to burn unevenly, soot and tunnel horribly the entire time which is a huge turn off. My 9 rating is for the tarts only. It would be a 10, but the tarts are a bit expensive. If I had to rate the jar candles, probably a 3 due to not being able to enjoy the whole candle and the expense.

dawnsol

July 26th, 2007

I've recently discovered Home Fragrance Oils from Yankee Candle Company. I'm really starting to prefer these simply because they are so easy to use and you can change scents often! The oils come in a 10ml (.33 Fl OZ.) glass bottle and run $7.99 per bottle. (Not bad, but a bit pricey in my opinion compared to Bath & Body Works, The Body Shop, and Swan Creek Candle Co. Home Fragrance Oils.) Simply add up to 20 drops of oil to your oil warmer and in minutes the fragrance begins to fill the room. After the desired fragrance level is achieved, simply extinguish the tealight in your warmer and the scent will linger. Clean up is easy. Simply wipe the oil warmer clean with a napkin or tissue. Home Fragrance Oils are new to the Yankee line and from what I can tell, only their more popular scents are available at this time. However, I believe as these increase in popularity, you'll see them add more scents to the oil line. The oils I tried were Home Sweet Home and Sage & Citrus. Yankee also has there own line of oil warmers. They're definitely worth a try!

ilovemyfamily

August 18th, 2007

Three of my favorites from YC are Buttercream,Lavender/Lemon and Vanilla Lime. I'm sorry guys but I am still a YC fan. I would like to see them steady the prices out and stop discontinuing our favorite scents. I just picked up a few boxes of tealights because I'm afraid the scents I love will be gone when I wake up. LOL Also, if you take care of a YC jar candle you should not have any problems with soot or tunneling. Keep your wicks trimmed and use one of the jar stoppers. Nothing prettier than a YC jar candle burning.

Maurie97

November 14th, 2007

I have always been a fan of Yankee Candles! I'm really into the fresh, musky scents...which they have a lot of. They are on the expensive side, but they have big sales twice yearly where some scents are half price. My favorites that I would buy again are: Pumpkin Pie-My absolute fall favorite! I don't even like Pumpkin, but this candle just reminds me of everything fall! It smells great. Very relaxing and comforting, without being OVERLY foody. Autumn Woods-This came out last fall and it is SO very fresh! I love it! It's kind of musky/woody like a fall day with a small bit of floral notes. Cottage Breeze-This is my favorite musky/fresh scent! It's clean without smelling like salty, beach water. Beach Walk-smells really clean, less salty than "ocean water", and no suntan smell. Very nice! Sage & Citrus is a great anytime scent. I am looking forward to trying "Amber Glow" and "Evening Air".

megster

July 5th, 2008

Since most everyone is familiar with Yankee candles, I don't have anything new to offer about Yankees in general, but I have tried several new scents! 1. Meadow Mist - This is a very "spring" scent that I enjoyed alot! Meadow mist gives you the feeling of walking through a meadow of wildflowers in the early morning. The scent is very strong and very "green". Good scent throw. 2. Sunwashed Linen - Wow - I really love this new scent! Very clean and fresh! Imagine diving into a big pile of clean laundry fresh from the dryer...Good scent throw. 3. Fresh Comfort - Another good clean fresh laundry smell with a more powdery base...April Fresh! 4. Caribbean Fruit - Nice fruity blend of papaya, mango and other tropical fruits. Not extremely strong, but a nice change from my usual scents. 5. Juicy Grapefruit - Just as the name implies - Ruby red grapefruit with sugar on top. Another lighter scent, but a nice change. 6. Key Lime Pie - Yummm...a sweet lime scent with whipped cream and graham cracker crust...again, not extremely strong...

sunshine1977

June 10th, 2005

I love Yankee. Never bought one that didn't fill my home with scent. They do have some issues with burn but I can overlook that with the awesome scent throw. Tarts are very long lasting. Yankee is worth every penny. The sales are fantastic! Favorites: Lemon Lavender, Balsam and Cedar and Mistletoe.

denimsway

April 1st, 2010

I have been buying Yankee for as far back as I can remember, say 20 years. I'm 33. Anyway I have always been pleased with the quality oils they use. I'm not so thrilled with their scent throw anymore, now that I found candlefind. I think they continue to have the truest scents in the business to date. It seems that everytime I find a favorite candle of theirs they stop making it! I wish they would remake some of their old classics, make a better burning candle and switch to soy!!! They really need to get their act together. Try their plug in oils (or car jars)!!!! The best in the entire world. Better than Bath and Body Works or any grocery store brand "plug in" by FAR!!! Put the clean cotton plug in, in your bedroom and it smells like you just put clean sheets on your bed....EVERY DAY! I use the Sage and Citrus plug in oil in our office for the masculine smell. It lasts strong for a good month. I use the cantelope in my kitchen! Wonderful fresh smell!

vanessam888

September 26th, 2005

I have tried Sunwashed Linen from yahkee candle. It was a really nice scent. Haven't bought any lately.

sky_40

March 22nd, 2010

I love Yankee candle. They started my candle addiction. Buttercream is my favorite, but they have many scents I like. Just today I bought a Mom's Apple Pie jar and tarts in mandarin cranberry and chocolate chip cookie. The apple pie is another of my favorites, but the others are new to me. The mandarin cranberry is a great Fall scent. Fruity and a great balance between tart and sweet. The chocolate chip cookie is awesome! You can smell the butter! It doesn't just smell like chocolate, it's a true bakery scent. One negative is that they tend to discontinue scents and that's a drag. Overall I will continue to buy from them.

Dawn

November 20th, 2005

You see, my experience was the opposite of most people's. My "candle journey" began with smaller, web-based etailers and for the longest time I shunned all big-name-brand candles. I heard it through the grapevine (and readily believed) that these store-bought candles didn't even come close to the quality of the candles made by most smaller etailers. And then recently I noticed I have quite a nifty collection of candles, tarts and votives that I never plan on burning. Because, while it's true that I found some true gems among all my etailer purchases, I also found some major duds. Buying candles online is such a guessing game, you are bound to wind up with many candles you just don't care for. And of course, a small etailer can't offer the same 100% guarantee as a major brand, so you are stuck with these candles...can't return them. Add in the shipping charges, and after a while it gets to be quite a pricy proposition :(. So I started wishing I could at least sniff candles before I bought them. And wouldn't it be great if I could return them if the quality just wasn't what I expected? This is what brought me to my local Yankee store. Armed with a couple of coupons I'd found online (their candles are pricy) I decided to take the plunge and purchase a few scents. I bought quite an assortment of votives and around 6 of their Housewarmer jars (over the course of two weeks). Guess what? I loved many of them! Their Macintosh, Buttercream, Cranberry Chutney, Berry Tangerine etc. were really terrific and offered a great scent throw. I'd heard about their candles smoking and tunneling a lot, so I used a stay-on topper on my jars. The result: a perfectly even and clean burn. No soot whatsoever! The jars remain clean and clear...all the way to the bottom. So these little toppers are a definite must-have. I also loved most of their votives. They burned all the way down, and most could scent up a room very nicely. I also found that if you cut the votives in half, you wind up with two nifty little (yet potent) tarts! A lot more cost effective than purchasing tarts individually ;P. Now, there were definitely some duds among my purchases as well. My Cherry Lemonade, Fruit Smoothie and Honeydew Melon jars I could hardly smell at all. Same goes for a few votives. The good news, though? I could take them back to the store!!! In my case, I just exchanged them for different scents. But you could also get your money back if you so wish (and have your receipt). SO I don't end up with shelves full of candles I'll never use :). So while I'll always purchase from my favorite tried-and-true etailers, it's wonderful to know I also have a more foolproof, readily available source for my candles fixes ;).

MaggieD

June 19th, 2006

Yankee set the standard for beautiful candles. However, they have done little to remain up to date with their packaging. Candles are of high quality.

joanle0828

September 14th, 2006

I have always loved Yankee, this is where I began also, and I still go back every now and then to see whats new. I love there tarts, even though they are more than other places, they are strong, but their jars are hint or miss, you never know. I will always keep a check on their newest scents just to see, Autumn Leaves is great, very autumn-y and different. Christmas cookie will always be my favorite of their scents, and Birthday cake is yummy too. I just really like the personal touch you get from home maker tart shops, they just really appreciate our business, thats why I choose them. Anyway, Yankee has a special touch and they have really neat accessories too.

Busymom

September 15th, 2006

Come on guys, we all know that Yankee being around for so long says something. Most of us love at least 1 or 2 of their scents. I too love soy candles alot but feel that a smear campaign is in effect for somebodys benefit. Please go to www.candles.org for a clear comparison of soy vs. paraffin candles. Think about it and do not give up on your old favorites just give them a fair place with some of your newer soy favorites. I love both, but do agree that Yankee needs to keep their prices down for a bit. Enjoy the new and remember the old favorites and be fair! Just an add on from my last review. Its all about how you burn a candle regardless if its soy or traditional wax. Wicks must be trimmed and for any jars it is necessary to use a jar capper to get a clean even burn. As you can tell from most reviews on this board these candles tips are a sure bet for proper/clean and safe burning of our candles. Update: Burning Autumn Wreath as I type and I must say it is probably my all time favorite candle scent. I smell mostly cinnamon and berry with some other undertones I can't quite put my finger (or nose) on. Perfect Fall scent. Probably not for any other season except maybe Winter too.

Maurie97

October 22nd, 2006

I really like many scents and the fact that Yankee Candles are available at mall stores, the outlet store, in department stores, and discount retailers (so I don't have to pay shipping on ebay. Seriously, when a candle is discounted to $12 yet costs $12 in shipping online, I would rather read the Sunday newspaper ads for a half price Yankee sale.) Yes, they bubble, they weep, and if you use a ceramic shade for sure do they ever soot. Plan on using a topper and trim the wicks diligently. I love Home Sweet Home, Christmas Eve, Spring Bouquet, Mistletoe, Macintosh/Harvest, several plum and peach fragrances, Autumn Wreath, Autumn Leaves, pomegranate/currant, and hydrangea. I thought that Christmas Cookie and cucumber/tea smelled pleasant but didn't have much throw. I didn't like Home for the Holidays, Christmas Wreath (too much pine) and Balsam and Cedar (too cedar-y.) I have tried tarts, votives, and jars. Since these candles are so expensive at retail, I would really recommend buying on sale or buying tarts or votives. Look for them at discount chains like T J Maxx, Ross, and Marshalls. Kohl's, Bath and Body Works, and Linens and Things all had post-Christmas sales. Maybe I am odd, but, I like the old style jars. I also don't care about the color. I like spice, floral, and berry scents the best. Fake bakery is the least attractive to me. Yankee has a lot of choices of scents and I like that.

miss

January 1st, 2008

I am reviewing mango peach salsa in the tart. I am using a 25 watt electric tart burner, I really love this scent. Wish I had bought more than one. In my opion the throw is really good.

cookielady

April 17th, 2008

The new fall scent Orchard Pear is awesome!!! VERY fruity, i can smell it in the next room! This is one yankee candle scent i will definatley buy again! ******************* Update 10/9/08 forgot to rate the Vineyard scent. It's really strong and i can smell it in the next room! ********************** I was so excited when i discovered Yankee Candle had a lily of the valley scent. But i was VERY disappointed, i could hardly smell it. Wasn't worth the price i paid! ***update*** i'm updating my rating for yankee. i was a bit harsh with the rating! but my previous statement about lily of the valley candle scent is still true. Yankee does have some wonderful scents, and they recently brougt back "returning favorites"! I ordered Sugared plums and Patchouli. I also discovered they have some scents availible in 2 wick jars which is great! they also have a all natural "Beanswax" candle line. Once i recieve my order and burn the Sugared Plums and Patchouli i will post my scent review! ***UPDATE*** Sugared Plums is a realy nice, sweet, fruity smell! Not too overpowering, i can smell it a bit in the next room. Burns PERFECTLY with a Illumina Lid! I recommend it if you want a fruity smell that's not too strong, but not that light either. It's just right! Patchouli: awesome! nice and strong! If you like Patchouli you will love this candle!

candlechick7676

October 9th, 2008

I have tried several different Yankee scents and sizes or the years. I have particularly liked their scents Sweet Melon, Cucumber & Cantalope, Sweet Strawberry, Juicy Cherry, Vanilla Cookie, and Macintosh. I thought that these had really good scent throws. Unfortunately, like many other people have posted, the candles do smoke a bit and are quite pricey in comparison to a lot of other candle companies becoming popular now. That said, I still think the company has a good scent selection to choose from and the candles do smell good with a good scent throw.

danyalah

August 17th, 2005

I have been burning Yankee for 8 years now,and I have watched them grow into a million dollar business.Yankee candles are good candles,and as some other reviewers have said there are some better ones out there.But Yankee has been out there along time,as you see Mom and Pop candle companies come and go,Yankee has been a mainstay for quite a few years, and they will be around for alot longer too.As with any candle, you have to be educated in burning candles,you have to keep the wick trimmed,you have to let it burn to the edge before you put it out, if you don't do this it will tunnel.For the ones that have problems with Yankee smoking I suggest a metal topper that sits on the jar of the candle,this will elimate all the smoking,and if this does not work,just stick with the tarts.

homespun

August 27th, 2005

Though I prefer soy candles because of their clean burn, I really love Yankee Candles. I agree with the other reviewers - my only complaint is that the jars turn black & the flame can get out of control, even though I regularly trim the wick. I completely stopped buying Yankee Candles because of this. So, I started using tin cappers made for jar candles - the flame stays controlled, no soot on the sides of the jar & it burns evenly. This made me start burning their candles regularly again. I also started buying the smaller jars - 16 oz. or smaller. The flame seems to be more regulated in these. This Summer, I used the Clean Cotton & the Hydrangea - and they were wonderful. The first is a clean, laundry-type scent that is great for a bathroom. The second is a wonderful floral scent that is quite strong & filled the entire first floor of my house. I do love Yankee scents, but the soot & smoke were driving me crazy. So I'm thankful I found the tin cappers, which serve as a little chimney for the flame. They can be purchased online or in Yankee stores - and I've seen them at many other shops as well.

Jessica

August 29th, 2005

I used to be a huge fan of Yankee Candle many years back, but there are much better candle companies available now, which gives more perspective. While their jars are typically good for scenting a room, their votives are almost scentless while burning and their tarts are mixed (some smell more than others). They are still good to give as gifts because everyone knows they are a fine product and the scents are generally pleasing to most; however, I prefer other companies more now and only buy Yankee on sale, if then.

shannon simons

September 28th, 2005

This is my first post and I have to say I love this site and have gained so much from reading the comments of others. I'm one of those that until recently didn't realize other candles existed except for Yankee. What got me started on this recent candle craze was the purchase of my first tart warmer and Yankee tarts. I really love Yankee tarts. I think their scents are awesome and most last the 8 hours. I've grown unhappy with their jar candles now that I see how a candle should burn (I tried Swancreek soy candles.) However, I read some of the Yankee post and decided to try a new 22oz. jar with a candle capper. Even with letting it burn about 5 hours the first time, careful wick trimming and a candle capper, the thing still tunneld and my only consolation was that I purchased it at 20% off. I've found much better burning candles out there. I think their tarts are great and highly suggest the following Christmas scents: Peppermint Cocoa (my favorite), Christmas Wish, Christmas Cookie and Christams Wreath.

ilovemyfamily

December 5th, 2005

I recently purchased some tarts. Most had a pretty good throw. My new favorite is the [b]Rhubarb/Plum[/b]. This tart had a nice strong throw and tart/tangy scent. Not too thrilled with the Tropical Vanilla-could barely smell that one. [b]Spiced Cocoa[/b] was another nice thrower. My husband is a fan of the Vineyard scent. I did order an outdoor candle in mint and it just tunneled horribly!!! :( Good thing it came in a cute terracotta pot! :) I too started out as a Yankee candle lover and now NEVER buy them, but went back to buy some tarts to try the new scents. I think the tarts are worth it. I will occassionally buy a [b]Buttercream[/b] candle as a gift-since this company is so well known. :wink: ****Wanted to add another new scent in the tarts I enjoyed: [b]Gingerbread Maple[/b] good throw, warm and yummy!!

rntiffany

September 13th, 2006

I've loved Yankee Candles for years even with the soot because there was little else to choose from. I went to order tarts from their website and found they had upped the price to 1.59. That's insane for 8 hours of scent, so I'm searching for other places to try. Norhern Maine, Pilgrim, and McCall's are much cheaper and are proving to be just as good. I just need to break my own habit of "nothing but Yankee." I would certainly give their scents a score of 10, especially in tarts, but with the new price, they've dropped to a 7 in my book.

scentsable

December 18th, 2005

I'm not afraid to say that I love and hate Yankee candles! They have a great marketing department and if you buy from the website the fragrance descriptions are fantastic, although not always true to life. For every "favorite" candle I've bought, I also have a dud or two. Their seasonal candles accessories are wonderful and make great gifts. I absolutely love the scented catalog pages that they recently came out with. It makes it so much easier to decide which ones to buy.

Dragonfly

December 24th, 2006

I like this company because they have a variety of scents, and seem to always have a scent on sale. I also love the labels on the jars, and have some just for decoration! I do have a couple recommendations- if you want the smell, without the "soot" people talk about, use a 14 oz on a candle warmer instead. Your candle will last A LONG TIME and fill the scent around the house more so than liting it. A downfall is the tarts in my opinion. They are extremely strong the first couple time you use it, then the smell fades away fast.

jellybean26

May 4th, 2007

Down here in my little Southern town, Yankee Candles rule. No other candle can come close to touching it, so it's only natural that I purchased some over the years. The first scent I ever bought was Buttercream...a local favorite. Very, very sweet. Almost overpoweringly so, but it was pleasant nonetheless. It's actually one of the few food candles that I enjoy. The scent throw is quite strong, and one candle would completely scent my bedroom and leach into the living room with ease. After the success of that one, I purchased some more and have found that these candles are hit and miss. Some scents have a strong aroma while others barely get noticed. Also, some have a noticeable difference in their hot and cold smells. A disagreeable undernote during a cold sniff can overpower during the hot burn. This happened with their Cottage Breeze scent. It's cold scent was fresh and had a sun-kissed linen and saltspray aroma, but it burned with an acrid note that took over the entire scent. Only when I went back to the cold tart could I detect that acrid aroma as just a barely noticeable layer and had no idea it would come out so strongly when warming. So make sure you smell each candle carefully and can at least tolerate each individual note, because you never can tell which one will take center stage when it's burning. The weakest scents to me are the florals: Spring bouquet and Moroccan Rose barely made their presence known. Whereas Lemon Lavender, Buttercream, and Fresh Mint announced their arrival with a bang. Another good thing I can add is that some scents are dead on when it comes to mimickry. The fresh mint doesn't smell like mint extract or candy. It smells just like my grandma's front porch after someone had walked up to the stairs. She used to plant mint between the cobblestones and they ran wild along the ground, releasing a fresh, green, and minty aroma each time they were squashed underfoot. Fresh mint smells so much like it that I became a bit teary-eyed when I first uncorked the jar. Of course, it could have also been a reaction to the price. LOL P.S. Kohl's has started carrying something called Yankee Candle but which only costs 9.99 per jar. Or at least they were when I bought mine a few months back. I don't know if it's an inferior line or not, but I bought Red Apple and Bubble Bath. The apple scents smells good cold, but my kids say it reminds them of cough syrup when it's burning. The bubble bath is a hit though. Smells just like the tail end of a shower when all the shampoo and soap smells are mingling together in the bathroom. Very clean scent.

saprater

June 27th, 2007

The last Yankee candle I smelled burning was last year and it was Tulip. It smelled great and I could smell it across the room. But there was a lot of smoke, or soot, and the jar was too black. It even began smelling smoky after a couple hours. Also in my experience there's extra wax left on the sides from tunneling. I do like the scents they offer, and I like the special of the month.

agrayson012

June 17th, 2005

I recently broke down and bought a bunch of votives of Yankee Candles. IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve finally come around that buying votives is a great way to try different fragrances without investing too heavily in more expensive jars. DuhÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ it took me awhile but I did it. :d IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve heard so many pros & cons of Yankee Candles so I thought it was time to find out for myself what the hype is all about. The main reason IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve never bought Yankee Candles is because I think theyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re overpriced. $18.00 for a 14.5oz candle is expensive to me. I can purchase larger candles from other companies for much less that are just as good if not better. Reading other reviews that these candles are smokey & sooty isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t exactly a lure either. I purchased Sweet Melon, Splash of Rain, Cucumber & Cantaloupe, Caribbean Fruit, & Summer Fresh. I have to say that I enjoyed them all, Summer Fresh being my favorite out of the bunch. It has a Citrus zing to it that smelled awesome. Sweet Melon was yummy too. I can never resist a melon candle and this one was one of the best IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve tried. I can see why these candles are popular since they have a nice fragrance selection and they do smell good. I did like all the scents I purchased but not enough to invest in their jars, unless I happen to catch a sale. Until then, I think whenever I want a Yankee fixÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll just buy some votives at my local Hallmark.

Candlenut

June 19th, 2005

Yankee Candles have very authentic scents! They vary in terms of throw -- some of the stronger ones include Autumn Leaves, Dune Grass, and others. I highly recommend using an illuma lid. It prevents sooting and makes the candle burn beautifully, although even with a lid the candles can still tunnel sometimes. If you don't mind doing the occasional "candle surgery" to push wax from the sides into the melt pool, this always helps. Also, you can almost always use a coupon!

cmarie

January 30th, 2011

I have bought Yankee candles off and on for years. I agree with some of the other reviews on the changing scents too often. I too, have liked scents that they have turned around and discontinued. I didn't like the way they burned at all, until this Christmas, I bought two of the lids they sell that fit on the top of the jars, for even burn. I must say, I was totally shocked at how they burned with this on. No black soot, and burned straight down, no tunneling. So now, when i burn Yankee, I will definately use my lids. I like the Pumpkin Pie, Home Sweet Home, and some of their Christmas scents, Christmas Wish, Christmas Eve, Home for the Holidays. I also LOVE their tarts, they are wonderful :) I never pay full price for their candles. I only buy them when i have a coupon, or on their online website, when they are on sale. **************************** Speaking of coupons, I received a great coupon from Yankee this week, buy one 22 oz. jar and get one free. I have tried the Gingerbread Maple in the tarts, think i will try one of those in the 22 oz. jar. Also, their new Cinnamon Vanilla is nice. I LOVE getting their coupons in the mail~~especially this one :)

Becky

January 6th, 2006

i have used Yankee candles for years-mainly because of their conveinience to find and buy. I would of never ventured into homemade candles until I found this site. My favorite Yankee scent is Christmas wreath. They do make a nice gift, because most people recognize the name

Nicoletteturkey

November 23rd, 2007

i enjoy shopping for yankee even though they are priced too high, and the scent throw isn't that great. However people like receiving them as gifts, so I buy when i have a coupon!

Dabbadooey

May 13th, 2006

Well, this is the company I started out with, and I guess I thought they were the best years ago, but after purchasing from some smaller companies, I now see that what was once great is now only so-so. I do love their buttercream and cranberry chutney, I will always sniff these babies and want to burn them. (Unless I find a similar scent elsewhere). I guess they are kinda like an old friend,and you just can't quite let them go. My last couple candles burned very unevenly, and I don't remember them being so poorly made in the past. I feel bad leaving a bad review, but I just have found other companies I prefer, Texas Charm and Loganberry Candleworks are my two favorrite companies now.

greendog

May 24th, 2006

I don't hate Yankee. In fact I loved them for about a decade before finding much better alternatives. I still buy Yankee though on occasion, when they are having buy one, get one promotions or good sales on their tarts. I love the huge variety of scents and most are very authentic and not overly processed smelling. Some have great throw, some very very light. The good thing about Yankee is that if you hate the candle, you can return it. Our local Yankee stores are great about returns if not completely satisfied. If Yankee would double-wick their jars, I bet they'd smell twice as strong, burn top to bottom, and their sales would triple. They probably don't want to make this simple change to their product though because it would mean revamping all their equipment that the candles are now mass-produced on. I've tried the metal lids and they still tunnel on me. But, if I trim the wick before lighting, snuff them out instead of blowing them out, and give them at least 3 hours at each burn, I've found I can get a larger wax pool *almost* all the way across, and my jars stay clean of soot. The scent throw is a gamble with Yankee. I find the fall spices the strongest. Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Spice, Cinnamon Stick, Cranberry Chutney, Harvest, Autumn Wreath, etc. Some of the sweet scents to me (vanillas, cookies) are very light. I don't buy fruits or florals so I can't speak to those. For smaller rooms, bedrooms and baths, they are fine in the scent department. I find that in the larger areas of the home Yankee tends to be like a light "backdrop" of scent I get a whiff of here and there, and that really isn't a bad thing. Some days, a nice light scent is just fine by me. Because of the availability, huge selection, and decent sales I'm sure I'll always buy Yankees now and then. I do enjoy their tarts very much, although the scent throw with those is a gamble too. I think because I LOVE walking into Yankee stores, a store dedicated to candles - I will always enjoy the experience of Yankees even if they aren't the best on the market. *UPDATE* - wow, I melted 2 tart scents I hadn't tried before and they are doing great. Peach & Fresh Strawberry and Cherry Lemonade are both super strong and nice smelling. I don't normally buy fruit-alone scents but when I got a whiff of these in the store they were fresh and lively and really strong still wrapped in plastic so I wanted to take them home and try. I melted the Peach Strawberry in my master bathroom and could smell it downstairs in the kitchen! Same for the Cherry Lemonade. If you love these types of fruity scents they are both great* **2nd update** Gingerbread Maple is a WINNER! I don't detect too much maple in it but the warm spices come through STRONG but not overpowering. I actually got this in the large housewarmer, have it burning in my kitchen and smell it in the WHOLE house, even upstairs. This is my first Yankee experience with a candle that has scented this strong. The scent almost reminds me of Indian spices. Not for the super sweet candle lover but great for the spicy candle lover and this one has intense scent throw. Finally! I am going to go back for 1 to stock in my cupboard in case they discontinue it after the holidays.**

Candle_Gal

September 17th, 2006

Yankee started me on this craze but they've been slowly going downhill as far as quality. I wish their candles were double wick and stronger. They are still worth buying if you can catch some good sales but full price no way.

Reece

February 21st, 2013

After swearing them off, I went into the mall store when they had a recent buy 1 get one free sale and purchased two sparkilng Lemon large jar candles. The throw is very strong in a large room with high ceilings. I am impressed that they also burn evenly with wick trimming. I would buy these again in this particular scent as I love lemon and this is a true tart refreshing fruit lemon slice scent. ***************** I keep trying to convince myself I must be getting a bad batch because so many friends use these and love them. I think they are stuck in a candle rut LOL and haven't tried any others. Yankee is everywhere so very convenient which is why so many buy these. Having tried many scented candles, imo these burn awful and have a weak throw. One scent I enjoy is Home Sweet Home. If I burn it in my kitchen it gives off a moderate scent but is almost completely lacking if in the next room. I am spoiled by TRAPP candles which a single votive will give a throw from one room to adjoining rooms. I don't think I will be buying these again. After half a dozen not so great experiences , it can't be a bad batch.

GoodGirl

June 26th, 2007

I really love some of their scents, such as Green Grass (discontinued, remade into Meadow Mist, but just not the same), Fireside, Macintosh and Granny Smith Apple, Lemon Zest, Tulip, and quite a few others. But, my biggest problem with them is the way they burn. They usually tunnel, leaving wax on the sides of the jar, making you feel as tho you've been cheated. I have also gotten soot on the jar opening, and smoke on occassion. They are overpriced for what you get.

MntMom

July 4th, 2005

I agree with all the others on here. I have never tried their candles before and I received mine as a gift. I can say for sure that I have had better. The scents were not as strong as I like, they did smoke, and they are ridiculously over priced for what you get. If you ask me, I say you're better off buying elsewheres.

stargazer73

July 15th, 2005

When you need candles and need them quick- get 1 or 2 of these and burn them, since you can potentially waste half the wax because it doesnt burn right, of course then you got the lovely soot, smoke- but they are easily accesible and when on sale affordable

kattekatt

August 27th, 2005

I've got to say upfront that the only reason I rated Yankee a 5 is because they have good customer service and a great return policy - which you'll need when your candle begins to tunnel. Or when it doesn't throw the lovely yummy scent you smell when it's cold. Their candlemaking skills are in need of an overhaul. I do have to thank Yankee, because if they didn't have these issues I'd not have discovered several small indie vendors that I patronize now. I *want* to like Yankee - they're so easy to find - but I'm just not masochistic enough to keep throwing money at something that just doesn't work. Even if the candle can be returned, it's still a waste of my time. They do come up with some beautiful scents. When I pop open a jar and sniff, it's often a pleasant experience. If it carried over to when the candle was lit, I'd be a fan. They do much better at making candle toys rather than actual candles. So, no.... I don't recommend them. When someone expresses an interest in candles, I point them to websites of places I like and have found to have good products, or I point them toward Candlefind so they can do their own research.

stardustgirl

January 17th, 2011

Yankee Candle has a new line now available only at Kohls stores or their Web site. The line is titled "Simply Home." There are twelve new scents, including two bakery scents: apple pie and lemon meringue. Another scent, vanilla extract, could also be considered a bakery scent, I suppose. Yankee's jar candles, I feel, often (if not most times) aren't scented strongly enough. To me, the votives basically have no scent. I like their tarts, however. They also have nice candle accessories.

carnation

March 14th, 2006

I became a candle addict with Yankee candles, I never cared much for candles before. I like yankee candle but the home clasics type are the best. they burn better than the house warmer candles and the cantainers look classi too. I've tryed sweet pea in home clasic and this candle smells beautyful and elegant, like no other floral scent i,ve ever tryed before. I love their Buttercream(light, comforting,peaceful, yummy) house warmer, caramel vanilla(comforting,sweet, an appetite opener), mandarin cranberry(very happy, vibrant). Their scents are great but some are weaker than others. I AM CONCEARNED WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT so now I no longer wish to buy wax candles, SOY CANDLES ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY HEALTHY, and yankee candles are only made with wax, not soy.

chant88

March 5th, 2006

I started buying candles about 2 years ago and haven't stopped since. Yankee was one of the first brands that I bought. I purchased them from a Yankee store in my local mall. The manager was so very helpful. After buying a few of the jars I thought I was doing something wrong. My jars kept tunnelling and leaving so much wax on the sides. I did what I was told to do, which was to burn the candle long enough so the wax could reach the edges, but after burning it for 6 hours straight, it just wasn't working. I took the jars back, which they happily exchanged for me, but still the same thing. I decided to try the votives and tealights instead. The tealights burned well but there was hardly any fragrance. The same with the votives and sometimes the votives left was on the edges. My sister told me to try some of their tarts. I had no idea what these were but again the manager at my local store was helpful. I purchased an electric tart warmer and some tarts. Was I impressed. The tarts liquified all the way and gave off such a strong throw. I was amazed. Needless to say, I buy only Yankee tarts. I have tried other brands, but it seems when I burn them in my electric tart warmer, they don't liquify all the way. Yankee also has the most adorable accessories every season. I already have on hold for me from my local store for some of the the new fall collection accessories. I will continue to buy my tarts and accessories from Yankee until maybe they decide to double wick their jars and add more scent to them.

Keleka

June 16th, 2006

I have used both the Yankee candles and their tarts. While they have nice scents up close, I don't think that their burn scents are very strong. You can catch some whiffs while you are in the immediate viscinity of the candle, but to me it really doesn't do anything for the entire room. I feel the same way about the tarts, almost moreso. I really can't smell them unless I am within a couple feet, only for a brief moment. I would recommend checking out other brands if you want stronger scents. One positive note though- I really like their scented products for vehicles. The little jars they have now with liquid diffusers really last and keep your vehicle nicely scented.

loungefly

July 16th, 2006

I just love their Christmas scents- especially their Christmas wreath- but the price really bothers me. I am on a quest to find another candle company in the eastern US that has strong scents but not Yankee prices. Their tarts have gotten too pricey for me to even buy- $1.70 for each tart

brlady

October 21st, 2006

I was SO DISAPPOINTED w/ Yankee Candles. They didn't smell that good cold, but this other website raved about Yankee's Spicy Pumpkin so I had to try it. I bought Spicy Pumpkin & Cinnamon Sticks. Spicy Pumpkin smelled good, but the candle kept on tunneling so I couldn't even keep it lit for a while. A lot of smoke came out of the candle. The candle smelled just like it sounds - a spicy pumpkin - slightly sweet, slightly spicy, w/ a bit of pumpkin. It doesn't smell like an authentic pumpkin pie w/ crust like others. Just a nice spicy pumpkin scent. The throw wasn't strong. The Cinnamon Sticks candle smelled good, but it didn't burn cleanly or evenly. The throw wasn't strong since it didn't fill up my small living room. It's a shame that the candles performed so poorly because I really liked the smell of them. I don't like super strong throws, but it wasn't even strong enough for me. I wouldn't purchase again because I don't like the other scents they have to offer and they're pricey for such a poorly functioning candle. Therer are better candles out there for a better price.

Mai

December 18th, 2006

Vera Cruz Vanilla World is strong, the other two had no throw at all.I would recommend their scentstories and can spray fresheners when they have a sale.They are too high priced and their spray cans are small as a computer mouse.

airbrushedtees

February 28th, 2008

Rose scent smels fake, another candle that emits black smoke. *********** As a gift, I was grateful, however the "rose" scent was choking at times and burned black smoke. I also received a soy candle which I love

jcj215

September 12th, 2008

Once again, you can buy cleaner burning candles in the same scents for the same price, if not better.

loreedooran

February 3rd, 2006

I used to use Yankee Candles all the time. They were the best candles that were easy to find. Go to any mall or shopping center and you are bound to find a place or two selling them. I would have to agree with many of the other posters - they are expensive. You do pay for the convince of not having to go out of your way to get them. I have another complaint. Why do they seem to discontinue their scents so frequently? I understand changing the stock, but it seems that every time I like a scent it is soon on the chopping block. Their scent changes did more to drive me away from their company than anything else.

travisty

January 6th, 2006

I purchased some but do not burn them. Mainly I melt them then I do not have to put up with the sooting and such. The scent throw is better when melted this way also. I will take a votive and put it in a votive cup and set it on the warmer. Works well for me.

catkins

January 26th, 2006

Ever since I discovered this site, I'd sworn off Yankee Candles. But then I got an email with a great discount ($15 off any purchase over $45) so I succumbed once again. Plus the fact that we had to return a jar candle with no wick! (The salesperson said, "There's a wick, they just didn't dig it out" - my opinion is, that's not MY job!) So off to the mall we went... They were really great about exchanging the defective candle and said we could even get a different scent (It was the black candle, "Midsummer's Night"?) so instead of another one of those (too strong for me anyway) I chose the new Chocolate Cappuccino. Incredible scent! Within minutes my large eat-in kitchen with vaulted ceilings was filled with the scent and not long after, so was the hallway. I let it burn for at least 5 hours so the risk of tunneling will be lessened (I hope anyway!). I also bought another Sage & Citrus (my fav) and a Cucumber Cantaloupe. I haven't burned it but the scent is literally mouth-watering. I know, I know - YC is so "last week" when it comes to candles, but I couldn't help myself. I'm expecting more Pure Integrity next week and then I'm sure I'll regret the YC purchases! Just wish I could be able to buy PI locally so I could "sniff them out" first!

lealea

March 20th, 2006

I wish I could 'get' the whole Yankee thing. I tried, I really did. I purchased a few (Home for the Holidays, Cranberry Chutney, Christmas Tree, Berry Bramble)....I can't smell them. At all. I know people rave about these candles and I do love the scent choices and the way many of them smell in the jar, but I SWEAR I just can't figure out why everyone seems to be able to smell them but me (and people have described them as strongly scented). I wanted to love them and in fact, bought two the other day from the Yankee store sale. As I left I couldnt' figure out why I did and am planning to take them back and return them. I think they have great sales often, so those who do love them are really in luck! I do plan to try their wax potpourri - haven't tried melts of any kind yet and have higher hopes for those. Hopefully I'll love them. In the meantime, I can't spend any more money on the candles.

Jenny

January 4th, 2007

It's a shame, I used to love this candle line and I could always find something yummy smelling to perk me up. Now I've found lots of other candle lines that have clean burning candles and now I can hardly return to a Yankee store. They're candles actually clog the filters on my ionic breeze units. So they're history in my house. If I'm burning something that's doing all this to my air filters- I probably don't need to be inhaling it. I guess the black nasty smoke was a dead giveaway but old habits die hard and I LOVED this brand for a while. I used to love their Green Grass scent but they've discontinued it. Apparently, I'm the only person who ever bought it. Once in a while someone will give me one of their candles as a gift so I will burn it in a room away from a filter, but I refuse to buy one. Also, I do notice my eyes itch and I cough a lot more when I burn their candles. Hmmm...coincidence or not?

JacqueJ

June 12th, 2005

I used to love Yankee Candle. I collected jars, votives, and tarts. I would browse their online and retail stores religiously. However, one day I found Candlefind. Candlefind opened up my eyes to how a candle should burn. I never thought much of the blook soot on top of the jars, the smokey wick, and the leftover wax on the sides of the jar, not to mention, parrafin wax. I'm not a scientist or a doctor so I can't tell you if parrafin is really better than soy, but the parrafin soy wax combination burns a lot better than straight parrafin and soy by itself burns best. I tried a metal lid in hope of being able to burn Yankees again because they have a lot of scents that I like. The metal lid worked perfectly for the first burn. The whole top burned evenly and clean. No leftover wax, no soot, and a nicely lit wick. However, as the wax evaporated the wick got worse (yes, I trim it) and the tunneling came back. I was so disappointed because I really liked Black Currant. It is a lovely scent. I think Yankee's problem is that they do not double wick. Every candle that I've had, regardless of the wax, has burned perfectly with two wicks. I now prefer soy because I get fantastic scent stregnth and throw from it and a nice clean burn. Additionally, shouldn't a candle burn correctly without the need of a metal lid? If you have to put a lid on a candle then there is something wrong with the candle. I highly recommend: ROSEGIRLS CANDLES and Pure Integrity Candles. Both are soy candle companies with amazing customer service and amazing candles but different types of scents. Rosegirls has fantastic bakery scents along with some fruits, clean scents, and florals. Pure Integrity has a little bit of everything.

lisinka1

July 18th, 2005

Yankee Candle is the "600 Pound Gorilla" of the candle industry. However, their candles do not perform as well as they should. They have an incredible selection of fragrances. But, their candles burn VERY DIRTY and leave ALOT OF SOOT! I burned a 22 oz jar of Clean Cotton. The jar was absolutely black with soot. Very unattractive. Makes me wonder what the heck I breathed if the jar was that dirty! There are better performing candles in the market.

elizabethknaptonhill

July 29th, 2005

I rank Yankee slightly above Partylite, mainly because at least their candles have scent throw (in most scents), and for burn hours, price is more reasonable than Partylite. You can get some good deals at their periodic specials and annual sale (stock up then). Large scent selection. Relatively easily available at retail. I have not tried Yankee pillars, but have tried jars, tins, votives and tealights. My gripes unfortunately are sufficient to outweigh the positives: 1) Candles do not burn clean. At all. In any form. Regardless how meticulous you are at wick trimming they soot. Do work well in electric candle warmers tho (the "heating plate" or type that looks like a crockpot and melts the wax rather than burns it). 2) Avoid Yankee Online! I do a lot of internet shopping. This was by far the worst experience I ever had in cyberspace. My son gave me a Yankee gift card as a gift. Logged online and placed order-so far so good. A week or so later, logged on to ascertain shipping status. Order was noted CANCELLED. Hello??? Did they plan on telling me my order was cancelled???? Thus began my dance with their phone customer service. "We will send you a letter snail mail telling you the order was cancelled." (Letter never arrived to this day by the way.) Next call: "Sorry-we will reload your gift card." Drive to retail outlet-gift card declined. Next call: "Apologize. We will mail you another gift card. The other rep told you wrong-we cant reload the card." Wait. Wait. Wait some more. Call again---2 weeks later. "Gift card in process." Another week goes by. "Gift card was sent out." Another 2 weeks go by. "Call back tomorrow and talk to the Manager." FINALLY I get the "manager". "Your replacement gift card was sent out Thursday." (The same card that had been sent numerous times in various weeks before perhaps heh?) "However, if you prefer I will cancel it and overnight you a replacement to the replacement." The overnighted replacement arrived. The cards that had been "mailed" NEVER showed up, nor did the letter even informing me that my original order had been cancelled. HORRIFIC customer service. Enough to turn me off on Yankee regardless of their product. If the company cannot support their product, they do not deserve my business.

ivanabacowboy

January 26th, 2006

I will no longer be burning yankee candles. I do not like the way that they burn anymore. They leave soot and the price has gone up too high for me. I think they are getting to be to big of company to care about the quality of their candles.

candlefan

May 5th, 2006

I must have had a weak moment smelling some scrumptous scents while at my local mall a couple of weeks ago because I normally stay away from Yankee due to the overpricing and weak scents.. Well, ended up with 30 tarts! and yes, they are still overpriced and weak... They start out with a great throw and then about an hour into it, the scent is gone.. Never again..I've learned my lesson (hopefully)...Way too overpriced for what you get from them

TeeJay

May 17th, 2006

I have to say I am just not impressed. I received a couple candles as Christmas gifts, and all had little to no throw, tunneled and basically sooted up a storm!

CandleluverJJ

May 19th, 2006

I smell these candles in the stores and am not impressed by them. I know opening and closing candles can weaken the scent but I bought a set of three scents at Costco and did not like them when they were freshly opened and lit. I really don't care for single wicks (I prefer double) and really do not like tunneling. I think such a big name candle company would have better candles. I did not burn these candles very long and gave them to my sister who is not as fussy as I am about candles.

Fran F

May 28th, 2006

They once again raised their prices. Their large jar is now 23.00. I think that is too expensive for a candle. You can find some really good candle companies out there for less. The 14.5oz candle is now 19.99 which used to be the large jar size. Unfortunately I don't shop at Yankee Candle anymore.

pazza66

October 14th, 2006

i have yet to smell one! all one gets is soot.

pat jessee

August 15th, 2005

Yankee Candles are so overpriced for what you get. Although they offer many scent choices, candle sizes, tarts, etc. - the scent throw, which is what we're all after right? - is simply NOT there at all, if any. On cold sniff I like many of the Yankee scents. However, it never fails that when I burn Yankee candles, I can NOT smell them at all, unless I am very close to the candle. The scents don't fill even one room. For the money you pay, it isn't worth it. The jar candles tunnel no matter how long I burn them. I burned one once for an entire day and evening, and it never melted clear across the top of the jar as hoped. What you end up with is tunneling, wasted wax = wasted money and time. The only Yankee scent I get somewhat decent throw with is Pumpkin Pie, in tart form. If I burn that tart in my warmer, the scent throw is better than other Yankee scents I've tried. But in general, I think this company has gone downhill with their candles.

TLC_Mom

December 9th, 2005

I began to love candles years ago after buying "Yankee Candles". My one and only favorite from this company is "Mistletoe" because it actually smells like a REAL CHRISTMAS TREE. One year we put up a fake tree but I had the Yankee candle burning and my sister walked up the the tree and said, "I just love the smell of a real tree"- :) I used to purchase many of their bakery scents like, Coconut Cake, Hot Apple Pie, Cookies and Cream, Buttermilk Pancakes and many more. Over the years they have repeatedly discontinued every bakery scent they had. When I ask the sales person they tell me to call the company. When I do, I get someone on the phone who is rude and will not even take note of my interest in their old scents. I have given up!!! Not everyone likes floral ordors. Florals have a tendency to bother people if the scent is too strong. Some of my (male) relatives will complain of headaches if the scent isn't to their liking. Where have all the bakery scents gone? ******UPDATE 12/20/06**************************** Stopped by Yankee Candle in the Mall and was happy to find some really nice scents. Picked up SPARKLING PINE which again has that Christmas Tree smell with a bit of mint. Really nice. I also got AUTUMN WREATH because someone here mentioned that is was nice. It is TERRIFIC!! What a nice combination of smells. I was worried it would just smell like a fir tree...but no way, it has fruits and spices and it really is great. Great throw too!! I would burn this all year even though it's a fall/winter scent because it is so nice. Finally I got JUICY PEACH and this one has a BIG throw! I can smell it all over!!! It really has a "juicy" smell!I think I'll save the rest of these tarts for the summer though. The big problem with Yankee still remains, the prices are too high! Maybe if they had some DECENT sales, it would pay off.

CandleLass

March 14th, 2006

Although Yankee candles smell great, I will never but another one. Thanks to this site, I have been introduced to soy candles, which are the only candles I will buy. Yankee candles burn very dirty, I have the black walls to prove it. It scares me to think what is going into our lungs when we burn them. Hopefully Yankee will offer soy candles in the future, their scents are great- would buy them if the were soy.

freezerqueen

April 11th, 2006

I had to give a review on Yankee Candle Company -- for many years I was a Yankee fan and collector of retired scents (that I never burnt -- just sniffed and stored). I have contributed quite alot of money to their company in the past. But now, I have parted with most of my collection (believe it or not -- there are really people who will pay hundreds of dollars for retired Yankee candles -- just check eBay). My favorite fragrances are SNOW ANGELS, MIDSUMMERS NIGHT and AUTUMN LODGE. These candles are too expensive and too much maintainance... I think the greatest thing about Yankee is that you can find them just about anywhere -- smell a huge variety of scents and then purchase the ones you like in a SOY version from a real person and not a mega company! Bless the little people!!! UPDATE: 6/2006 Yankees June Sale event coaxed me back -- I order a lot of the YC Soy collection candles (classy upscale boxed candles) for holiday gifts (at $5 each). I Ordered two of each scent, figuring if I like the scent -- I would keep one and give one. They offer a $5 flat rate shipping for orders up to $100 dollars -- good thing two -- because my order came in three separate boxes --three separate times, and 4 candles I ordered (at the same time) were cancelled. I haven't burned any of these candles yet -- but I am adding to this post because of this recent order. Two of the candles that were backordered and I recieved weeks after I originally ordered them -- are not first quality material for Yankee. Apparently they shrunk and were topped off and the top off pour seeped down the sides and left an irregulary drippy area 1/4" from the top. Now mind, personally I don't care -- since I know after the first burn, it will be gone. But, I bought these as Christmas gifts -- to give to someone else. You usually don't give discount / second quality items as gifts. I contacted Yankee customer service about this (email) -- and they told me to send them back and they will look into the problem. Second email I sent them, asking if I was going to recieve a shipping re-imbursement (heck, it will cost more to ship them back than it did to buy them). The response to that was -- you may submit a "request" for shipping reimbursement and "once it is received it will be reviewed and, if possible, credited". hmmmm -- if possible??? I will not be returning these candle to the company after a comment like that -- but, I will be writing them a letter and won't be buying any of their products in the future -- no matter how tempting the prices maybe. I have gotten spoiled dealing with real people verses mega corporations. goodbye Yankee! Julianne :)

JDSteinmetz

May 19th, 2006

Everyone tends to buy yankee candles because their name has been around for years. That is all they have in their favor. When I lived on the east coast I bought yankees cause they were really the only candle available. Then when computers came to life and you could research the world, that is when I found out that Yankee isn't all they are cracked up to be. Their candles tunnel badly, their wicks are never centered right. Their scent throw comes and goes like there are unscented pockets in the wax. I don't like their colors or their old fashion jars.

sandygirl05

July 6th, 2006

The best thing yankee candle sells are the gel air fresheners for in your car. I wouldnt bother with any of the others. They smell good in the store but burning at home ~ not so much.

finder

September 6th, 2010

Wow.. these candles are kind of awful. How on earth do they get away with charging so much? The last one I purchased was in Vanilla Cupcake.. the cold scent is good, though you have to stick your face in it to smell. When you light it, it does make the area around it smell like vanilla cupcake, but the throw is not good at all. It tunneled horribly, half the candle is definitely wasted. The soot is awful. I know this is a popular brand, but how? I won't be repurchasing, and I'll also be buying soy from now on.

bretta23

November 1st, 2007

These are the worst candle I have ever burned

candle2005

March 17th, 2006

I recently tried out a few of their Bakery scents. I got very sick with my allergies. I burn alot of candles from different companies, and have never had this happen. I tried again at a later date, and it happened again! ANYONE WITH ALLERGIES, BEWARE!

Debby Lou

March 18th, 2006

I really detest these candles. Yes, I used them before I became familiar with higher quality candles. They are widely available and inexpensive, but then you definitely get what you pay for here. They smell very artificial and fake...worse than air freshener. I really wouldn't even use one of these if I got it for free...

Persephone

July 7th, 2006

I am new to this forum, and not sure if I'm "blogging" correctly, but I'm responding to JacqueJ's post. I AGREE, Yankee candles are the worse. My husband wouldn't allow me to even burn candles anymore because of the soot from them. I then "snuck" in the soy (cause I'm a bonofide candle freak) and I didn't get the strong scent I wanted from the veggie wax. Clean yes, but because I have a dog (and OK, I do occassionaly smoke..ducking) I want a strong candle.

Leanne

April 19th, 2007

I went to Yankee Candle Company to purchase a tart burner, and I figured I would try a few of their tarts to see what I thought (it has been about a decade since I have purchased from Yankee). I ended up with 6 tarts, each of a different fragrance. After melting 5 of the 6, I know I will never purchase another candle from this company again. The smell of each one was so artificial that I found nothing enjoyable about the experience. Never again.

Casey

May 24th, 2009

I've purchased Yankee candles a lot and have received many as gifts because my friends/family know that I am a candle addict. I can honestly say that I have never been pleased with a Yankee candle. I follow burning directions explicitly and as candle connisieour, I know how to create candle memory, trim the wick, etc.. Even doing this with each burn, my Yankees have always created soot in the candle jar and they always canyon (meaning the wax does not burn to the sides of the jar) The wax just creates a tunnel (canyon like) in the middle of the candle, which is very wasteful. Some of the candles I've burned have provided a fairly good scent throw for the first few times I burned them. But, I truly believe the fragrance is only placed on the top layer of the candle because after the first few hours, the scent throw decreased dramatically. There are far better candles our there....for less money. They might not be as easy to find as Yankee, but with a little research on this website, you can find them. I recommend Candles by Victoria (THEY ARE AWESOME) and I also recommend Tyler candle company (you can can find Tyler in gift shops here and there) but they are more expensive and they don't offer the wide variety of scents that Candles by Victoria does.

ellenhixon

May 26th, 2009

Yankee is usually hit or miss. I normally don't like vanilla scented candles but the new Vanilla Lime is just wonderful! I love it.

Dragonfly

June 20th, 2007

For those of you who are having problems with tunneling...definately burn it at least 4 hours the first burn /and each time or until the wax reaches the rim of the glass. I do that & I've never had problems. I use the lids too, but mostly just for decoration.

megster

December 8th, 2008