Are Yankee Candles High-Quality?

With its start in 1969, Yankee Candle has been around for over 50 years and has established itself as one of the most popular and respected candle brands. The company was started by Mike Kittredge, who melted crayons to make his first scented candle at age 16. Kittredge was inspired to make candles that captured memories and moments through scent.

The brand steadily grew over the decades and became known for its innovative fragrances and high-quality candles. In 1998, Yankee Candle opened its flagship store in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, which helped grow its reputation as the leader in scented candles. The store featured the company’s complete line of candles and let customers immerse themselves in the signature fragrances.

Today, Yankee Candle has over 500 retail stores globally and sells its products at thousands of other retailers. The company offers a wide selection of candle styles, from the classic jar candles to tea lights and votives. Yankee Candle has built a reputation not just for its trademark scents, but also for its commitment to using high-quality ingredients and wicks that allow the candles to burn cleanly and evenly. Its leading position in the market makes Yankee Candle synonymous with premium-scented candles for many consumers.

Candle Ingredients

Yankee Candles are made with high-quality ingredients, including different types of wax, wicks, and scents/oils. The main wax used in Yankee Candles is a blend of paraffin wax, stearic acid, and vybar – a proprietary combination that results in a very hard wax with an excellent burn quality. Paraffin wax helps give the candles their opacity and high gloss finish. Stearic acid raises the melting point of the wax, improving its ability to retain fragrance. Vybar improves the flame retention and burn characteristics. In addition to paraffin, some Yankee Candle jars contain a small percentage of natural waxes like beeswax or soy wax.

The wicks used in Yankee Candles are made of braided cotton that has been pre-waxed to help anchor it in the wax pool as the candle burns. This provides excellent capillary flow for maximum fragrance release. The wicks are sized appropriately for each specific candle to ensure proper melting and an even burn from corner to corner. Larger candles have more substantial wicks, while smaller votives have thinner wicks.

When it comes to fragrance oils, Yankee Candle uses top-quality phthalate-free fragrances that are heavily concentrated to provide excellent scent throw. Fragrances like balsam, vanilla, and jasmine are blended from dozens of individual perfume oils to achieve the signature Yankee scent. Each new fragrance goes through rigorous testing and adjustment before being used in a candle.

Fragrance

Yankee Candles are known for their high-quality, realistic fragrances that fill a room. The scents are designed to replicate the smell of the real thing, whether it’s a fruity, floral, spicy, or seasonal aroma. Yankee uses a complex blend of fragrance oils to achieve layered scents that are true to life.

For example, their Lilac Blossoms candle doesn’t just smell generically floral. It captures the unique sweet-yet-light scent of real lilac flowers in bloom. Their Baked Apple Pie candle smells just like warm apples, cinnamon, and buttery crust straight from the oven. The fragrances are so realistic that just lighting a candle can make you feel like you’re actually experiencing what’s depicted on the label.

In reviews, customers consistently praise the authenticity of Yankee Candle scents. The fragrances are strong without being overpowering. The aroma fills the whole room but isn’t headache-inducing. The scents also linger for a while even after blowing the candle out. Yankee Candles are excellent at bringing real-life scents to life in candle form through their signature fragrance blends.

Burn Time

One of the most important factors in determining candle quality is burn time. This refers to how long a candle will burn before all the wax is used up. Yankee Candles are well known for their long burn times compared to other brands.

The company claims their large 22-ounce jar candles can burn for between 110-150 hours. Testing shows these burn time estimates are generally accurate. In comparison, most standard candles from other brands in this size range burn for 60-80 hours.

Yankee Candles use a proprietary wax blend that allows their candles to burn slowly and evenly. This results in less wax wasted and more hours of fragrance per candle. Additionally, their wicks are designed to curl as the candle burns, maintaining an optimal flame size for maximum burn time.

While extended burn time alone doesn’t equate to quality, it is a major value-add for consumers. Yankee Candles clearly beat out most competitors when it comes to longevity. Their secret wax formula and wick technology allow their candles to keep going and going.

Consistency

One area where Yankee Candle has faced some criticism is in the consistency of their candles, even when they are the same scent. This is likely due to their mass production and global distribution. When a company is producing millions of candles per year, even slight variations in ingredients, pouring temperatures, curing times, etc. can result in noticeable differences between candles. Some customers have complained that they purchased multiple jars of the same Yankee Candle scent, yet found the strength of the aroma, burn time, and other characteristics varied too widely between the jars. This suggests a lack of rigorous quality control procedures during the manufacturing process. While some variability is expected with any handmade product, many feel that at the premium prices Yankee charges, the consistency between candles of the same scent should be much tighter.

Wick Quality

The wick is one of the most important components of any candle. A high-quality wick is essential for even and complete burning. Yankee Candle is known for its excellent wick construction.

Yankee Candles use braided cotton wicks that have been tightly plaited and straightened. This allows the wick to burn slowly and evenly, without bending, mushrooming, or releasing excess soot. The wicks are precisely centered in each candle to prevent tunneling.

The wick thickness is customized for each specific candle size and shape. Smaller candles have thinner wicks, while larger candles have thicker wicks to match the melt pool size. This helps ensure an ideal melt rate and burn time. The wicks are stiff enough to stand upright as the candle burns down.

High-quality wicking prevents issues like soot buildup, blow outs, and drowning wicks. It allows the wax to liquefy properly so the fragrance disperses well. The expertise Yankee Candle exhibits in wick design contributes to their reputation for excellence.

Vessel Quality

Yankee Candles are known for their high-quality vessels that enhance the candle experience. Their iconic glass jars come in various sizes, shapes, and designs. The jars have thick, sturdy glass that retains heat well to fully melt the wax. The jars also help the fragrance last longer. Yankee Candle jar lids fit snugly to seal in fragrance when not in use.

In addition to jars, Yankee Candle offers tumbler candles. These are candles in a straight-sided glass with a flat lid. Like the jars, the tumbler glass is durable and retains heat effectively. Tumblers come in various sizes and designs like the jars.

Votives are another popular Yankee Candle vessel option. They have a classic petite size and shape perfect for tealights. The votive glasses are thin but still sturdier than many cheaper votive options.

Yankee also offers other vessel designs like candles in tin containers or plastic shells. But their iconic jars and tumblers remain higher end choices that enhance the Yankee Candle experience.

Price

When it comes to pricing, Yankee Candle is generally more expensive than many other brands of candles. Their large 22-ounce classic jars typically retail for $27-$30, while their medium 14.5-ounce tumblers cost around $20-$25. In comparison, other brands like Bath & Body Works and Walmart’s Mainstays candles are usually priced between $10-$20 for their large jars. Smaller 4-ounce tins from Yankee Candle run $15-$20, also pricier than the mini candle options from Target, Chesapeake Bay Candles and other competitors.

Part of the reason for the higher prices is that Yankee Candle uses quality ingredients, sophisticated fragrance oils and skilled craftsmanship to create their candles. The brand cites their candles are handcrafted in New England in small batches, unlike mass-produced private label candles. So while Yankee Candle costs more upfront, fans of the brand say the even burn, powerful scents and long burn times make them worthwhile.

Yankee Candle also offers frequent sales on their website, in retail stores and through QVC, often discounted 30-40% off regular prices. This makes their candles more competitively priced with other brands during promo periods. The company also has outlet locations in several states that sell discounted candles year-round.

Ultimately, Yankee Candles fetch luxury pricing due to their reputation, ingredients, craftsmanship and strong scents. While pricier than generic brands, their quality helps justify the cost for many devoted customers.

Customer Satisfaction

Yankee Candles have a reputation for high quality based on customer reviews and feedback. On sites like Amazon and Yankee Candle’s website, most customers rate the candles very highly and seem satisfied with the products.

The fragrances are frequently cited as a major selling point. Customers often say the candles make their homes smell wonderful and like the variety of scent options available. Many mention being repeat customers over years or decades because Yankee Candle’s fragrances are their favorite.

Customers also praise the candles’ long burn times, consistency in scent throw, and lack of soot. They appreciate that the candles provide hours of fragrance and burn evenly all the way through, unlike cheaper brands that tend to burn out quickly or get smoky.

There are some negative reviews about quality declining in recent years, but these seem to be a minority. Most customers continue to perceive Yankee Candles as a premium, high-quality product based on their positive experiences.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the higher price point of Yankee Candles can be justified when you consider the exceptional quality across all aspects of their candles. From the proprietary, complex fragrances to the excellent burn times, Yankee Candles stand apart from cheaper, mass-market options. For candle enthusiasts or those looking for a special, luxurious candle, Yankee is a brand that consistently delivers. Though the cost is higher, customers find the candles worth it for their memorable scents, clean burns, and beautiful vessels. So if your budget allows, Yankee Candles make a great gift, home accent, or personal treat due to their unmatched quality and performance. Just be prepared to pay a premium for the Yankee name and experience.