Like many teenage boys, 17-year-old Mike Kittredge couldn't afford a Christmas present for his mother. His solution was to melt a bunch of crayons and make the into a candle. His neighbour liked it so much that she asked to buy it, and so the first candle of the Yankee Candle Company was sold. Mike made another for his mother and one to sell, and the company found its wings.
That was in 1969, and today that one crayon candle has turned into a full range of different candles and home fragrances in over 150 scents. The Yankee Candle Company is now the only candle company name that most people have ever heard of. The company has now gone worldwide and also has an online store. In addition they do a lot of charity work to share their success.
The Ranges
The ranges include housewarmer jars, small jar candles, votive candles, novelty and floating candles, wax pot pouri tarts and tea lights. They also have a home fragrance spray range.
The Fragrances
The company specialise in seasonal fragrances but also have a worldwide collection and some traditional scents. Most of the fragrances are food or mood based. Whether selling your home, entertaining or trying to create a festive or summer feel then there is a candle that will fit the occasion. Here are just a few of the 150 fragrances on offer.
The Summer and Spring Scents
- Juicy Watermelon: pure melon
- Canary Island Banana: pure banana
- Cherry Lemonade: cherries and lemon
- Coconut Bay: coconut
- Cottage Breeze: salt air
- Country Linen: fresh florals "like a breath of spring air through an open window"
- Fresh Herbs: sweet basil, spearmint, apple and patchouli
- Fruit Smoothie: vanilla, kiwi, strawberry, melon and peach
- Ginger Citrus: ginger and lime citrus
- Island Spa: mandarins and lemon verbena
- Mango Peach Salsa: mangoes, peches, citrus, ginger flowers and pink pepper
- Sun and Sand: orange flower, lemon, lavender and powdery musk
The Autumn and Winter Scents
- Autumn Leaves: birch and maple leaves, pomegranate, juniper berry and orange blossom
- Christmas Cookie: vanilla sugar cookie
- Christmas Eve: warm hearth, sugared plums and candied fruits
- Christmas Wreath: pine, balsam and hollyberry
- Cider Donut: cider, ginger, star anise, rum, almonds and vanilla cream
- Home for the Holidays: cinnamon, clove, cedarwood and balsam
- Jack Frost: peppermint and vanilla cream
- Pumpkin Pie: pumpkin, nutmeg, molasses, cinnamon, apple and buttery crust
Some Year-Round Scents
- Berry Jam: berries, pomegranate, cassis, peach and vanilla bean
- Buttercream: butter, sugar and vanilla
- Clean Cotton: sun-dried cotton, green notes, white flowers and lemon
- Creme Brulée: vanilla cream custard, honey, brown sugar and nutmeg
- Egyptian Cotton: pure Egyptian cottonseed extract
- Good Morning: breakfast muffins, sweet pears, citrus, spicy cadamom
- Home Sweet Home: cinnamon, baking spices and tea
- Shortbread Cookie: sugar, butter, lavender and mint
Dulcinea Norton-Smith - Dulcinea is a writer, an avid reader, a loving wife, a terrible housewife, a mother of two, a Civil Servant and of course a freelance ...
