During the Summer months the air is full of wonderful aromas and fragrances which are indicative of the season; freshly cut grass, fruit salads, flowers, and even barbecues. Windows are flung open to welcome the scents of laundry drying in the blazing heat; it is glorious!
Autumn arrives with the scent of chestnuts, dry and crunchy leaves, and a coolness in the air.
And then comes Winter.
Natural aromas in the air aren't so forthcoming and, certainly in my house, the indoors begins to smell musty and stale. A little helping hand is needed.
In the past few months I've been sent (or received as presents) a few different Yankee Candles to try out, with varying fragrances on each; and each one is perfect for different occasions.
- The Boy came home with the delicate 'Drift Away' from the Mothers' Day secret room in school, and although the candle is a little overpwering a fragrant when unlit, upon lighting the scent is really delicate and calming. (Unfortunately this one has been discontinued along with 'Early Sunrise' that I also have*, but I really recommed one of their Fresh candles.)
- I was given 'Sicilian Lemon' for my birthday from my sister and love it! She bought it to remind me of our holiday on the Amalfi coast, and when I light it I am right back there in Positano under the lemon trees quoffing Limoncello and eating a rum baba!
- 'Vineyard' is my favourite Yankee Candle to have open when unlit. A powerful blend of ripe and sweet grapes, it's sweet and aromatic at this time of year.*
As a teacher I know only too well the importance of creating the environment for the children in my class to learn and feel relaxed; when they are completing their sustained piece of writing on Fridays, they do so with a fragranced candle burning and gentle chillout music playing in the background. The effect is amazing, they all lapse into near silence and the concentration is almost tangible. The non-teacher me needs to take a leaf out of the teacher me's book quite frankly, and use the senses to relax a little more.
Get the best from a Yankee Candle
- Burn it safely: Always burn the candle on a heat resistant surface, away from drafts and overhanging fabrics, keep it away from children and pets, and don't leave it unattended.
- Trim the wick: Keep the wick trimmed to 3-5mm to avoid 'smoking' of the candle. If it does start to 'smoke', extinguish the candle and trim the wick, then relight.
- Let the wax pool: Each time the candle is lit, allow the entire top layer to melt and become a pool of liquid wax, this will help prevent tunneling of the candle and also release a strong scent.
Candle Burn Times:
- Classic jar candle (large): 110-115 hours
- Classic jar candle (medium): 65-90 hours
- Classic jar candle (small): 25-40 hours
- Large pillar candle: Up to 150 hours
- Medium pillar candle: Up to 95 hours
- Small pillar candle: Up to 45 hours
- Votive candle: Up to 15 hours
- Tea lights: 4-6 hours
- Wax melt: 8 hours
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I was sent the products marked with an * for the purpose of this post, my opinion is honest and unbiased.
Ooooh, I am tempted- I have also seen lovely photos of the jars being used after the candle has been used- so it's like a gift which keeps giving!
The only thing that puts me off Yankees is the paraffin wax used to make them. The toxins released are almost as bad as those from cigarettes. I love scented candles though so I buy soy wax ones. I use a company called Darceys. The only trouble is they don't have as many scents as Yankees. Vineyard sounds like it smells amazing.
love the idea of quiet music and a candle in the class, I never got that when I was at school. I love to go into one of our local shops and that just smells of all theses candles the minute you walk in. You can never go wrong with smelly candles as a pressie for me, especially these or neoms.