Yankee Candles: Good or Bad?

January 24, 2026

Candles are more than just home décor, they set mood, fragrance, and memories. And when it comes to scented candles, Yankee Candle has long been a household name. But in recent years, consumer sentiment has shifted. In this blog, we’ll explore both the positives and negatives of Yankee Candles and help you decide whether they’re worth your time and money.

About Yankee Candle

Founded in 1969 in the U.S., Yankee Candle became one of the most recognizable candle brands worldwide. Known for large jar candles in dozens of scents, they were once the go-to brand for home fragrance lovers. Their products range from classic jar candles to wax melts, car fresheners, and accessories.

Official site: https://www.yankeecandle.com
UK site: https://uk.yankeecandle.com

What People Like About Yankee Candles

1. Strong Scent Options

Many customers rave about the classic strong scent throw that Yankee Candle was originally known for—especially in certain fragrances like Home Sweet Home, Balsam & Cedar, or Red Apple Wreath. These scents have become holiday staples for many, and some candles still deliver excellent fragrance diffusion.

2. Wide Variety of Scents

With dozens (and sometimes hundreds) of scents across seasons, Yankee is excellent for scent explorers—whether you like fruity, floral, holiday, or warm dessert fragrances.

3. Iconic Brand & Gift Appeal

Yankee Candles have strong brand recognition. They’re often gifted and sit nicely in home décor thanks to the classic jar design.

Why Some Customers Are Disappointed

Despite the positive aspects, many consumers express significant dissatisfaction in recent years:

1. Quality & Scent Throw Issues

A major complaint among reviewers is that many Yankee Candles lack scent strength once lit—even after burning for hours. Some customers report weak fragrance and poor throw, especially in the large single-wick jar candles.

2. Inconsistent Product Experience

Consumers report that quality varies widely from batch to batch. Some candles arrive broken, others burn unevenly or with excessive black smoke and soot.

3. Customer Service & Delivery Problems

Across review platforms like Trustpilot and Sitejabber, customers frequently mention poor customer service, slow shipping, or order issues. Many reviews rate Yankee Candle poorly for website ordering and after-sales support.

4. Price vs Quality Concerns

Many buyers feel the candles are overpriced compared with the scent strength and overall performance. Some Reddit users and customers have stated they could get stronger scents from cheaper brands.

5. Decline From “Old Yankee Candle”

Long-time candle lovers suggest that since acquisition by larger corporations and formula changes, the quality has fallen compared with older candles from the 1990s and early 2000s.

Are Yankee Candles Safe?

According to environmental experts, scented candles—including Yankee Candles—can release soot and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into indoor air when burned. In most cases, this isn’t a serious health issue, but people with asthma, allergies, or chemical sensitivities should be cautious. Proper ventilation and safe burning practices (like trimming the wick) are recommended no matter which candle brand you use.

Tips for Buying & Burning Candles

Here are some things worth keeping in mind if you do decide to use Yankee or similar candles:

- Burn candles in well-ventilated areas.

- Trim wicks to ~¼ inch before each use to reduce soot.

- Avoid burning candles for more than a few hours continuously.

- Consider buying from third-party retailers (like Amazon or local stores) if the Yankee Candle site experience is poor.

Alternatives to Yankee Candle

If modern Yankee Candles aren’t meeting expectations, candle enthusiasts often suggest alternatives such as:

- Lush and Lumen (www.lushandlumen.co.uk)

- Kringle Candle

- Goose Creek

These are thought to offer better scent throw, cleaner burning, or value for money compared to the current mainstream Yankee formula.

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