Sunday 19 January 2014

Yankee Candle: Vanilla Chai

It's almost a staple for all bloggers; that fat, tubby glass jar filled with overwhelming fragrance; the scent of freshly washed cotton, ocean spray or sweet pears and spices.

Yankee Candles are one of the most coveted candle brands out there; along with Diptyque, The White Company, Jo Malone and Lily-Flame. Their jars are iconic, the scents varied, and they burn for hours on end.

I've been coveting Yankee candles for months;  my mum bought me four Yankee Candle Wax Tarts this summer, and so my collection began, but I unfortunately didn't have a burner to use, and only recently got round to buying one.

Then, this Christmas, I received my first Medium Jar Yankee Candle in Vanilla Chai. I was ecstatic - this was the prefect scent for me; sweet, mixed with spices and warmth which is perfect for January and evening spent inside blogging away with a cup of tea, while the rain lashes down on the window.




I recently gave in and started burning it, as it was far too pretty to use at first - it smells wonderful and like most Yankee Candles it's quite powerful without begin overwhelming. The scent lingers in my room after I blow out the flame, so when I wake up the next morning it's still there to wake me up for work.





I love the scent, as I'm a fan of sweet smells and am an even bigger fan of vanilla chai lattes - it's like living in my favourite cafe! If you prefer cleaner, fruitier and maybe less wintery fragrances then maybe this isn't for you., but I absolutely adore it.

The other thing about Yankee Candles is that they last for ages. I fully expect this candle to last for a year - and afterwards I'll have a very cute jar to store nick knacks in. You can tell it's a high-quality candle just by the wax itself (you'll understand what I mean if you have one).

I was a little concerned that they wouldn't live up to the hype - sometimes items can be mentioned on blogs and everyone seems to have one - which is definitely the case with Yankee Candles - but sometimes the products aren't great. I have not been disappointed so far - it's definitely lived up to my expectations and I'd say if you love candles or interior decorating it's worth the extra money - and even more so if you're given one as a gift.

I'll be looking at my wax tarts soon and trying out a few more fragrances, but for now I am absolutely smitten with my Vanilla Chai candle.

Are you a fan of Yankee Candles? Let me know what your favourites are, or whether or not you think they live up to their reputation in the comments below!

Jo
xxx
 

10 comments:

  1. I've bought several Yankee Candles and have been disappointed by all of them. It started with a big Fluffy Towels jar that smelled of absolutely nothing. I returned it to the shop where they allowed me to swap it for other candles, and the problem has been the same for the medium and small jars I purchased. The votives barely smell of anything and the only smell I can get is out of the tarts, when the scent is so overpowering it gets a bit sickly.

    All of these formats I've tried in different scents (Christmas Eve, Blissful Autumn, Warm Woolen Mittens, etc., only the really spicy ones like Home Sweet Home have any throw), but I will not be buying any more Yankee Candles. I tried Bath and Body Works candles and not only are the scents more subtle and better thought, they actually do smell nice, as opposed to the same waxy smell I get out of my Yankee Candles or the overpowering spicey scents.

    I definitely feel like the hype is undeserved, and it's a shame because I really wanted to like Yankee Candles… :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's really interesting and exactly why I asked at the end of my post - I did wonder if many thought they were over-hyped! And such a shame about Fluffy Towels as I thought that would have been a lovely scent.

      I do agree and I think I like this Vanilla Chai scent because of its spice. My housemate has Home Sweet Home too which is lovely, but her Orchard one (I can't remember the full name) just isn't as good and the scent doesn't linger for as long. I've never tried Bath and Body Works - do they sell them in the UK? If so, after your post, I'd be really interested in trying some out to see how they compare.

      I have a few Wax Tarts in different scents from Yankee Candle so am intrigued to see how well they work now.

      Thanks for letting me know what you think! I do think there are probably candle brands which are just as good and cheaper than Yankee, and maybe they are over-hyped, but I am impressed with this particular one :) I think I may have to try a few more before I make my mind up for good.

      Jo xxx

      Delete
  2. I've never actually got into the whole Yankee Candle trend I will admit I find them over rated to be honest for a couple of reasons. Firstly because I can't justify spending so much on just a candle at least for the bigger jars and secondly because I think the smell is too over powering (at least when you walk into a shop and they are all before you in rows and rows) and they sadly give me awful headaches and sets the husband off sneezing. I prefer my wax burners from Scentsy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh believe me, I would have trouble spending this much on a candle - this was fine as a gift but I'd never treat myself to it! However I do really like the smell. I enjoy the fact that it lingers, it makes my room smell lovely all the time! But I know it can be too much for many people. One at a time I think is the best idea rather than building up a collection to resemble one of their shop displays!

      I have to admit, I was enticed into the trend purely because they seemed so popular! I will be waiting to try a few more before I make my mind up but I can't see myself buying a large jar in the near future!

      Thanks for commenting! And I'll have to look into Scentsy :)

      Jo xxx

      Delete
  3. I have never really gotten into candles, but perhaps I ought to give it a try! Interesting post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wasn't really into candles until recently, but I started burning them while I was studying int he evenings and I rind they have a really calming effect on me! Plus it's a good way to scent your room or house (though with Yankee Candle obviously not cheap!)

      Thanks for reading :)

      Jo xxx

      Delete
  4. Unlike the other commenters, I love Yankee Candles. I got my ex this exact candle for Christmas because we both love candles and chai tea.
    They are the only candles I've found that actually smell like what they are meant to. I found a medium Cinnamon Stick in the reduced section of Boots and I've used several of their wax tarts in the past. I tend to choose wax tarts over candles as they are cheaper and if I don't like the smell it's not a problem.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am glad you love your candle as much as I do! I was recently given some 'Fireside Treats' tea lights as a gift and they smell gorgeous too. I do agree, their wax tarts are a great way to try out scents without breaking the bank - I also think they last a long time too! Thanks for your comment Helen :) x

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm commenting here rather belatedly and so no-one may see this........ Just want to say that I had the Vanilla Chai votive and loved it, thought it smelled exactly like Vanilla Chai Latte. I have just bought the large jar on offer at Yankee Candle UK and it smells, after 5 hours burning ......... OF CURRY! Fortunately, YC have an great returns policy and so this one is on it's way back to them :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Where did you buy this i can not find it anywhere

      Delete