Yankee Candle Summer Haul

Over the years my mum has been increasingly complaining about how hard it has become to find something to give me for my birthday which I actually haven’t picked out myself beforehand. Something I told her that she can never really go too wrong with are scented candles, especially Yankee Candles. So, when I finally turned 20 (which just sounds so much better than 19) I got a bunch of Yankee Candle samplers, amongst some other very lovely bits and bobs. This time, she had a really good hand (or rather nose) with picking out some fairly nice fragrances. Except for one or two, I actually liked all of the candles that I got! Now, here are the individual votive candles, each with the description taken from the Yankee Candle website as well as my opinion and rating on them.

Frankincense

"This precious resin has long been sought for its delicate sweetness, peppery spiciness and balsamic wood undertones."

To get it out of the way, I’m going to start with the only scent I absolutely didn’t like. Normally, I’d even burn candles that don’t really make me release torrents of enthusiasm but with this one I just couldn’t get myself to burn the whole thing as it literally made me feel sick. When the candle isn’t burning, it actually has quite a nice and subtle orange scent but as soon as you start burning it, the incense simply gets way too overpowering. ‘Balsamic wood undertones’ is definitely a slight understatement, if you ask me.

► 1/5 ◄

Red Raspberry

"Tangy sweet and full of nature’s goodness … there is nothing quite as delicious as ripe, rosy red raspberries."

After that odour nuisance, let’s get to something much more pleasantly smelling. With this candle, you get the fruity and deliciously sweet scent of freshly picked raspberries which isn’t too sickly at the same time. This kind of makes me want to go to the nearest raspberry plantation and pick baskets full of these tasty red fruits (… and pay for them afterwards, of course).

► 4/5 ◄

Tarte Tatin

"So enticing… A just-baked tart made with sweet apples, spices and vanilla."

Being an absolute lover of apples and bakery scents, this scent seemed to be just made for me.  This candle could definitely meet my high expectations. It makes your room smell like a little French confectionery and let’s be honest – why wouldn’t you want that?

► 5/5 ◄

Pink Grapefruit

"Perfectly ripe, sunkissed fruit bursting with bright, tingly citrus to stir the senses."

This candle spreads quite a tart and citrusy scent which is definitely summer-appropriate. The only thing about this is that I just couldn’t help but to be reminded of a toilet cleaner scent. So every time I came back into the room where I had this burning, images of public restrooms popped up in my head where someone had vainly tried to cover the stench with some kind of air freshener. Probably not the most delightful association.

► 2/5 ◄

Mandarin Cranberry

"Bursting with the vibrant, fruity sensation of sweet, sunny oranges and crisp, tangy cranberries."

Admittedly, citrusy scents can sometimes be a little pungent but this is quite a good mix of tangy and sweet fragrances. Although this is definitely a nice fruity scent, it is also nothing really distinct or outstanding at the same time. At least I also wouldn’t disagree if this was called ‘Tangerine Pomegranate’, ‘Blood Orange’ or something of that sort.

► 3/5 ◄

Strawberry Buttercream

"Yum ... an absolutely luscious treat of plump, sweet strawberries buried in rich whipped cream."

I can only repeat what I said earlier, but sweet bakery/pastry  scents will always be my favourite kind. Naturally, I could already tell by the name of this candle that I would love it! It’s just perfectly sweet and creamy without being too heavy or overpowering. I’d say that it’s also perfect for summer as it doesn’t turn your room into a Christmas bakery as some of the winter scents tend to do.

► 5/5 ◄

A Child’s Wish

"A warm breeze of soft flowers and fresh green fields captures the sweet innocence of childhood days playing in the backyard."

I would describe this as a fresh floral scent that reminds me of green grass and flowers mixed with clean and oxygen-rich air (which I can actually assess living on the countryside) Normally, I’m not the biggest fan of floral scents but this one is quite subtle … maybe even a little too subtle as you might find this scent too weak once it’s actually burning.

► 4/5 ◄

Oud Oasis

"Rich and seductive, this prized incense helps set a luxuriously calming mood."

Still being slightly traumatized by ‘Francincense’_, I already heard the alarm bells ringing when I read the word ‘incense’ in the description of this candle. Luckily, this scent is MUCH more subtle and less sickening compared to its horrible fellow. It spreads a light fragrance of ginger and warm spices which creates the perfect comforting atmosphere for late evenings.

► 4/5 ◄

Have you tested out any of these candles yet? Or do you have any recommendations for me to try? ☺