10 Timeless Yankee Candles To Honor Founder Michael Kittredge II
In 1969, a teenage Michael Kittredge II melted crayons together to make his mom a homemade Christmas present and Yankee Candle’s impressive 50-year legacy began.
At Candle Fandom, we’re huge fans of making DIY crayon candles the way Michael pioneered and even bigger fans of his company. We were saddened to hear that Michael passed away on Thursday, but confident that Yankee Candle will memorialize him for years to come.
Today, the candle company that Michael started has more than 500 store locations. Additionally, more than 36,000 specialty stores offer Yankee Candles among their wares around the world. Its flagship store in Deerfield, Massachusetts, is a sightseeing destination for candle lovers around the world. With thousands of aromatic scents to choose from and dozens of gorgeous votives in all shapes and sizes, Yankee Candle is a pillar of the candle industry.
As we reflect on Michael’s life and legacy, I’ve decided to collect a list of some of my favorite Yankee Candle scents that exist thanks to him.
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Yankee Candle Holiday Bayberry
The first Yankee Candle bestseller, Holiday Bayberry combines a foresty scent with the spicy smell of frankincense and myrrh. It’s one of the earliest candles Yankee still sells today! |
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Yankee Candle Clean Cotton
Yankee Candle debuted this clean, fresh aroma in 2002, and it remains a top seller 17 years later thanks to its soft, lemony scent. |
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Yankee Candle Balsam & Cedar
Candle fans say this juniper, pine, and cedarwood-scented candle smells just like a Christmas tree. This 2004 release is still seeing sales spikes every holiday season. |
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Yankee Candle Vanilla Cupcake
Debuting in 2006, this is a scrumptious improvement over one of Yankee Candle’s oldest scents, Vanilla. The new version has a warm, just-out-of-the-oven aroma. |
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Yankee Candle Red Apple Wreath
A homey, welcoming scent that blends apples, cinnamon, walnuts, and maple. It entered the Yankee Candle roster in 2007 and remains a beloved favorite. |
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Yankee Candle Lemon Lavender
Two all-natural candle scents blend together for an instant classic that’s both zen and zesty. Sweet lavender flowers and tangy citrus make for a great year-round kitchen candle. |
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Yankee Candle Pineapple Cilantro
Mixing sweet island pineapple with a sharply-scented herb may sound like a daring aromatic blend, but it’s one of Yankee Candle’s bestselling summer scents. |
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Yankee Candle Pink Sands
My personal favorite! Since 2011, this fruity, beachy scent has been helping candle fans make tropical vacations out of their staycations. |
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Yankee Candle Midnight Jasmine
This is the number one bestselling Yankee Candle scent on Amazon.com. And with its delicate floral blend of jasmine, honeysuckle and orange blossom, who could be surprised? |
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Yankee Candle White Strawberry Bellini
After 50 years, this is the newest scent to join the Yankee Candle family. Blending strawberries and champagne, this poppy pink candle smells like an elegant brunch. |
Finally, it’s worth remembering that, after stepping down from Yankee Candle to retire, Michael became a philanthropist. Perhaps in the spirit of generosity that he exemplified, it might be a great idea to gift one of these candles to somebody who needs cheering up.
Vylma
January 17, 2020It was so sad to hear about the passing of The founder of Yankee Candle. RIP Mr Michael ?? I will continue buying and burning Yankee Candles for life. ?