Notes from a Factory Girl

Today I had an opportunity to live the dream of so many Yankee Candle fans - I toured our factory in South Deerfield MA. In my 17+ years working here, this was certainly not my first time through, but I think each time I have a new appreciation for the skill and craftsmanship of our candlemakers. On that first tour in February of 1993, I remember being struck by two things: the happy energy in the factory and the commitment to quality. Each and every person talked about giving our customers what they want: a high quality candle and true-to-life fragrances. In 2010, the same commitment to our customers is true and nothing will interfere with providing them with the quality and fragrance they know and love. From searching the world for the best waxes and wax blends, to finding the perfect wick for each candle fragrance and style, to testing new and innovative processes designed to maximize the fragrance experience, our team is committed to earning the slogan "America's Best Loved Candle".

Top Candle Safety Tips - Part 2

As beautiful and fragrant as they are, candles have become an "e-scential" part of today's lifestyle. A lit candle adds ambiance and can serve as a mood enhancer so it's easy to overlook important safety concerns when our favorite scent fills the room. Here is the second part of my Top Candle Safety Tips:

• Discontinue use when 1/2” of wax remains. When the wax is low in the jar the flame is very close to the glass, making it very hot to the touch and increasing the possibility of cracking or shattering.


• Don’t re-use jar glass for another candle. As tempting as this may be, during the first use of the jar candle the glass may have developed hidden stress fractures that would make it unsafe for reuse as a candle.


• Use in an appropriate holder. If you are using a different candle style such as a tea light, votive or taper, be sure to use the right kind of holder for that style.


• Keep away from flammable objects such as fabric curtains, decorative trim, etc. Flowing curtains and festive evergreen boughs will ignite very quickly and without warning. Keep them separated from lit candles.


• Do not burn on or near another heat source. It is not a safe practice for a candle to be warmed on the outside of the glass, especially while it is also being heated inside. Don’t use your valuable television or lit stove as a candle stand and don’t use a candle warmer with a Yankee Candle!

SET THE MOOD WITH A CUSTOM SCENT!

Want to know a secret to the success of all those red carpet events and lavish Hollywood parties? Celebrity party planners create the mood with custom scents developed especially for the occasion. The real secret is that you can do the same thing in your own home just by blending different candle scents.

At Yankee Candle we call it Fragrance Mixology, but you can call it the finishing touch that makes an ordinary event extraordinary!

To create your custom scent, you’ll first need to think about the theme for your occasion and then shop for fragrances that reinforce that theme. Once you’ve narrowed down your choice to 2 or 3 scents that sound like they’ll go well together you can have fun experimenting. If you use Tarts® wax potpourri, you can break them into pieces and add a little of each into the bowl of the warmer until you get the aroma that you like. (Be careful not to add too many pieces, you don’t want melted wax to drip out of the warmer!) If you use Samplers® votive candles, you can either use several holders throughout your entertaining space or you can buy a unique clover shaped holder at http://www.yankeecandle.com/ that will allow you to burn 3 votives together. You could even try blending scents with non-candle forms such as using a candle in one fragrance and an electric plug-in in another. The scents will mix as they waft through the air.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• For a Girl's Night, try an Appletini: Pineapple Cilantro + MacIntosh
• For a Baby Shower, try the scent of a New Born: Tahitian Tiare Flower + Baby Powder
• For a Sunday Brunch, try Wake Me Up: Café Au Lait + Cinnamon & Sugar + Hazelnut Coffee
  

You can see that the possibilities are endless – truly limited only by your own imagination. Have fun and let me know what custom scent you create!