When I was planning out my Blogmas posts a couple of months ago, I decided a Christmas scent post would be wonderful. But I forgot how expensive candles and reed diffusers are! Last year I picked up some bargain candles from Tesco to burn over Christmas, and for the rest of the year I pretty much exclusively burn IKEA candles. Instead of dropping a bomb on candles I may or may not use, I picked up the Yankee Candle 8 Votive Christmas Scents Gift Set to test out a whole host of scents.
When I was reading Nigel Slater’s Christmas Chronicles, he mentioned how much he hates cheap candles. Cheap anything is fine by him, but he can’t stand the synthetic, obviously fake scent that comes from the more budget candles. I totally get where he’s coming from, but my job as a college lab technician doesn’t pay enough for me to burn Diptique candles on the regs. Or at all.
To me, Yankee Candle purchases are a treat. It’s not a Primark price range candle but it’s nothing wildly pricey. This votive set retails for £12, but I managed to grab it for £8 (alongside a set of pyjamas for Jack that match some I bought earlier in the week), so £1 a scent. Not too shabby!
Yankee Candle always have the most ridiculous scent names, but names aside I’m going for it. Which candles are with picking up in full size to burn over the Christmas week, and which need to be burnt far, far away from the house.
Sparkling Holiday: currant and citrus
Frosty Winter Morning: blue eucalyptus, holly leaves, cedarwood and powdery musk
Christmas Wishes: cool jasmine, lavender and plum
Oh Christmas Tree: pine needles, crisp spruce and good cheer
Glad Tidings: warm amber and sweet citrus
Candy Cane Forest: cool peppermint and sugar crystal
Iced Almond Cookie: vanilla and almond
Sunlight On Snow: white musk and sandalwood
My personal favourites are Candy Cane Forest (which I’ve been lusting after for two Christmases now – it’s the perfect candy cane scent) and Sparkling Holiday (a festive citrus smell). I am not a fan of Oh Christmas Tree or Iced Almond Cookie at all, and after treating myself to a gift set over Black Friday, I’ve ended up with the former again. It’s getting passed straight on to someone else!