Yankee Candle Balsam & Cedar
It took me a long, long time to be willing to try a Yankee Candle. Something about the company’s image (farmhouse-y jars, smiling country snowmen, the word “Yankee”) didn’t seem to fit with mine. I felt as if I’d need to wallpaper with a Country Goose pattern if I wanted a glass-jarred candle in the house.
I do beg their pardon for my unkind thoughts. Their Balsam & Cedar candle may not be hip, but it utterly rules the nose roost. We have a fake tree, and one of many things wrong with fake trees is that there is no yummy piney smell (upside: no yucky piney droppings). Burn a little Balsam & Cedar and everyone will be saying, “Gee, that tree looks totally fake but I guess I was wrong!”
A caution: my mom is allergic to balsam trees, and these are made with real balsam oil so she gets an asthma attack if she comes near it while it’s burning. Depending on your family allergies and your relationships with your relatives, this could be a pro or a con.
I see on the Yankee Candle site that they have stopped taking orders for pre-Christmas delivery, so you’re flat out of luck if you don’t have a store near you. Well, I’d wait for their after-Christmas sales anyway, if I were you. Last year I got a big 22-ounce jar (Holiday Bayberry, also scrumptious) for $10, which beats even their current respectable “buy one get one 50% off” sale. —Swistle
Link: Balsam & Cedar products at YankeeCandle.com (but at this point you’d have to buy in the store, not online)
Ballpark price: $23 for the large jar (but more like $17 each if you buy 2, and more like $10 if you get it in an after-Christmas clearance and save it for next year)
Posted: December 13th, 2007 under Misc, House & home, Personally recommended by Swistle, Holiday.
Comments: 10
Comments
Comment from She Likes Purple
Time: December 13, 2007, 8:01 am
My favorite Yankee scents are Bluberry Muffin and Autumn Foilage, both which have been discontinued. So my annoyance with them runs deep, too.
Comment from Mommy Daisy
Time: December 13, 2007, 8:31 am
Ohh, have you tried their Christmas Cookie candle? It smells like fresh-baked cookies. Mmmm, I’ve always loved that one. But right now I’m doing plenty of my own holiday baking, so I guess that scent isn’t necessary.
Comment from SpaceCase
Time: December 13, 2007, 8:55 am
If you don’t have a Yankee Candle-brand store near you, I’ve found many scents of Yankee Candles (not all, but most seasonal) at big box bed and bath stores. Just another option.
Comment from Tessie
Time: December 13, 2007, 8:58 am
I have one of those weird tart burner thingees so I can get even MORE mental with the picking and choosing of the Yankee Candle scents. Plus, they are only $1! I mean, I HAVE one dollar! Never mind that they only last for like 8 hours compared to the 100 or whatever on the big candle.
We have a real tree AND we use the balsam and cedar scent. It creates a northerny-type atmosphere and mostly blocks the scent of TEXAS.
This comment is veering dangerously into total anarchy. It should have read, in its entirety:
I approve of this post, and also of this product. The End.
Comment from GoingLoopy
Time: December 13, 2007, 11:53 am
I personally love the Buttercream. But I have been known to grab me some Christmas Cookie if it’s on sale. I too have seen the candles at Linens n’ Things, and I believe Bed Bath & Beyond. I’d go there anyway, because it’s not such an overwhelming olfactory experience…the store does have good sales, but it gives me a headache.
Comment from launchingsloth
Time: December 13, 2007, 11:07 pm
I like the WORDS Basalm & Cedar as well as the smells, as opposed to other things, like peonies: good smell, not so good name. Thanks for the tip!
Comment from el-e-e
Time: December 14, 2007, 1:45 pm
Someone bought me a fake knock-off jarred candle last year and it is JUST not up to par. I’m trying to be frugal and resist buying a REAL Yankee Candle but may not be able to much longer. I think they change the name every year, though. 2 years ago: Mistletoe & Holly. Last year: Christmas Wreath. This year: Balsam & Cedar? Weird.
Still, LOVE.
Comment from Jamie
Time: December 14, 2007, 4:44 pm
I’ve always burned a YC “Mistletoe” scented candle to make my fake tree smell authentic - I’ll have to try this one when that one dies out. Thanks!
Comment from aoife
Time: December 15, 2007, 8:49 pm
I love yankee candles. YUM! If you get on their mailing list, once or twice a year, you get a BOGO coupon which is awesome.
Favorite ‘flavors’? : Mackintosh apple (by far), Vanilla Lime and this swirly one that has strawberry and buttercream scents. WOW.
OH, btw — if you are looking for good smell, but livable price, (it pains me to no end to say this) but walmarts store brand candles are really nice and smelly when you burn them . I bought an Mulled Apple Cider one and was completely blown away by the awesome smelliness from a 4 dollar candle (that was three wick half jar). Downside: they rotate their scents from season to season… its slim pickins’ right now for my favorite fruity smells.
Comment from laughing mommy
Time: December 19, 2007, 2:46 pm
I bought this today at the mall (sadly, I have a fake tree) and it is awesome!
LOVE!
Thanks for the tip. Now my kids can have a few memories of good smells at Christmas instead of just a tree that smells like the attic.
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