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26 reviews for Yankee Candle Company
Review Highlights
"Visit the Christmas Village or whatever they call it, where..."
(in 2 reviews)
"One room, is even decorated, year-round in Christmas-motif."
(in 4 reviews)
"...paraphrenalia and you can even make your own candles there."
(in 5 reviews)
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26 reviews in English
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Review from Erin N.
8/30/2011
Yankee Candle the Flagship Store is a yearly family tradition. It's so much more than just candles! Its a cheep way to spend a day just looking around snapping pics, all the smells, and the different candle making experiences all makes for a fun time.
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Review from John L.
12/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Frightening corporate mecca.
If you want candles, they are here. However, you'll have to deal with crowds, maps, and other tomfoolery just to get that candle that smells like a Christmas tree. This place also feels too corporate-y. The upselling was annoying, as was the desire to get my phone number to ensure I could get coupons. Also, the candles are more expensive at Yankee than at other places (at Kringle, I could get a giant candle that smelled like Hot Chocolate for $15 bucks!)
Overall, it's okay, but not remarkable. -
Review from Ron M.
Atlanta, GA
12/28/2011
Bought 4 of these, 2 for Mom and 2 for myself. Both of Mom's smoke so much she stopped using for fear of discoloring her ceiling. One of mine does the same, the 2nd burned one time, then the wick burned so short it won't stay lit for more than a couple of minutes. $110 wasted. I'll no longer buy their products.
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Review from Chris W.
Northampton, MA
7/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I will admit that this place has gone down hill since it was sold.
The themed villages and shops have lost their flare and that Dillons candy shop lasted like 3 months.
However they still load this place by the bus load. I would recommend going at off peak times so you can get around this castle of a store.
I live about 12 minutes from here and have always come here about every 6 months. I often dont buy much or anything as the prices are through the roof.
The decor is nice and its just a fun place to walk through, especially for Christmas. The santa in the workshop looks very authentic!
Check out Kringle Candle up in Berndston (organic and eco friendly candles) This place is owned and operated by the son of the original Yankee Candle owner.
For a great day trip, hit up yankee candle in the AM then go over to the BBC brewery @ 1pm on saturdays for a free tour almost across the street! -
Review from Chris B.
Red Hook, NY
7/21/2011
I love this place. Hundreds of thousands of candles are sold within several acres of buildings. Imagine the Yankee candle item, they will sell it. One room, is even decorated, year-round in Christmas-motif. This store is nearby to their main corporate warehouse, but this store is NOT affiliated to their warehouse-except buying supplies from it what seems to be daily.
I started traveling to this store from New York State, and I'm glad I did. I was very amazed at the amount of candles they have in this store. They even have a stand, where you can decorate your own candle. You have to see this store for yourself, if you are in the area. But, figure in several hours, to take in this whole entire store. You'll thank me in the end, for posting this beautiful review here. I can't say how much I loved this place, without seeing it for yourself. -
Review from Adrian W.
South Glastonbury, CT
2/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Kitchsy, in the best way possible.
There really aren't great deals on Yankee candle products here. It is, however, a neat shopping experience, on par with Stew Leonards or the original Disney Stores.
Come if you have kids to entertain, or are very passionate about Yankee Candles. Do not, however, expect to find spectacular savings on this expensive brand. -
Review from Laura H.
Hatfield, MA
9/10/2010
There is very little reason to visit this place, unless you are a glutton for punishment. A cheap imitation of the shopping experience at Downtown Disney (Anaheim, CA), the poorly constructed animatronic band playing in the middle of the complex was enough to want to turn around and run out. And the layout of the store is confusing - you shouldn't have to have a map to make your way through a store! It may be that because I do not understand the obsession with candles, I don't get this place. Prices are outrageously high - to be expected for a tourist trap. Better to wander around Final Markdown, right off 91 before you reach the Yankee Candle Co. complex. They have candles too! And at greatly discounted prices. Granted I found a couple of things of interest in the gourmet shop, but I would have preferred a Harry and David's. Hence the two stars.
And don't even get me started on the over-accessorized x-mas trees! Obviously the marketing people haven't read articles on consumer fatigue - less is better in this case. -
Review from Josh K.
Astoria, NY
10/20/2010
A Yankee Doodle Treat
Once you enter the Yankee Candle Home you are inundated by a full frontal assault of Paula Dean marinating merchandise before you can start smelling candles and buy more than you need like when you go to Target for the first time. It's only fitting for the face of southern, comfort food to greet you at the door as her smile on those bottles of barbeque sauce light up the room more than any candle could.
But the real fun started when I stumbled upon the banjo strumming, accordion playing, wine jug blowing, wax museum resembling, farmer dressed, this land is your land, robot operated, O Brother Where Out Thou trio, that proceeded to belt out soothing Blue Grass tunes with a cheery, southern drawl that lured customers to the stage like they were spinning yarn in a room full of curious cats.
Watching the backwoods, southern gents exchange in humorless but good intentioned banter on stage between songs wasn't even annoyingly creepy the way Jude Law was when got dressed after he turned that trick in the Sci-Fi flick, Artificial Intelligence.
Behind the banjo, jubilant, jamboree was a Cracker Jack box colored popcorn stand called Popcornopolis that was a classy, clean, no trans fat using popcorn palace that had different see through, deep filled, glassed off sections of cheddar cheese popcorn, caramel toasted popcorn and every other killer pop corn creation that you remember from the fancy popcorn variety pack from camp that the really well off kid would get on Visiting Day.
I asked for a taste of the toasted caramel popcorn to see if it would equal the sugary rush of excitement I got from discovering that exotic, caramelized, sweet, crunchy flavor in my virgin youth. The rush this time was more euphoric because not only did it taste amazing but it reawakened my taste buds and reconfirmed what good taste they had in the first place. At that moment, I realized that my obsession with frozen Three Musketeers and Milky Way's was almost entirely caramel driven which would explain my grown up obsession with sampling chocolaty Imperial Porters that are made slightly sweet and rounded out by that signature roasted, caramel malty, favored flavor.
If they only served this quality of popcorn at movie theatres. But predictably boring bags of popcorn are as American as eating a mushy, barely cooked hot dog at the ball game or drinking a flat, sour sip of house champagne before the ball drops and you start scrambling to find any available woman to kiss so you don't feel like your new year is off to another clumsy, uneventful start.
They also had a fudge shop at Yankee Candle Home but I don't even know what fudge is except that it sounds like fancy sounding, English made chocolate. Such a Red Coat, queen serving operation sharply contrasted with this ode to small town living, Bing Crosby roasting chestnuts while nursing a Vodka Gimlet, simplified, Glen Beck pined for, still alive American Dream phase of American existence.
Yankee Candle Home also housed a Dylan's Candy store that had all of my childhood favorites like Gummy Worms, which are always more exciting, long lasting and less gay tasting than the itsy bitsy, need to bite three at once to taste anything substantial, rainbow colored Gummy Bears.
Of course any Yankee Candle Home has to have an entire, enchanted forest wing dedicated to Christmas Ornaments that comes with more angel paraphernalia than a Hallmark Warehouse or a traveling Tattoo Parlor that waits outside Mega Church shows for spiritually showy Christians.
The Yankee Candle Home is the opposite of my neighborhood home in Astoria Queens. Its clean, rural, country fair fun. Still, I enjoyed the sugar rush of excitement this wonder bread slice of Americana gave my older, naïve, less contaminated soul. Now, I'm not going wax emotionally on the great Americana of yesteryear, Glen Beck style but on this day I felt like a kid in a candy store again where everything seemed up for grabs. Considering the strained times we live in, reliving the moment in history when the American Dream still burned bright was a real Yankee Doodle treat. -
Review from reviewer m.
Philadelphia, PA
12/13/2010
It smells so good in here! The problem is that it's located kind of in the middle of no where so it's quite a trek out there. There's not much for eating or visiting other than this place. It's HUGE inside and you can easily spend three hours there. Mostly shopping but there are activities and eating too. We also found tucked in the corner the Candle museum which was empty but a nice lady was there and explained the whole candle making process and Yankee history. We also saw a guy making candles from bees wax which was really neat.
They have a wax dip thing you can make molds of your hand ($8)....this is tricky and can be successful or not depending on WHO dips for you. In our experience the male guy working there just couldn't get it pretty like the female who did others. His were all bubbly and you couldn't see the detail because of poor dipping. But the lady's was dipped so nicely you could even see the wrinkles in the hands. They need better training here. We didn't try, but they have make your own candle thing, which looks fun for kids.
We ate some fudge, got a snack and then headed out. I must warn that this is not an OUTLET store so candles are regular priced but I saw people using coupons. Ohh and the year round Christmas is really fun- they have fake snow! If you're near, this would be fun to experience, but don't come from too far or you may be bored. -
Review from Dirgni S.
Chelmsford, MA
3/20/2010
There's no question that this is a tourist trap. I hate smelly candles. So, why did I go there? Because I wanted to make a wax cast of my hand, of course. Maybe make my own candle too.
I skipped the Santa part, which is easy to do. I think I saw all the old-timey stuff and the mall candle stuff. Ho hum.
Well, the wax hand wasn't as cool as I thought it would be. Old ladies lead you through the process step-by-step, so you can't get a wax cast of your hand flipping people off. Not that I was going to do that - I'm just saying... No, my real complaint with the wax cast is they put it on too thick, so you don't get any hand details. No creepy fingernail outlines. So, what's the point?
As for making your own candle, forget about it. What you really do is get a white candle and dip it in colored wax. Boo. No fun.
So, as far as tourist traps go, it was just OK. High on kitch, mediocre on fun. Oh, and they have one of those machines that will squish your penny for 50 cents. (So now I have one from here, one from Rockport, MA, one from Rainforest Cafe, and one from the Boston Science Musuem. You can never have too many squished pennies.)
I went today -- in April. Good time to go. No crowds, easy parking.Listed in: South Deerfield MA Day Trip
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Review from Heather S.
Portland, OR
9/25/2009
ICK! Overbearing fake smells from candles, weird installations (a stuffed, electric bear show like a lower cost version of Disney), big crowds, long lines, and high prices make Yankee Candle Company in South Deerfield my nemesis. Why not burn something that smells and IS natural?
The one thing I will say is that the sales people were exceptionally friendly while I was there. -
Review from Merrill H.
Redondo Beach, CA
8/12/2007
After a visit to Yankee Candle Company's headquarters here in Deerfield, your nose won't function for at least a few hours, if not days. Your eyes will refuse to look at anything remotely hinting at Christmas. Your ears will block out Christmas carols and any Yanni/ Kenny G music. Sensory overload!!!!!
Yankee Candle is a HUGE tourist trap, but a good one at that. Who can resist smelling every single one of Yankee's scents? In the middle of the complex is the enormous candle room where you can smell every Yankee Candle scent. There are jars of coffee beans to try to awaken your nose, but after awhile, your nose will just burn out under the pressure of smelling everything.
Trying to navigate your way to this candle room is an adventure. You must pass through a maze of differently themed rooms, decked out in full Christmas regalia. There is a room made to resemble a Christmas market in Germany, complete with a dark, star-filled ceiling and faux storefront shops. There's a medieval Christmas room, complete with a moat and throne. While you are walking through all these rooms, you will hear the constant sound of Christmas carols and Kenny G. I feel for the workers here!
But, if you are smart, there is a side entrance that will take you into the discounted/discontinued room, where there is no Christmas to be seen, AND you can bypass all the Christmas rooms and walk right into the huge candle room. I HIGHLY suggest this route unless you want your senses to be assaulted. -
Review from John M.
9/25/2009
Without a doubt one of my all time favorite places to visit. As of this writing, I live in California with your garden variety YC mall store within 20 minutes of me, but I still would rather fly back home to New England and "visit an old friend".
Years ago, every room was filled with candles. The smallest corner of the store had the fudge shop and seconds shop. Now one of the largest rooms is dedicated to home apparel with a kitchen nook which does supply items that I have not found in any other retail establishment. The make your own candle area has been moved and gone is a snack bar, but still a fun area if you are inclined. The front rooms are still "candle central" and I can spend hours sniffing the lids. Its kinda funny, a scent that you would not have considered can be influenced by the dressage of the display area. Suggestive selling works!
People, if there is something that I want you to remember from this review it is: if you go during the weekend/storewide sale day, GO ON THE EARLY MORNING. The parking situation can get bad, but thats a cake walk compared to the inside of the store. There are basically 2 central checkout areas. No joke... I was there the second Saturday in September and was lucky enough to get parking and found some killer deals that would have gone perfectly into my carry on, but the line (NO JOKE) was 40 deep in the from checkout and 50 deep in the back checkout. I had a flight to catch out of Logan the next morning and I questioned if I would make it there in time! Oh well, Ill be in the area next month, so Ill hope for a better shopping experience then. This is the reason I cannot give 5 stars for the place... and that kills me!
This place really is worth stopping by if your in Western New England. Its a Disney World for the Candle Consumer and I feel worth a visit -
Review from Mary B.
Vero Beach, FL
6/8/2010
Of course this is a tourist trap...and I'm a tourist!!!:) Love this place...endless rooms with endless good smells...so much fun! A great selection of preserves and I can find sugar free ones for my diabetic Great Aunt and husband.
Ok, the real reason I go here is for the Christmas village section...I am a self-admitted Christmas addict and I just love surrounding myself with all the Dept. 56 villages, the castle, the life sized nut crackers (I meant the decorative ones not me!!), the music....it's just a real wonderland. -
Review from Hannah Q.
Denver, CO
2/21/2007
Look up "Tourist Trap" in the dictionary, and this will be one of the top three examples.
SHORTER VERSION:
Believe it or not, this place is so overwhelming, I think it would be impossible to encapsulate in a single review. The short version is, if you're in there area and you don't have a perfume / odor allergy, you must go here, if only to be blown away by the power of American consumerism at its best.
FEATURES:
- Zillions of candles of all shapes, sizes, smells, burning times, whatever.
- Watch the factory workers* make candles
- Make your own candles
- Visit the Christmas Village or whatever they call it, where it's Christmas all year round. This is a SERIOUS affair, including a waterfall, falling snow, a Bavarian village, live Santa & Mrs Clauses --- even in August.
- Santa's workshop w/ toys for sale, etc.
- Great for kids and grandparents alike
DOWNSIDES:
- The smell is overpowering
- *Last I went, the only non-white folks to be seen were in the "factory" setting and, yes, it's hard to believe that this is just an accident. I asked a floor manager about it once and got some spiel about how there just wasn't that much of a diverse community in the area to hire from... Hmmm... yet you have African-Americans and Latinos in the factory....
- If you time it just right, your kids might get to see Santa smoking a cigarette and getting on his Harley... Actually, I'm not sure this is a downside.
LONGER VERSION:
This place is INSANE.
I thought of writing a review about the Yankee Candle Company flagship store after reading a write up about TJ's Gingerbread House in Oakland, CA (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). As Scott D pondered, what would this place be like on acid?
Well, that's the same thought I've had about the YCC. Trust me, you don't need to be on drugs to get displaced here. From the moment you enter, you are completely overwhelmed by the environment the YCC has created. You know how casinos are built very intentionally, with the noise and lighting set-up so that you're a little disoriented and you forget there's a whole other world "out there" with sunshine and trees instead of slot machines and 57 year old washed up cocktail waitresses in jazzercise outfits with bow-ties pushing booze on you? The same philosophy applies here... only "G" rated.
SMELLS:
First, there's the smell. The Yankee Candle Company store calls itself the "Scenter of the Universe." That's so friggin' funny to me in its tackiness... not unlike the classic New Hampshire bumper sticker... "New Hampshire: Don't Take it for Granite." That killed me when I was eleven and saw it at Clark's Trading Post (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) in Lincoln, NH. But, I digress. If you have a perfume allergy, or are sensitive to smells at all, do NOT even pull into the parking lot. I'm not kidding. Just keep on cruising on the 5 and pull over at the Whately Diner (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) or something. Since Yankee Candle is famous for its smelly candles, you can expect to encounter all manner of odors here.
CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR LONG:
The Santaland Village is totally overboard. First, you enter into a darker part of the building where they've created a Bavarian village with cobbled flooring, a vista of the Alps, replete with skiers going up on a ski-lift, a waterfall and wishing well area, falling snow and gazillions of Christmas ornaments. If you were hit on the head in July and someone dragged you here while you were unconscious and you suddenly came to, you really would think you were, say, in Vail during peak season. For a minute and a half. Then you'd just be peeved someone smacked you on the head.
After you've made your way through the village, you stumble into a "Nutcracker" themed room with larger than life nutcrackers and Tchaikovsky blaring over hidden speakers, etc. Finally, you get to Santa's Workshop, with lots of toys, a big process-line that's building toys (obviously fake, but, like the Hudsucker Proxy's circle, "you know, for kids!"), and, yes, a real life Santa (& sometimes Mrs. Claus), with a genuine for-real beard (Mr. Claus, not Mrs... though maybe she has a slight mustache... I never looked that closely).
Man, if I worked here, I would SO hate Christmas.
The bottom line is that though you will come to mock and sneer, you will inevitably find yourself at some point in your visit feeling an impulse to purchase a set of 12 popcorn-scented candles, just because they're on sale. Plus, your kids will love you for bringing them here. It's much cheaper than going to Disneyland, if you live within driving distance, and your children will always remember it. -
Review from David B.
6/4/2009
Why would someone that considers Yankee Candles to be amongst the most vile and stinky objects in the world bother stopping at the mother ship? Because it's there!
This retail extravaganza is a good old American roadside attraction, on steroids. The place is gigantic. The candles were in the middle, completely surrounded by Christmas schlock, stereotypical country store stuff, tee shirts, candy, food, and loads of unnecessary plastic objects. It felt a bit like the New England version of South Dakota's Wall Drug.
Glad to see they are making soy based candles. Still, how they can possibly market some of their candles concoctions is beyond me. I'm just waiting for someone to produce the Anti Yankee Candle with scents like 'Wet & Moldy Kitchen Towels' or 'Rotting Stinky Cheese' or 'Diesel Exhaust.' That will be the day. :-) -
Review from Deb K.
Boston, MA
1/20/2008
Ok, read those other reviews and then tell me how the heck my mom found a chili mix that she liked here. After walking through the whole place, mom remembered that she had forgotten to look for the chili mix that was so delicious. So, then the hunt began. It wasn't in the food section, or the other food section, or the southwesterny section. We ended up not finding it. This is after I was pushing Grammy around in a wheelchair (and although the place is handicapped accessible, try maneuvering around on the ornamental rugs, and around tourists) and I was already ready to go home.
I can see the allure of this place: Christmas year round, more candles than you could ever want to smell or see, and all things kitchy. My problem is that it is a tourist trap (somehow as a local who only lives about 20 minutes from here, we are silly enough to keep going) and I always think that it is going to be cheaper because you are buying from the source. The factory is right there, shouldn't we be saving money on our purchases here? Isn't that how other retail places work? Guess not. -
Review from Marc A.
NY
6/2/2008
My God, it's full of candles.
This place is the king of mass produced candledoom. The complex is HUGE with rooms dedicated to Christmas, individual candles, outdoor candles, candles for Knights, a room where it snows every 4 minutes, and even a general store. All the candles' smell runs together to the point of ridiculousness and it really is the one place where you should check your nose at the door. And you probably won't be able to smell correctly once you leave the place.
If you are a fan of Yankee Candle, you will want to come here. And I bet, during Christmas time, this place is epic. Lots of random toys, bears, candles, ornaments, kitsch, and lobster shaped macaroni - if you're driving on I91 and need to stop, this is a good place to relax. Plenty of bathrooms, plenty of things to see - it's one of those things that you should experience at least once. -
Review from Merry P.
San Rafael, CA
4/13/2009 2 photos
I love candles so I wanted to visit this place. My sister took me and her kids and we had a lovely time. They have so many kinds of candles and candle paraphrenalia and you can even make your own candles there.
There is also a general store, a toy store, a Christmas store and all sorts of little thematic stores inside. There is a very nice bakery/deli and a place to sit with a fountain and a hokey animatronic stage show which airs every half hour.
Some of the music they play around the place is too twee for my taste. The staff are extremely solicitous, friendly and they seem genuinely happy. There is an employee gym and health spa right next door to the main mall and I hear the employees all have health insurance and good benefits.
There is plenty of parking and the grounds are very pleasant and thematic with outside seating, rocking chairs and the sort. A pleasant outing and I would return. -
Review from Rue B.
Montague, MA
10/1/2008
It's frightening that you can smell it from the highway.
Two stars because it gives people jobs around here. -
Review from Kate O.
Chepachet, RI
9/21/2011
Visited this place for the first time today. It was mid-day on a weekday in the middle of the fall so it was not packed. They have every scent of yankee candle currently available and a section with some discontinued scents as well. It's a fun place to wander through, smell the candles you haven't seen yet and walk through the christmas village (complete with fake snow). There is a candy/toy store, kitchen store, fudge shop and bakery as well so you could spend a lot of time in there. My favorite part was the room where certain scents were discounted. I feel that yankee candles are overpriced and it was nice to get a discount. I also enjoyed the museum in the back where they show you how they make beeswax candles and there is a movie showing how the factory produces candles now. My boyfriend, who is not a candle person, managed to hang out in there for an hour and enjoyed it as well. So overall, very touristy but cute and fun to walk around.
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Review from John R.
Amherst, MA
6/16/2009
Several years ago when Yankee candle opened, my wife and I were big fans of this place. The candles were great and you could go up ever so often and purchase candles at a decent price during some of their seasonal sales. But not anymore. You see, my wife loves votive style candles and she usually purchased about $150 worth every year, if not more often. But about 10 years ago, Yankee Candle purchased a new votive making machine that was designed in Germany. Though the machine might have made the process of making these candles more efficient, it degraded the quality of the candle itself. The new candles burned down around the wick quicker, leaving waste wax along the sides. When we brought it to their attention we basically got shrugged at.
Evidently, the new machine injects air into the wax in order to speed the forming process. But by doing so, the candle does not burn in an even fashion and you end up burning it quicker as well as incomplete. For this major design flaw, and lack of customer care and the ability to listen, they get 2 stars. -
Review from Marc H.
Boston, MA
4/15/2009
The main outlet of Yankee Candle is rustic-feeling and nicely laid out, with every kind of candle imaginable, as well as an incredible variety of other gifts. So why am I giving it only 3 stars? Go on a Saturday afternoon on a warm summer day and you'll find out--the crowds here can be almost intolerable, and the parking is an absolute nightmare. If you hit the place early or late in the day, or perhaps in the off-season (a cold day in winter, perhaps?), it likely will make for a much nicer experience, but beware--this place can get crazy beyond belief at times.
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Review from Annie J.
South Deerfield, MA
1/31/2009
Yankee Candle is one of the worlds most exhilarating places it has a beautiful smells a magnificent scenery and all the wonderful treats and sweets! There are plenty of toys and games and interesting items that are attractive to the eye! If you want to buy something for a loved one be sure to go to Yankee candle
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Review from B L.
Andover, MA
7/14/2008
Great place to bring your grandmother. Horrible place to drive by because of the damn smells. This has to be the smelliest place in Massachusetts.
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Review from Matt L.
Boston, MA
2/21/2009
I grew up not too far down the road from this place and remember when it opened as just a small candle shop that was like two rooms. Now this place is one of the areas biggest attractions and has blossomed into a Disney World for Candles and gifts. The spot sits off of Interstate 91 and is right off the exit if you are heading to VT or heading south to the Pioneer Valley. You cannot miss it since it sits on the main road. The parking is tricky here but there are employees directing traffic on busy weekends (busy times here are always, but the worst is Fall and Xmas). You can enter the huge place at any side and walk into a world of wall to wall candles and gifts and food and everything else. The good part about this place is that they never forget to tie in a candle to every piece of the store. They realize that candles is their business and thats what the place is all about. The place is split up into various sections with a Bavarian Village with falling snow and running toy trains, a toy section, a build-a-bear section, a kitchen and cooking section and home section (this is brand new) and then there is a section for men and even a candle making area to dip your own candles. There is also general areas of Xmas/holiday and even a Medieval section with waterfalls and suits of armor. There is a cafe inside the main store and then a sit down restaurant on the ther side connected. The kids will love this place and you will spend a lot of time here so be prepared. This is a must see place and you will want to come back many times!!
