Yankee Candle's Latest Collection Is Inspired by Italian Summers. We Ranked Them All
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The return of warm weather is making me crave a trip to the Mediterranean seaside — and apparently, Yankee Candle feels the same way. The beloved candle brand just dropped its Hello, Italy collection with five new summer-inspired scents: Capri Glow, Azure Sky, Olive & Cypress, Lemon Gelato and Pistachio Latte. Naturally, our candle-obsessed editors had to smell and rank each one.
Shop Yankee Candle's Hello Italy Collection
Inspired by the best parts of an Italian summer (think sunny days on the Amalfi coast and refreshing lemon gelato) Yankee Candle's Hello Italy collection impressed our editors with its evocative scents and bellisima packaging. To sniff out the best one, we individually rated all five scents from 1 to 10 (with 10 being the best), and gave our honest feedback on each, which you'll see listed as bullet points. From there, I averaged out the scores for a definitive ranking.
The verdict? Yankee Candle knows how to nail a fresh, crisp candle scent for summer — but its edible-smelling counterparts ranked a little less favorably.
Notes: Crushed pistachio, coconut milk, sugared vanilla
Rating: 7.2/10
Tester notes:
- I like that it's nutty and rich without being overpowering
- It took me to an Italian bakery — it smells like fresh baked goods, maybe a cannoli with pistachio filling
- For people who love gourmand scents, I think this would be a hit
Notes: Iced lemon, sweet gelato, musky woods
Rating: 7.9/10
Tester notes:
- Now THAT is a lemon candle. It's a strong, heady fragrance and quite sweet, but it absolutely reminds me of lemon gelato
- Bright and citrusy. Perfect scent to burn while you clean the house
- Smooth lemon ice cream. Not too sharp and doesn't smell like floor cleaner since it has some creamy sweetness
Notes: Neroli blossom, sun-kissed amber, frangipani flower
Rating: 8.9/10
Tester notes:
- It reminds me of an elevated fruit punch. This definitely screams summer vibes
- This a really nice summer scent that reminds me of backyard BBQs and long park days. It's bright and fresh
- This reminds me of a resort lobby. It's clean and inviting, but not in your face. It's definitely beachy: reminds me of sand, beach towels and lounge chairs
Notes: Coastal tuberose, mango, sea salt
Rating: 9.1/10
Tester notes:
- This one is so soapy and fresh, almost like clean laundry. Such a great summer home scent
- It reminds me of sunscreen in the BEST way. Like the rich, creamy sunscreen that you voluntarily lather on poolside because it makes your skin feel so good
- This is such a clean and light scent that will make your space feel so clean, even if there are clothes everywhere
Notes: Lush cypress, Tuscan olive, rosemary
Rating: 9.1/10
Tester notes:
- I love woody scents, but they're often too warm and cozy for the summer months. This one is initially spicy and evergreen (think: peppercorn, rosemary and cypress) but it has an effervescent finish that lightens the mood. It's reminiscent of a breeze that wafts through a lush field
- I'd burn this all day long all throughout the year for a fresh, nature-inspired fragrance that lingers
- It's a little salty yet fresh and woodsy —I think this would be a crowd-pleasing scent to burn in your kitchen
Lauren Gruber is an associate commerce editor at Hearst Magazines, where she writes for publications like Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, Prevention, Country Living, House Beautiful, and more. She has over four years of professional experience covering a variety of lifestyle topics from home to fashion, with an advanced background in beauty and fragrance. When she’s not researching the most worthy Prime Day deals or hands-on testing all the latest perfume launches, Lauren is probably hanging out with her cat Serafina or flexing her AMC A-List membership at the movie theater.
You can find her previous work at Entertainment Tonight, Shop TODAY, USA Today, Self Magazine, L’Officiel USA, V Magazine, and Modern Luxury Media.
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