When the holiday
season rolls around, an abundance of new scents fill the air and play a huge
role in setting the stage for a winter wonderland. Whether it’s crisp,
“outdoorsy” aromas or the smell of warm baked goods, the fragrances of the
holidays are a huge part of this festive season. Luckily, for those who can’t
seem to get enough of Mom’s homemade cookies or the piney scent of their
Christmas trees, candles of all variations are in nearly every store around the
South Shore.

The scents of the seasons are endless,
pleasing any individual preference. Yankee Candle, the “go-to” store for
anything candle, is especially well-known for encompassing holiday smells into
their small glass jars.  For those who
prefer an earthy smell that brings nostalgic memories of snowball fights and
snow angels, Yankee Candle features scents such as Balsam and Cedar, Sparkling
Snow and Mountain Berry. People also have the option of buying scents including
Christmas Cupcake, Gingerbread and Home for the Holidays if they favor the cozy
feeling of sitting next to the fireplace with hot cocoa and freshly baked
cookies.

Candles are not only useful in filling a
room that is vacant of a holiday aroma; they may also be used as a suitable
gift for anybody. Junior Melissa Harris said, “we get my mom a new holiday
candle every year and she loves them.”

There is always that one person, whether
it is a second cousin or next door neighbor that goes forgotten on every one’s
Christmas shopping list. Rather than scrambling at the last minute to put
together a present, having a couple of spare holiday candles to quickly wrap up
makes for a generous, stress-free gift. Additionally, a candle is available for
any personality and is an easy thing to give someone who you are not quite sure
what to get.

Despite the many benefits candles
contribute to the holiday season, there are some drawbacks of these scented
sensations. Sometimes, the task of picking out the perfect candle can be
overwhelming, made worse by the abundance of other flavors that surround
shoppers in a candle store. School nurse, Ms. Bernard said “Yankee Candle is so
overpowering, it kinda turns me off from buying candles”. Additionally,
although discount candles are available, the newest holiday scents can be quite
pricey with costs ranging from $15 to $26 at Yankee Candle stores.

Candles have been a staple of the seasons
for hundreds of years and are one of the few holiday gifts that have withheld
the test of time. As a gift, during a snowstorm, or under the mistletoe, a
scented candle is the perfect way to set the holiday mood this winter.