accessories: “Man Candles”
I love my Yankee Candles, but this latest limited-time collection from them is causing more than a few eyerolls around the web. At first I thought they just released 4 new scents and that others were nicknaming them as such, but no, Yankee Candle is really calling them Man Candles:
“We wanted to develop a collection of scents that men could strongly identify with,” said Hope Margala Klein, senior vice president, brand, design and innovation for The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. “Man Candles make a great gift for kids to give Dad or for that college grad moving into his first apartment.”
- Riding Mower™ — Hot sun. Cool breeze. And the intensely summery scent of freshly cut grass.
- First Down™– This combination of orange, patchouli, vetiver and leather is as exciting as game day.
- Man Town™ — Escape to the man cave with this masculine blend of spices, woods and musk.
- 2 x 4™– The warm, unmistakable scent of freshly planed wood and sawdust evokes a sense of confidence and quality.
Oddly enough, I have always wished that they would come up with a freshly-cut grass scented candle, so I hope that one sticks around, even after I know what that smell really might mean.1 However, I also want them to put out a candle that smells like Roast Chicken… but that doesn’t mean it’s a great idea.
The part that I really find ridiculous is that they can’t produce these scents without making the marketing excessively masculine. Obviously it’s designed to hit graduation and Father’s Day season, but the assumption that only men would be interested in these scents just continues the “only girly girl ladies like scented candles” stereotype. So if you’re a dude, you can light these candles without fearing the loss of your manhood. Note that the Man Candles’ Illuma-Lid®, Jar Clinger and Votive Holder look like they’d be better suited to frat house decor than any self-respecting guy’s man cave.
If they sell a votive set of all four, I might give them a review, but beyond the cut grass one, I don’t see these lasting long past being Summer special editions. Still, if you don’t know what to give for Father’s Day, this might rank right up there with a hideous tie in terms of a gift that will evoke a “Oh, wow… look at that.” from the recipient.2 
1 In case that abstract made no sense, the smell it emits is a potential alert for nearby predators about herbivores that are snacking down on the plants.
2 I do give my father credit for accepting–and not immediately throwing away–some really ugly crappy Father’s Day presents over the years.
“Man Town”?!? Seriously? Who did this marketing work… it is beyond ham-handed, it sounds like a bad joke!
Ooo, the wood one sounds neat. I’ll have to swing by next time I’m up in Waldorf…