Dilemma - do I hurt DD's feelings or endure the pong

[YankeeCandlePong]

Lovely DD(13) is very proud of herself because this year she has used her own pocket money to buy gifts for DH and me. Problem is she has bought me a huge Yankee Candle (amaretto apple). I've not even lit it yet and the smell is nauseating me.

Do I tell her I appreciate the thought but could we please change it? Or do I endure the stink for the next year? And it will last a year as the bloody thing is huge!

Is there another one in the shops the same colour but a decent smell. Buy it and replace hers without saying anything.
Otherwise, if she is out burn it in the garden for hours so it burns down.

Don't swap it. Develop a sudden interest in Yankee Candles and buy yourself another one that you like, her thoughtful gift has set off a trend and you like them, this new one is lovely as well, blah, blah - keep the first one but set the tone for any future ones!

You can use it up quicker by pouring away the melted wax each time you use it so it doesn't resolidify, I've done that before. Also, DH bought me a hideous perfume once so i sprayed it liberally into the garden every day when he was at work to use it up!

Endure it. She meant it to please you, It was a gift bought with love and that is worth far more than a bit of discomfort.
Burn it when she's there for a short while and then as others suggest - tactically burn it in the garden when she's at school.

Endure, I’m afraid.

I’m going to have crusty earlobes from wearing the “fashion” earrings my son proudly presented me with. My ears are allergic to anything but gold. But I will wear them, and make a fuss about how lovely they are I’m going to keep them for special occasions and then wheel them out for my birthday and anniversary...

I wouldn’t say you’re allergic - a) it’s a blatant lie and b) you’ll have to check that thbe mythical ingredient isn’t in any of the others when you swap it.

Just say it’s lovely, put up and shut up. She won’t buy the same one next year, but you could preempt that by saying there must be loads of fragrances and wouldn’t it be nice to try them all.

Tell her your friend is willing to swap 2, 3, 4 Yankee candles in return for this "highly in demand" one, and you love Yankee so much you would love to try more of the range?

So you will get loads more burning time gloss over the fact this is mathematical nonsense and isn't that a great idea?

Then sell it online for cash and pick a bunch of smaller ones in exchange when she's at school.

@Kate, have you tried painting them with clear nail varnish?

Don't hurt her feelings, put up with the pong!

I wouldn't be able to ensure a smell that makes me feel sick.

I sympathise, OP. I hate scented candles, they give me a headache. But I’d endure it, if she’s really proud. Can you burn it in the garden when she’s not there, then rave about how lovely it is and how you just had to use it up in one go?

Although that does open you up to Yankee candles for every birthday and Christmas for the next five years.

I have lots of Yankee Candles. They're all one of five scent families. Yours is a Fruit/Food group one. I would tell your daughter that you'd love to light it but that GROUP gives you a terrible headache. It's very sad. Do you think she could change it for one from the FRESH family instead?

That way, she still gets to choose... all smoothed over.

But I can just picture her going out, sniffing each one - thinking "this is it! This is the one Mum would love!" And waiting in line, having to do the transaction. Paying for it with her own cash, smuggling it home, wrapping it up. Excitedly watching you as you unwrap...

Oh God, OyOy - that's exactly how it would have happened. She and a friend got the train into town (we live rurally so that's a big deal!) and she will have used her debit card which makes her feel very grown up. She also wrapped it herself (that was evident!)

Ah I remember my brother saving up and buying my mum some white musk from the Body Shop when he was young. She told him (gently) that she was very grateful but ldidn’t like the smell and I can still remember the crestfallen look on his face. I’d have to endure it for a day or two then burn it in the garden while she’s out I think

Aww, bless her, she is 13. I think you are going to need to grin and bear it - maybe light it in the garden shed when she is out and hopefully it will burn itself out quicker.....

I would just use it up to spare her feelings. Next Christmas tell her you would like a different scent for a change.

Oh thats tough. I would hate to upset my dc if they ever independently bought me a present (ha, the likelihood of that is slim atm) but I really struggle with smells I dislike. My mum is queen of the plug in air fresheners and if we go to her house I end up smoking an awful lot just to get outside and away from them (although maybe and plugs loads in when I am coming over to drown out my smoke smell, hmmm, perhaps we are in a vicious circle...) I think I would ask if I could swap it for one I loved even more but you know your dd and I don't- how much would that upset her?

Good news is -
they are unlikely to do the same one next year unless its a classic one . But there will be a similar one . (Last year they had Macaroon which is along the same lines)

Bad news - you have to burn it for at least 4 hours till it melts across the entire surface otherwise you get tunnelling where there's a huge 'dip' in the middle (You might want to do this though, it reduces the burn time)

Most YC smell like socks in the jar but ok in the RL burn.

I have bought some horrible candles - a Sainsbury one that I had to put outside (smelled nice unlit)
An Ammarretto one ( not YC) that smelled like baby nappies (clean ones )
And a YC Aloe one that smelled like olive oil being heated .

I'm off YC now , my most recent one (Sparkling Cinnamon , long term favourite ) just smells like wax

Your endure it, your this child’s mother it’s what you do! She’s a child that saved her pocket money to buy you a gift, she is proud of the gift how anyone could ask to change it is beyond me.

Tbh with Yankee candles I have never had one that actually smelt strong once lit, yet they seem to over power before lighting.

My DD is massively into Yankee and has got a sugary sweet candy one she's burning..... it's making me feel nauseous, it's so sickly sweet.

Burn it and say "that was lovely DD, we must try some others!"

Don't crush her teenage feelings!
Straw clutching: Hopefully the scent is only in the top quarter of the candle?

Am I the only one who clicked on this thread expecting it to be by the poo troll?

You endure it! Please please don’t ask to change it, that would be so hurtful. Put it in pride of place. When she’s out, open it and put outside for a bit - the smell will soon fade.

Endure, it's just one of the many trials of parenthood.

First gifts for you and DH with pocket money = endure.

However I too would buy an identical one that smells better and do a swap.

And in future say you’d love a particular one, if anyone’s thinking of buying one for you.