Candle presents

[FourCandlesForkHandles]

Now ... I have always been very much a 'its the thought that counts' kind of a person when it comes to presents, and whatever presents I'm given I always feel very thankful no matter what it is :) But there is something which is really bothering me! ...

I have had several jobs on the last 10/20 years, and in pretty much EVERY job for the last 10 years or longer, I am ALWAYS given a candle as a secret santa present! I have also left a few jobs in recent years and was given candles as leaving presents!

Now, I actually quite like candles! But ... No-one else ever gets candles and this year we had a budget of £10 for the secret santa so I thought maybe, for once, I'd have something other than a candle!!

But alas .. I got another candle! Its a very nice one! I thanked everyone in the office as I dont know who it's from, and do like the candle! It smells nice and I will light it over Christmas. But .... What is it about me that people always buy me a candle!!?

Anyone else ever been more than inundated with candles!! Or is it just me?

Who would you buy a candle for? What are people seeing in me that means this is always the preferred gift!?

I don't think I've ever given anyone a candle as a present! :) So I feel I'm missing something here and starting to wonder what is written on my forehead!!

Thanks! :)

We had our team Christmas lunch the other day and I noticed several of the women got candle gifts. I'm quite fussy about which scents I like so I don't buy candles for other people in case they're as picky as I am. Fortunately my Secret Santa was a bottle of rose wine .

Fortunately my Secret Santa was a bottle of rose wine so I don't like rose wine that much, and would be much happier with a candle!

Not to sound grinch-esque OP but I don't think it's that deep, it's just a fairly generic option no? Something you can pick up that looks nice that people are of the belief most (women 😬) will appreciate. Secret Santa is quite literally a random fairly thoughtless gift for the sake of it for most people, you can only tailor it if you are friends with the person you get, otherwise I just think it gets bolted on to the xmas admin and something generic needs to be got. If it wasn't a candle let's face it it would be cheap wine, a mug, socks, chocs, or toiletries. I'd take the candle!

I'm quite glad that nobody has ever given me candle. I'm not keen on them and wouldn't light one for fear of forgetting it and causing a fire.

I've never bought them as presents either. It just wouldn't occur to me.

If presented with one as a gift I would be suitably grateful, of course. After a while I might regift it.

To me it says they don’t really know much about you. Getting a woman a candle is a bit like getting a man socks. It’s just a generic present. You need to start dropping some heavy hints to the office just before Christmas about what you actually want.

Rosé wine is nice served ice cold from the fridge during hot weather.

Are you a bit flowery mumsy and wear flowery perfume? Nobody has ever bought me a candle 🕯

Aren’t candles just what you get for people when you don’t know what to buy?

I love getting yankee candles, but am very specific about what scents I like, so I always include a gift receipt if I give one.

Rituals has a really lovely limited edition holiday scent this year that I got for MIL.

This is what I've bought my (much loved) colleague for Secret Santa this year. Count yourself lucky.

Maybe they saw your username?

You are clearly the dependent of a Celtic fire God, and people are subconsciously picking
up on your divinity.

I think people tend to give candles if they don't know what else to get. Also as you say you like candles have you mentioned that to your colleagues?

I'd be most likely to buy a candle for

• someone who doesn't seem to go out socialising much (no gossip of wild nights at the pub for instance)
• someone who is on a diet or who has special dietary requirements.
• someone over 35

-female

• no young kids ( friends who have kids tend to not light candles in my experience)

-someone who wouldn't take well to a joke gift

• someone who appreciates luxury/relaxation.

I tick most of those boxes Spied, but I still wouldn't appreciate a candle.

I have given candles to people before if I know that they're on a diet/don't drink/have allergies as it's a safer bet :)