I love scented candles. I think it's because of my sharp sense of smell. I've probably spent a small fortune on scented candles, and they're always at the top of my Christmas wish list. Friends and family members know they can never go wrong with giving me a nice candle for birthday, Christmas, or any occasion. I've also learned that scented candles make great gifts for others - especially those who are hard to buy for.

When I first began with this addiction, I experimented with many different types and brands of scented candles. I had a friend who swore by Yankee Candles, but I thought they were too expensive, so I opted for cheaper brands. I was pretty happy with the cheapos and secretly patted myself on the back for not falling for the hype about a brand name and paying more as a result.

That was until I received a real Yankee Candle as a gift from one of my students. The scent was Christmas Cookie. OMG! I could not believe how much better and stronger the scent was! Soon after lighting the candle, the house smelled like I was baking homemade cookies.The Yankee Candle also lasted a lot longer than the cheaper candles, so in the long run, it was probably cheaper, if you figured cost per hour.

Now I'm a big fan of Yankee Candle. I have two Great Danes that live in my house, and when it starts to smell a little "doggie," I just light a candle or two, and my home is soon filled with delicious aromas.

I have found a couple of candle brands that are as good as Yankee Candles, but not many. One of my favorites is no longer made, and another is more expensive than Yankee Candle.

I change my candle scents with the seasons and with the holidays. In the spring and summer, I prefer light scents, and in the fall and winter I like warm, rich smells. Thanksgiving and Christmas are the perfect occasions to light several candles and fill my home with the smell of pumpkin pie, cranberries, cinnamon, pepperment, pine, and those wonderful sugar cookies!

My only complaint is that sometimes my favorite scent are hard to find in stores, especially during the holidays. My solution? Shop online!

Below are the best Yankee Candle scents for the holidays, based on my experience: