Yankee Candle is one of the most recognized candle brands in America.
Most of its jarred candles come from a single factory in New England.
That factory has been running for decades and still produces tens of millions of candles a year.
Not every product with the Yankee Candle name comes from that building, though.
The brand is owned by a large consumer products conglomerate that has been through some rocky changes lately.
Understanding where Yankee Candle is actually made means separating the core candles from the accessories, and separating the factory from the corporate owner.
This article covers the Whately, Massachusetts factory, who owns Yankee Candle today, where the brand came from, what gets made overseas, and what recent layoffs and store closures mean for production.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Where Is Yankee Candle Made?
Yankee Candle is made almost entirely at a single factory in Whately, Massachusetts, in the Pioneer Valley.
The official Yankee Candle site, yankeecandle.com, and multiple reports confirm that the core candle making operation sits inside a facility spanning roughly 300,000 square feet.
That one site turns out an estimated 45 million candles a year.
A research and development lab in nearby South Deerfield formulates new fragrances before they go into production.
Not everything sold under the Yankee Candle name comes out of Whately, though. Accessories are a different story entirely.
Who Owns Yankee Candle?
Yankee Candle Company Inc is a wholly owned subsidiary of Newell Brands.
Newell is the same conglomerate behind Sharpie, Rubbermaid, and Coleman.
Newell picked up Yankee Candle through its 2016 merger with Jarden Corporation.
Jarden had acquired the candle maker back in 2013, so Yankee Candle passed through two ownership changes in just three years.
Where Did Yankee Candle Come From?
The Whately plant grew out of founder Michael Kittredge’s earliest days making candles as a teenager.
Production first moved into an old paper mill in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
Whately eventually became the current and permanent home of the operation.
What Gets Made Overseas?
Candles themselves are overwhelmingly produced at the Whately factory.
Accessories tell a different story. Electric wax melters, car diffusers, plug in units, and decorative holders are largely manufactured in China.
A 2013 Business Journal report put the share of company products made at the Massachusetts factory at around 70 percent.
That means roughly three out of every ten Yankee Candle branded products come from somewhere other than New England.
Is Yankee Candle Made in China?
No, not the core candles. The jarred and pillar candles that most people associate with the brand are produced at the Whately, Massachusetts factory.
Accessories are a different matter. Wax warmers, diffusers, and similar hardware are largely sourced from Chinese manufacturers.
So the honest answer depends on what product you are holding. A candle is almost certainly American made. A plug in diffuser probably is not.
Yankee Candle vs Bath and Body Works: Who Makes Each?
Bath and Body Works also built its empire on affordable scented candles.
Unlike Yankee Candle, Bath and Body Works sources much of its lineup from a mix of domestic and overseas suppliers.
Yankee Candle instead centers its candle production on one American factory in Massachusetts, which makes its manufacturing footprint more concentrated than many competitors in the same category.
What Is Next for Yankee Candle?
Newell Brands has been through a rocky stretch recently.
The company closed an auxiliary distribution warehouse in South Deerfield in September 2024, laying off around 100 workers.
More recently, Newell announced plans to lay off roughly 900 employees worldwide and close about 20 Yankee Candle retail stores across the US and Canada.
Reporting from the Greenfield Recorder in December 2025 said these cuts will not affect the Whately factory or the South Deerfield Village complex.
That distinction matters. Corporate layoffs and store closures are happening, but the actual candle making operation in Massachusetts is continuing as before.
For more brand supply chain breakdowns like this one, see our guides on Pottery Barn Furniture and West Elm Furniture.
Frequently Asked Questions About Where Yankee Candle Is Made
Are Yankee Candles made in China?
The core candles are not made in China. They are produced at the Whately, Massachusetts factory.
Many accessories, including wax warmers and diffusers, are made in China.
So a candle jar and a plug in unit from the same brand can have completely different countries of origin.
How big is the Yankee Candle factory?
The Yankee Candle factory in Whately, Massachusetts spans roughly 300,000 square feet.
It produces an estimated 45 million candles annually, making it one of the largest single candle manufacturing sites in the country.
Who owns Yankee Candle now?
Newell Brands has owned Yankee Candle since 2016, following its merger with Jarden Corporation.
Jarden had originally purchased Yankee Candle in 2013, so the brand changed hands twice within a few years before landing with Newell.
Did the 2025 layoffs affect the Whately factory?
No. The Whately plant and the South Deerfield Village complex were not part of the 2025 and 2026 store closures and layoffs.
Those cuts targeted roughly 900 jobs worldwide and about 20 retail stores, but production in Massachusetts continued unaffected.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.