Yankee Candle Creates Love is Love Collection for Pride Month

The Yankee Candle Company has created a limited-edition fragrance, Love is Love, to raise awareness of global nonprofit Rainbow Railroad's mission to provide pathways to safety for LGBTQIA+ people at risk in their home countries. Launching this month, Love is Love celebrates love in all its forms, with a unique and harmonious blend of fragrance notes including sweet fruits, inspiring florals and warm woods, according to Yankee Candle, which is part of Newell Brands (ranked No. 26 in Happi's 2021 Top 50 Report).

Yankee Candle will be donating $100,000 to Rainbow Railroad to support its work helping LGBTQIA+ individuals facing state-enabled persecution find safety worldwide.

Since its founding in 2006, Rainbow Railroad has helped more than 3,000 LGBTQI+ people find safety through emergency relocation and other forms of assistance. In 2021, Rainbow Railroad responded to more than 7,000 requests for help—the highest number received in a year—and successfully relocated individuals to over 20 countries including the UK, Germany, France, Canada and the US.

“We're proud to be supporting Rainbow Railroad's important cause. Together, we can not only work to eliminate discrimination and hate, but we can also champion acceptance and impact change, not just throughout Pride month, but the whole year,” said Lisa McCarthy, President of the Home Fragrance Business Unit, Newell Brands. “The work that Rainbow Railroad does truly ties into our core corporate values of Truth, Transparency, Teamwork and Trust, and the crucial role each value plays in helping individuals find their way to safety.”

Kimahli Powell, executive director at Rainbow Railroad, added: “Our work with Yankee Candle will not only aid in raising global awareness of what we do, but it will also raise vital funding that will specifically provide direct livelihood support for many at-risk LGBTQIA+ people, keeping them safe whilst they wait to be evacuated. The donation will help individuals in severe circumstances start new lives of freedom and safety. We are proud and grateful to be working with Yankee Candle on this exciting new partnership.”

The limited-edition fragrance was designed by a global employee initiative at Yankee Candle and will be available in two different 3-wick candle designs. Celebrate Pride with a Pride 3-Wick Candle and Tote Bag for $30.00 at Yankee Candle retail stores, or a single 3-Wick Candle for $26.50 at YankeeCandle.com and select retailers in May.

Yankee Candle's parent company, Newell Brands, was named a 2022 Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign. Yankee Candle is a venerable player in the home fragrance category.