Yankee Candle CEO Adopts 10b5-1 Plan

The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. ("Yankee" or the
"Company") (NYSE:YCC), the leading designer, manufacturer, wholesaler
and retailer of premium scented candles, today announced that Craig W.
Rydin, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, adopted a
stock trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Plan"). The Plan is being
adopted as part of the diversification of Mr. Rydin's personal
portfolio and covers options to purchase 150,000 shares of the
Company's common stock previously granted to Mr. Rydin, which amount
constitutes approximately 23% of Mr. Rydin's total holdings of Company
common stock (including options, shares and performance shares
regardless of vesting schedules and excluding any future grants or
awards to be made to Mr. Rydin). The Plan contemplates that these
options will be exercised, and the resulting shares sold, over
approximately a one year period, with up to 12,500 shares being sold
on a monthly basis in one or more transactions. Under the terms of the
Plan, Mr. Rydin shall have no discretion or control over the timing or
effectuation of the sales.

   About Yankee Candle

   The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. is the leading designer,
manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer of premium scented candles in
the giftware industry. Yankee has a 35 year history of offering
distinctive products and marketing them as affordable luxuries and
consumable gifts. The Company sells its products through a North
American wholesale customer network of approximately 16,200 store
locations, a growing base of Company owned and operated retail stores
(359 located in 42 states as of July 2, 2005), direct mail catalogs,
its Internet website (www.yankeecandle.com), international
distributors and to a European wholesale customer network of
approximately 2,200 store locations (through its distribution center
located in Bristol, England).