The Best Candy Heart Sayings from the Past 120 Years

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America has been in love with candy conversation hearts since 1902, and over 120 Valentine’s Days later, we’re still professing our love with the whimsical candies. Officially known as Sweethearts, candy conversation hearts were originally manufactured by the New England Confectionery Co. (better known as Necco) as part of an assortment containing horseshoe-, baseball-, postcard-, and watch-shaped candies. Though the rest of the line was eventually dropped, gifting candy hearts became a classic Valentine’s Day idea.

Sweethearts have been made using the same simple recipe for well over a century, but they saw a major change in 2018, when Necco abruptly went out of business. Fortunately, the brand was saved by the Spangler Candy Co., and after a two-year hiatus, candy conversation hearts returned to store shelves in 2020, a bright spot in an all-around tough year. The vintage candies are once again the go-to Valentine’s Day gift of elementary school children, guys looking for a little add-on to those Valentine’s Day flowers, and anyone who appreciates a crunchy little sweet complete with terms of endearment.

In keeping with tradition, Spangler’s core collection of Sweethearts features classic candy heart sayings from years past. The company also releases new candy heart sayings every year, each based on a central theme. Read on for the best candy heart sayings from years past. You might love them so much you’ll be tempted to add them to your printable or homemade Valentine’s cards.

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2022: Words of Encouragement

• WAY 2 GO
• CRUSH IT
• PROUD OF U
• DON’T QUIT
• GOOD JOB
• PUSH THRU
• BE YOU
• FEAR LESS
• CHIN UP
• YOUDA BEST
• GO 4 IT
• SUPER STAR
• U GOT THIS
• GO TIME
• HIGH FIVE
• BIG FAN

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2021: Love Songs

• 1000 YEARS
• 10000 HRS
• ADORE YOU
• ALL OF ME
• ALLMY LIFE
• AT LAST
• BABY LOVE
• CRAZY NLUV
• HAPPY 2GTHR
• IGOTU BABE
• I’LLBE THERE
• I’M YOURS
• LEAN ONME
• ONLY YOU
• LOVE SHAK
• LUVME TENDR
• MY GIRL
• PER FECT
• STILL THE 1
• SUGAR SUGAR
• SUMMR LOVIN

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2020: Classic Throwback

• ♥ OF GOLD
• 3 WISHES
• ALL MINE
• ANGEL
• ASK ME
• CHARM ME
• CLOUD 9
• CRAZY 4 U
• CUP CAKE
• DEAR HEART
• GOT CHA
• HEART THROB
• HOLD HANDS
• HUG ME
• I ♥ U
• ME + YOU
• MY BOO
• ONLY YOU
• PUGS & KITTENS
• PUPPY LOVE
• QT PIE
• SO SWEET
• SWEET TALK
• UR MINE
• UR SWEET
• WIN ME
• YOU FLIRT

If you’re a fan of tracking candy heart sayings through the decades, you may be saddened to know that when Necco went out of business, it took some history with it. The candy heart sayings released each year from 2010 to 2019 are lost to time, but you can enjoy the following oldies, beginning with some romantic restaurant–inspired phrases.

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2009: A Menu of Love

• RECIPE 4 LOVE
• TABLE 4 TWO
• STIR MY HEART
• MY TREAT
• TOP CHEF
• SUGAR PIE
• SWEET LOVE
• HONEY BUN
• SPICE IT UP
• YUM YUM

2008: Love’s in the Forecast

• MELT MY ♥
• IN A FOG
• CHILL OUT
• CLOUD NINE
• HEAT WAVE
• SUN SHINE
• GET MY DRIFT
• WILD LIFE
• NATURE LOVER
• DO GOOD

2007: Animal Attraction

• COOL CAT
• PUPPY LOVE
• TAKE A WALK
• MY PET
• BEAR HUG
• TOP DOG
• URA TIGER
• GO FISH
• LOVE BIRD
• PURR FECT

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2006: Home and Family

• HOUSE PARTY
• HOME RUN
• CALL HOME
• SWEET HOME
• GO HOME
• HOME SOON
• HOME SICK

2005: The Game of Love

• #1 FAN
• DREAM TEAM
• FIT FOR LOVE
• LOVE LIFE
• BE A SPORT
• LOVE MY TEAM
• CHEER ME ON
• BE MY HERO
• HEART OF GOLD
• ALL-STAR

2004: Happily Ever After

• 3 WISHES
• EVER AFTER
• NEW YOU
• MAGIC
• NEW LOVE
• DREAM
• CHARM ME
• START NOW
• IM ME
• I LOVE YOU

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2003: Love Lessons

• WRITE ME
• CLASS ACT
• WHIZ KID
• WISE UP
• TEACH ME
• LOVE LETTER
• PEN PAL
• BOOK CLUB
• SCHOOL MATE
• LET’S READ

2002: Fashion Forward

• LOOK GOOD
• IN STYLE
• VOGUE
• TRES CHIC
• DRESS UP
• DIVA
• WHAT’S UP
• URA QT
• THAT SMILE
• TWO HEARTS

2001: Limitless Love

• LOVE 2001
• ODYSSEY
• MOON BEAM
• UR A STAR
• VENUS
• STAR DUST
• RISING STAR
• YOU & ME
• TOO SWEET
• THANK YOU

2000: Celebrating the Millennium

• AMORE
• ROMEO
• ANGEL
• SWING TIME
• IN THE MOOD
• MUCH ADO
• 2000 HUGS
• 2000 KISSES
• GOT LOVE
• GIRL POWER
• TIME OUT
• PEACE SIGN

1999: Now and Then

• YOU ROCK
• LET’S DO LUNCH
• I WONDER
• 1-800 CUPID
• AS IF
• LOVE ME TENDER
• MY WAY
• I GOT U BABE
• LET IT BE
• WALK ON BY

For more classic conversation heart sayings that ran between 1902 and 2022, browse the lists below. You’ll find phrases to send your pals to say happy Valentine’s Day or happy Galentine’s Day, silly ways to sign a funny Valentine’s Day card, and bite-size sayings that are a bit more casual than an intimate love quote.

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Core Candy Heart Sayings

• BESTIE
• CUTIE PIE
• GIGGLE
• MY HERO
• SOUL MATE
• SWEET PEA
• UR CUTE
• UR KIND
• YOU + ME
• BE MINE
• CRUSH ON U
• DATE NIGHT
• FLIRT
• PICK ME
• HONEY PIE
• I DO
• I LUV YOU
• KISS ME
• LOVE BIRDS
• LOVE BUG
• MARRY ME
• OOO LA LA
• TRUE LOVE
• WINK WINK
• XOXO

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Candy heart sayings from the past 120 years

• BOOGIE
• COOL DUDE
• DREAM BIG
• GOOD TIMES
• HOLLA
• HOT CHA
• HOT DAWG
• LET’S RIDE
• LOVER BOY
• MY, SUCH EYES
• OH YOU KID
• ON FLEEK
• PLAY TIME
• SAUCY BOY
• TELL ME HOW
• UR HOT

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Our favorite candy heart sayings of the past 120 years

• 1 4 3
• FIRST KISS
• HEY YOU
• HOT STUFF
• JUST DANCE
• JE T’AIME
• JUST ONE
• LAUGH
• LET’S KISS
• NEW LOVE
• YOU SHINE

Candy heart sayings for best friends

• BFF
• CHICKS RULE
• DRAMA QUEEN
• FRIEND ME
• GO GIRL
• IT GIRL
• MY GIRLZ
• MY PAL
• MY TEAM
• U GO GIRL

Candy heart sayings for tech lovers

• CALL ME
• EMAIL ME
• FAX ME
• PAGE ME
• TWEET ME
• TEXT ME
• TXT ME
• TWEET
• WEB SITE

Now that you’ve found the perfect conversation heart sayings, use them in one of these Instagram captions for couples.

Sources:

• Ashley Worrall, brand manager of Spangler Candy
• Spangler Candy: “Sweethearts are the sweetest way to celebrate Valentine’s Day”
• Necco: “History”