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TEN FOR TODAY Roth says that first-time buyers typically buy smaller candles, which cost less but still offer high quality. "After three or four months, we find the customer base shifts to some of our larger candles," he says. "We have one candle that retails for $19.95 that will burn for 120 hours. The long-lasting candles become our best sellers because they're so economical on a per-hour basis." 7. LEFTOVER WAX It's one thing if you're a Girl Scout trying to earn a merit badge. If so, then by all means, round up all the leftover candles you can find and melt the wax to create a homemade gift for your mother. She'll love it. But otherwise, recycling candles rarely produces satisfactory results. "It's just not practical," says Roth, who acknowledges that he, too, made homemade candles as a child. "You'll be confronted with an unknown wax composition. Here, we have carefully controlled composition of our wax. We do a lot of testing of our candles to make sure they burn properly." 8. CANDLE CARE BASICS Like anything made of wax, candles don't tolerate heat well. "You don't want them sitting in the hot sun," Weitzel says. Be wary of placing burning candles too close together, for the same reason. The heat from one might melt the other. Keep burning candles at least three inches apart. While the candles themselves don't require much maintenance, candle drips are another matter. Drippings can be removed from most candleholders by running hot water over them. Be sure to keep the water running to ensure the wax runs through the pipes. An alternative is to pop the holder in the freezer for about an hour. The cold connect with your colleagues on massageprofessionals.com 79 wax contracts and pops off easily when it comes out of the freezer. 9. CANDLE SAFETY Candles can be dangerous. The U.S. Fire Administration estimates there are an average of 17,400 home candle fires each year, resulting in more than 1,500 injuries and almost 200 deaths annually. More than half of all candle fires start when something flammable is left too close to a candle. To avoid a serious accident, follow some basic rules: • Never leave burning candles unattended. • Put them in sturdy holders that can't be easily knocked over, and place them on stable, heat-resistant surfaces. • Never burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire. • Trim wicks to a quarter-inch in length each time before burning. • Keep burning candles away from drafts, vents, ceiling fans, and air currents. 10. HIGH-TECH OPTIONS One way to avoid the undeniable dangers candles pose is to go with flameless candles, which have become deceptively beautiful in recent years. "Candles have charm and everybody knows that," says Sam Marcos, general manager of www. batteryoperatedcandles.net, which markets a variety of flameless candles. "The trick was to make something that could run on a battery with the same characteristics as a real candle, the same charm and ambience. That didn't happen overnight, and it still varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, but nowadays, the nicest candles are so realistic, if you put them on your dinner table people don't know. They'll pick them up and try to blow them out." As with traditional candles, price is the best indicator of quality. "You want a candle that flickers correctly," Marcos says. "Early on, a lot of these battery- operated candles, you'd think they were blinking out Morse Code. Getting that flicker right didn't come easily." Small flameless candles can be had for as little as $10. Nicer ones run $15–$25. The newest addition: remote- control candles and candles on timers. "That allows you to place candles in places it might not be easy to get to, in little high-up nooks and crannies," Marcos says. based freelance writer. Contact her at killarneyrose@comcast.net. Rebecca Jones is a Denver-