Incense comes in many different fragrances, the most popular being nag champa, sandalwood, patchouli and rose. There are also a wide range of floral and citrus scents available and even incense versions of popular commercial perfumes. The distinctive aroma of incense is produced by a mixture of woods, resins, flowers, spices and essential oil that produce a strong fragrance when burned.

Incense can be bought either in stick or cone form, or as a powder which must usually be burned in combination with charcoal as it will not stay lit on its own. Usually it is burned in a special incense burner which catches the falling ash and protects furniture and other surfaces from being burned.

Incense comes in many different qualities with the higher quality versions usually burning for longer and having a stronger scent but also being more expensive. Most incense is made in India where it is exported for use all over the world.

You can buy incense for your home from a range of different stores including health food stores, alternative clothing stores, candle and scented oil suppliers and even supermarkets. It is also very easy to buy online from a number of specialist websites where you can choose a variety of different fragrances to try out or buy in bulk for a better price. Incense does not usually have an expiry date but should be kept in a cool dry place and you must be careful not to allow it to become damp.

Scented candles can add a perfect touch to change the mood of a party or a special evening. They really add depth and enjoyment to any event. For all a candle offers, it really is a great value for a reasonable price.

For example, consider having a luau theme party with pineapple, coconut or plumeria blossom scents mixing with the smell of the roast pork.

At a Christmas get together, try candle scents of traditional bayberry, cranberry orange, or pine and spruce.

For and intimate evening for two you might select roses, or something a little spicier like jasmine and ginger.

Candles have moved into our outdoor rooms too, and are a perfect touch for outdoor living and entertaining.

In addition to hundreds of available scents, the candles themselves and holders for scented candles can go a very long way to create a room’s mood, with diffuse lighting effects. Consider glass candle holders in soft warm pinks, golds and reds for a romantic look. Blues, turquoise and greens are relaxing.

If mood lighting isn’t what you’re looking for, holders for large, single, all evening candles in pewter, silver or brass, can make lovely visual accents at a more formal gathering.

When it comes to gift giving, from elaborate to casual, scented candles and holders are perfect. They are one thing that no one can have too many of and the choices are so vast, you’ll find something for anyone and any occasion. A couple of small, fruity, flowery, votive size candles may be perfect for your child’s teacher at Christmas or at the end of the school year.

They say scents have a way of triggering memories. A large, long burning scented candle in a keepsake candle holder, like marble, jade, onyx or silver will be cherished long after the first candle is gone and can be a memory maker forever.

The good news for all of us is that nowadays you can easily purchase fantastic scented candles online.

Votive candle holders are inexpensive and plentiful, so coming up with a good supply of them should be easy to do. Clear votive holders can be mixed and matched with gel that is colored for different decorating ideas. A liquid candle dye is typically used to maintain the translucency of the candle. With a clear votive holder and a translucent candle embeds can be used to further decorate each individual candle.

Wicking is very important on a clear gel votive candle. Since the candle is see-through it is necessary that the wicks stand straight and perpendicular to the bottom of the holder. Quality and craftsmanship can be tested by how precise the wicks are inserted in the candle. A straight wick gives a more aesthetic and pleasing candle.

Fragrance can also be added to the candles and if you are making your own candles, the number of different fragrances to use is only limited by your resources and willingness to experiment. Perhaps a more cautious approach would be to order some of the candles in a fragrance you think you would like and then if you are feeling crafty to try and duplicate your favorite ones.

Candles are still around and even though electric lighting is ubiquitous and it’s easier to just “flick a switch” to get light, the warmth and mood that a candle projects just can’t be beat.

You can choose to get more task or spot lighting as well from your fixtures, but these will be things more like a recessed lighting fixture or something more exotic like a chandelier.  We’ll talk about these in a moment.  For now, let’s stick with the indirect lighting ideas.  Another less appreciated wall lighting idea is to use something like these tea light holders that you have probably seen.  They come in a wide variety of styles that can suite most any type of interior design that you have.  Most home decor features have one theme that is carried throughout a space.  With tea lights, you can get just the right amount of twinkle from the flame and just let the rest of your home’s decorative features do your design ‘dirty work’ for you.

Now, about the other types of lighting.  We’ve talked briefly about the overhead lighting that you might find in a typical home.  The recessed or ‘can lights’ as they are often called serve a good type of flood light.  This type of light is best for illuminating large areas without wanting to have one main fixture hanging from the ceiling.  They are certainly less esthetically pleasing, but they are definitely functional.  If you want something much more decorative, then you might consider a chandelier.  A chandelier makes a great accent piece and can also provide both functional light as well as ambiance for your space.

Floating candles are available to buy is many different shapes and even more colors, so you’ll need to have a think about what the best type is for your needs. Cheaper wholesale floating candles can be bought in a multi-pack box for less than $4; but if you want something lavish you can buy intense colors and shapes, such as rose petals and other flowers. These can cost up to $10 for a pack of just a few.

You can also buy scented candles. However, if you do this, here’s a word of warning: Only buy these to display where people won’t be eating. If you’re serving food at a wedding reception, the smell of the candle can ruin the taste of the food if it’s too strong.

The next step is choosing a suitable container for the candles. It’s of course always best to pick a better quality container, but always remember that you’ll be replicating the centrepieces for all your tables, so if the bowls are too good a quality, the cost can mount up quickly. One candle can look good floated in a small dish with a stem. Or, for several floating candles, it’s sometimes nice to place just one large bowl at the centre of the table.

And finally you’ll just need to decorate the centrepiece by choosing a base. Mirrored or metallic bases can be really great, especially if you’re using colored water. If you are coloring the water, try for a contrasting color, such as blue water with red candles.