There is nothing more romantic than a candlelit dinner party. Whether it is an event for two or two hundred, candle light helps set the mood and ambiance of the party. It also helps soften the surroundings and relax guests. So why do some people make major candle mistakes? Not intentionally, of course, but since candle etiquette is not a well-known art, people don't realize that they may be offending guests, creating fire hazards, or even not using the candle light to its full potential. Here are a few tips to help you avoid such mistakes.

Scented Candles - No doubt, scented candles are popular, not only for gift giving, but for home decor as well. It seems like every retailer that sells candles promotes different scents designed to elicit certain moods and reactions. Although aromatherapy is wonderful when you are trying to relax, it isn't the best thing to incorporate into a party. For example, although you may love the scent of lavender, others may not find it very appealing. Simply put, scents and attraction to them is a very personal thing... so consider not imposing your favorite scents on your guests. Another major mistake is mixing many different candles' scents... sensory overload! I'm a huge fan of unscented candles; I give them as gifts and use them at all my events.

If you have candles set up on your buffet and/or dinner table, check to see that they are unscented or very lightly scented. The scented candles can not only interfere with the wonderful aroma of the delicious meal you prepared, but can also confuse guests. For instance, having a vanilla candle burning near a buffet filled with meats and starches strikes an incongruous chord. If you have a votive by each place-setting, also consider making these candles unscented. I once attended a beautiful wedding where each guest had a small votive burning by their plate; it looked fabulous, but the votive was heavily scented with strawberries. Within half an hour I had a pretty serious headache -- and I wasn't the only one at our table that felt this way.

Candle Lighting As A Focal Point - Creating drama with candles as centerpieces is incredibly powerful. A beautiful cascade arrangement can light up the table while keeping the surroundings darker, promoting a sense of privacy conducive to conversation. If you are considering using candle light as your main lighting strategy and you are having your event photographed, make sure that the photographer is aware that you are planning a candlelit event. Professional photographers can accommodate almost any type of lighting, but it's important to play it safe and let them know your plans in advance. If you are taking your own photographs, plan on some "safe zones": places which are well lit and perfect for picture-taking.

Safe Use Of Candles - We all hate to think about it, but there are some serious risks to using fire as a decorative element. Although the design of a candle can help alleviate problems, none are foolproof. Keep a few of these safety tips in mind when working with candles:

• How does the candle burn? Does it burn within itself or does it drip down the outside? Candles that drip can ruin many surfaces, so having a container, stand, or other vessel is a smart approach. If you will be enclosing your candle in a hurricane lamp or any other enclosure, test-burn the candle ahead of time for at least one hour to check for scorching or soot deposits. If there are many black stains, this probably indicates that your candle is too big for the container or that the candle is not in placed inside it properly. Carefully touch the container to see how hot it is. Check for melting or warping... if you find any, discard the container or use it for something other than holding a burning candle.
• Before an event that will require a lot of candle light, check all smoke detectors. Leaving your candles unattended is always a risk. For example, leaving a candle burning in the restroom the entire evening can be very beautiful and can help guests find the restroom without keeping all the lights on, but placing it near draperies or on shelves with low clearance can lead to accidents.
• Safety is always an important element when working with candles, but as long as you look at all your options, assess all the risks, and plan in advance, your candlelit event will not only be successful, but stunning as well!