Like chocolate, candles are universally loved, and just as nice in small portions as large (the tea light is a Hershey's Kiss, the votive a Godiva truffle). And, needless to say, there's always a desire for s'more.

"Candles are to adults what campfires are to kids," says Lyn Peterson, an interior decorator and a consultant to the National Candle Association, in Washington, D.C. "We cluster around them at a dinner party." Not even the most advanced dimmer switch can replicate the magical ambience of candlelight. Unscented white candles are staples that will work in any room any time of the year. We put more than 50 different ones to the test to find out which are the best buys and the (sorry) surefire winners.

Here are ideas for using tea lights, votives, tapers, and pillars — along with Real Simple's picks in each category.

Tea Lights

These little lights come in aluminum or plastic cups, so they're ready to burn straight out of the box or bag.
Where to Use: Refill candelabras and sconces with them, or line them up to illuminate a bookshelf or a windowsill. When birthday candles are nowhere to be found, substitute a few tea lights and place them on the dessert plate as a festive alternative.
RS Picks: Most tea lights burn for about four hours, so you'll be in the dark if celebrations continue late into the night. Northern Lights Candles tea lights outburned every other tea light we tested, flickering for a full seven hours.
To Buy: $12 for 50, www.northernlightscandle.com.

The tea lights from Restoration Hardware are worth the extra money. They're encased in see-through plastic holders that are an upgrade from the usual aluminum.

To Buy: $7 for 12, 888-243-9720.
Best Deal: Sometimes you want quantity over quality. Tag's warming candles are regular aluminum-cup tea lights that do a respectable job and burn for about four hours.
To Buy: $10 for 100, 773-697-6300.

Votives

These mini pillars last longer than tea lights, burning 8 to 12 hours on average. But they must be placed in containers, because an entire candle will liquefy if it burns long enough.

Where to Use: Place a few in the powder room when you're having a party or around your bathtub when you're taking a restorative soak. Line the mantel or the edge of the staircase with votive cups when you're having friends over on a Saturday night. Put a few on the coffee table to create a warm glow in the center of your living room.
RS Picks: Candlesavers by Carnevale are no-fuss votives that come in their own clear glass containers. They look especially brilliant grouped together on a mirror or a silver tray. You can't, however, purchase refills for the holders.
To Buy: $24 for 12, 800-548-9979 for store locations.
Best Deal: Not surprisingly, the candle-shop chain Illuminations offers a great bargain on votives. The stores also sell classic clear glass cups for burning votives that can be refilled over and over again.
To Buy: Votives, $11 for 36; glass cups, $1.50 each: www.illuminations.com.

Tapers

Tapers are the stately, slender candles popular for holiday celebrations and romantic dinners.
Where to Use: On dining-room tables and sideboards. Or on the mantel, where a row of tapers creates the aura of a toasty fire without the hassle of building one. Note: You don't have to trim the wicks on tapers — they will self-trim as they burn.
RS Pick and Best Deal: Better Than Beeswax 10-inch tapers are made with natural plant-based wax. They outperformed every other taper we tested. They didn't drip (as long as they were kept out of a draft) and stayed lit for seven hours. And at this price you can dine by candlelight every night of the week.
To Buy: $7 for six, the Companion Group, 800-521-0505 for store locations.

Pillars

With burn times in the double and triple digits, these freestanding columns stick around for a while.
Where to Use: Pillars should be placed on a heat-resistant surface, but instead of buying special candle stands, simply use things around the house: spare saucers, bread plates, even soup bowls. Pillars look especially dramatic when massed — cluster several of various heights on a tray or a platter to create a foolproof centerpiece for the buffet table. (Be sure each pillar is at least two inches away from any others.)
RS Picks: We tested pillars in the three most popular sizes: three by three, three by four, and three by six inches. Pillars made from soybean wax lasted about twice as long as those made from paraffin wax. Soy candles also burned cooler. The mild, sweet scent of soybean wax adds another layer of appeal to these candles, which are naturally cream colored.

Ephemera soy pillars have curved tops and emit a rich glow while burning.

To Buy: $16 for a three-by-four-inch pillar, $18 for a three-by-six, Portico, 212-941-7800.

Beans Wax soy pillars are worth the investment, since the tallest one can burn beautifully for more than 100 hours.
To Buy: $12 for a three-by-three, $16 for a three-by-six, www.beanswax.com for store locations.

Best Deal: Design Ideas pillars (two at right) stacked up as the best basic columns made of paraffin wax. An added bonus: The longer you burn them, the more they glow.
To Buy: $3 for a three-by-three, $4 for a three-by-four, $4.50 for a three-by-six, Cocoon, 800-842-4352.

Emergency Candles

Even if you have five flashlights, a blackout is less dreary when you use candles to light the way. Be prepared for any dark surprise — even a simple blown fuse — with a few long-burning candles.
Where to Use: Put a few of these jar candles in key spots when the lights go out.
RS Pick and Best Deal: Safety Central carries special paraffin wax candles intended for emergencies. Each eight-inch-tall candle can burn for five days straight (yes, you read that right) and comes in a glass container that keeps the wax hot for a longer burn time.
To Buy: $4 each, 707-472-0288.