Young, an in-home childcare provider, stumbled upon her love for different scents - and a career opportunity - because of a gift from one of the children she watches.

For Christmas in 2006, Young said she received four candles from the children, but the one she lit in February of the next year changed her life.

"I had it in the kitchen by the trashcan, and - being in childcare - you know what is in my trashcan," she joked. "But everyone who came in my house said, 'What are you baking?' I thought 'wow.'"

She inspected the candle and discovered For Every Body made it.

"I looked everywhere on the Internet to find where I could purchase more of the candles, but they were only available through the Internet at Target," she said. "So I contacted the company."

Young bought several of the candles directly from the business, and received a phone call from the company in 2007. They were starting a home-based business, For Every Home, and wanted to know if Young wanted in on the ground floor.

"I thought for a little while and said yes," she said. "It is the best product I have ever found."

In October 2007, Young flew to Utah, where the business was started by Becky Anderson and learned how candles were made.

"We started out with just 20 consultants, now I have six beneath me all over the U.S.," she said.

This month, the inaugural issue of "Celebrating Women" magazine features the For Every Home business, and Young is recognized as one of the company's founding consultants. The business now has more than 300 consultants across the country.

Young said appearing in the magazine was special, but the women she works with through the company - who were also profiled in the magazine - are what make her home business so successful.

"I've met all of the women profiled, and they are all neat. We have a support system; we have conference calls every Tuesday and Thursday," she said. "I've been to (Anderson's) home. You know they are wonderful people.

"Last year I lost a granddaughter and it was a very difficult situation. I received flowers and e-mails from all over country; everyone was so concerned about us."

For Every Home offers candles and other accessories through several outlets, Young said. The most popular way is in home parties, but she also has "parties in a bag," where miniature samples are given out and the hostess collects the orders without an in-home experience.

Young also said For Every Home is used for fundraisers.

"I am currently doing a fundraiser for a dance company in Omaha. They are raising money for the dance team to go a competition," she said.

There are also e-parties over the Internet and individual sales.

Young said she thinks the candles are popular because of the unique toppings and designs.

"You open up the lid on an apple scented candle and you see the apple there," she said. "Or a spiced candle and you see the spices on top. They are very unique and decorative. They are just appealing, and people love it."

But what she loves most about the candles is how they can change her mood or surroundings.

"We just redid our son's bedroom; we took the time to take down four layers of old wallpaper and rented equipment; it was an expensive adventure," she said. "But I have found I can rearrange a room or I can change the atmosphere by adding an accent piece or a candle. It shows you can take something inexpensive and change the atmosphere in a house."

- Have or know of a job you'd like to see profiled in the Nonpareil? Contact staff writer Chad Nation at 325-5738.