The dynamic procedure is applied to the problem of modeling the subgrid-scale variance and dissipation rate of a conserved scalar in large eddy simulations of turbulent reacting flows. A simple scaling relation for the subgrid-scale variance is proposed, and the coefficient of the scaling law is obtained using the dynamic procedure. The variance dissipation rate is modeled by assuming equilibrium with the local variance production rate, which is obtained using a dynamic model. Example model predictions are obtained using actual large eddy simulation data, and the subgrid variance predicted by the dynamic model is compared to results obtained using a scale similarity model. Generalization of the approach to multiple scalars and nonconserved scalars is briefly discussed. ©1998 American Institute of Physics.