Early Ages: History of Candles 

Not much is known about the origin of candles. Nevertheless candles have been used to light the way and comfort the soul as they illuminate our celebrations for more then 5000 years. 

Ancient Romans are usually recognized for developing the wicked candles before 3000 BC when Egyptians started using wicked candles. The candles were made from rolled papyrus that was repeatedly dipped in melted tallow.

The Egyptians used candles to light their homes, help the night travelers find their way and in religious ceremonies. 

Early Chinese molded candles in paper tubes. Rolled rice paper was used for the wick and wax was made from an insect combined with seeds. Japan extracted wax from tree nuts, while candle wax was made by boiling the fruit of the cinnamon tree in India. 

Middle Ages: History of Candles 

Beeswax candles were introduced in Europe in the middle ages. This was a vast improvement from the tallow wax candle. Beeswax burned pure without the smoky flame that animal tallow produced. The acrid odor that tallow wax had was replaced by a pleasant sweet smell when the beeswax was lit. Few people could afford to burn beeswax in their homes so beeswax was used mostly for church ceremonies. 

Candle making became a craft by the 13^th century in England and France. Chandlers, as candle makers were called, went from home to home making candles from kitchen fats saved for candle making. There were Chandlers that owned candle shops, from which they made and sold their own candles. 

Colonial Times: History of Candles 

America became involved in candle making when colonial women discovered boiling bayberries produced a sweet smelling wax that burned clean. Extracting the wax from the bayberries was very wearisome and bayberry candles soon diminished. 

The growth of the whaling industry in the late 18^th century brought the first major change in candle making since the middle ages. It was discovered when sperm whale oil was crystallized it became a wax called spermaceti wax. The spermaceti wax did not produce a foul odor when burned and made a brighter light. Another advantage of the spermaceti wax was it did not bend in summer heat as it was harder then tallow or beeswax. Spermaceti wax candles are noted as the first standard candles. 

19^th Century: History of Candles 

In the 1820s, Michel Eugene Chevreul discovered how to extract stearic acid from animal fatty acids. This discovery led the way to developing stearin wax. Stearin wax is hard, durable and burns cleanly. Stearin candles are still popular in Europe.

In 1834 inventor Joseph Morgan made a machine that permitted continuous production of molded candles. A cylinder with a movable piston would eject candles as they solidified with this machine. This machine made candles an affordable commodity for the masses. 

Paraffin was discovered in the 1850s when chemists learned how to efficiently separate the natural occurring waxy substance from petroleum and process it. Paraffin was great for the candle industry because it was more economical to make than any other candle wax, and it burns cleanly. The disadvantage was paraffin has a low melting point. It was soon discovered that by adding stearic acid, which had become widely available fixed the problem of the paraffin wax low melting point. 

In 1879 the light bulb was introduced and candle making began to decline. 

20^th Century: History of Candles 

The growth of U.S. oil and meat packing industries in the first half of the 20^th century brought with it a renewed popularity to candles, because of the increase in the by-products of the basic ingredients of candle paraffin and stearic acid. Candles became decorative items, mood setters and gifts in the mid 1980’s. Candles started to be available in a broad array of sizes, shapes and colors. The scented candle started to rise. 

An astonishing surge came about in the 1990’s as new types of candle waxes were being made and U.S. agricultural chemists began to develop soybean wax which is softer and lower burning then paraffin. And on the other side of the globe palm wax was being made. 

Candles are no longer man’s major source of light. I personally find more comfort in a candle then a flashlight when the power goes out. A candle still represents celebrations, characterizes romance and ceremonies, and soothes the senses and accent home decors.

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