Where did candles come from? A brief history of candles in the world

Today we use candles apart from their original purpose. Candles create a perfect atmosphere at home, a beautiful scent and a cozy atmosphere. Candles were not always associated only with spending pleasant time with loved ones. In ancient times, candles illuminated long winter nights, they were an integral element used in religious ceremonies and often the only source of light that allowed ancient scholars to study books and develop our civilization.

Candles in ancient times

Mention of candles can be found as far back as 5,000 years ago, but there is little information that could indicate their original origin or who actually invented them. A common view of the origins of candle history is the ancient Egyptians' use of rush candles, called rushlights in English. These candles were created in a very simple way - by immersing the sticks in melted animal fat. However, they did not have wicks in the traditional sense of the word. The Egyptians used rushlights as early as 3000 B.C., but it was the ancient Romans who are credited with creating a candle in the traditional sense of the word by dipping rolled papyrus in dissolved tallow or beeswax. Candles were then widely used to illuminate homes, they were also used during religious ceremonies and provided assistance to travelers. The Greeks used candles, among others. in honor of the gods during religious celebrations.

Candles in different parts of the world

Different types of waxes were used in different regions of the world depending on available sources. In India, wax was made from the fruit of the cinnamon tree, while in Japan, wax was obtained from nuts. An interesting solution was found in China, where the wick was rolled rice paper, and the wax was... local insects mixed with grains pressed into a paper form.

Candles have also been widely used for religious ceremonies in various cultures. Burning candles have accompanied the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah since around 165 BC, there are also references to candles in the Bible, and they have also been permanently associated with the celebration of Easter since the 4th century AD.

Candles in the Middle Ages

Until the Middle Ages, candles made of tallow were widely used throughout Europe. The breakthrough was the introduction of beeswax candles to this continent, which was characterized by clean and even burning, without smoke and soot. A significant difference was also the pleasant, honey scent, as opposed to the pungent smell of tallow. Beeswax candles were widely introduced into churches, but due to their high price, only wealthy people could afford them. In medieval England and France, a craft guild of candle makers emerged. Candle makers went from house to house producing candles from the leftover tallow, and over time they also began to create their own factories and sell candles in their own stores.

Candles in modern times

In colonial times in the USA, the benefits of a plant called waxwort were discovered, from which candles were made for some time, but due to the extremely tedious and burdensome process of obtaining wax from the waxwort, candles made from this plant were quickly forgotten. In the 18th century, due to the development of whaling, a breakthrough occurred - a raw material called spermaceti, obtained from the head of a sperm whale, was used to create candles. This wax was more durable and thanks to it the first "modern" candles as we know them today were created. At that time, both spermaceti and beeswax were the only waxes that did not emit an unpleasant odor when burned, which was their great advantage.

Candles in the 19th century - the time of the industrial revolution

The 19th century was the age of the industrial revolution also in the candle industry. This was when most of the major events that influenced candle making as we know it today took place. The French chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul discovered in the 1820s how to extract stearic acid from fatty acids of animal origin. Thanks to his discovery, stearic wax was created, which is characterized by hardness, durability and cleanliness of burning. Stearine candles are still popular today. Importantly, thanks to the development of technology, stearin can now be obtained not only from fatty acids of animal but also plant origin, which makes such candles suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

In 1834, the inventor Joseph Morgan contributed to a huge increase in the dynamics of the development of the candle industry by developing a machine allowing for the continuous production of molded candles (so-called block candles) by using a cylinder with a movable piston used to "ejection" the candles as they cooled. Thanks to the introduction of machine production of candles, this product became available in mass production and became the object of desire of many social groups.

One of the brands that contributed to the popularization of candles in the 19th century was the Candle-lite Company. Thanks to the joint efforts of the owner Emery and Dr. Ernest Twitchell - a chemist, inventor and philanthropist, it was possible to create the so-called the "Twitchell process", which significantly increased the safety and perfection of contemporary candles. The crowning achievement of his achievements was the prestigious Perkins Award, which he received in 1917.

Paraffin, also called paraffin wax, was introduced to the candle industry in the 1850s when chemists discovered how to effectively separate a waxy substance found in crude oil. Thanks to new possibilities of using existing waste from the production of crude oil, the candle industry was able to create even cheaper candles. Due to the massive use of crude oil, there was so much waste that manufacturers could create increasingly cheaper paraffin-based candles.

With the introduction of the light bulb in 1879, candle production began to change. They were no longer needed to provide a light source.

Candles in the 20th century

Candles began to gain popularity again in the first half of the 20th century, and continued to grow steadily until the 1980s, when there was a new interest in candles and decorative items that helped create a cozy, homely atmosphere in an increasingly fast-paced world. Candles have also become a popular gift for any occasion. Thanks to this new interest, the range of sizes, shapes and colors has increased, and scented candles have appeared on a large scale, which we love to this day.

The 1990s saw an unprecedented surge in candle popularity, and for the first time in over a century, new types of candle waxes were developed. In the United States, agricultural chemists began developing soy wax, a softer and slower-burning wax than paraffin. It is also one of the types of natural waxes which, unlike paraffin, are not waste from the production of crude oil. The production of vegetable waxes, which are a renewable source, is much more beneficial and safe for the environment, hence the growing interest in natural candles. At the same time, other plant waxes also appeared, such as palm, coconut, rapeseed or hemp wax. The most popular in the 21st century are soy scented candles.

Candles currently

Candles have undergone a long evolution since their appearance. Although they are no longer used as a primary light source, they are still gaining in popularity around the world. one of the most popular are scented candles in a jar. Today, candles symbolize celebrations with loved ones, ignite the senses during evenings for two, and help you relax. Candles are also used to appropriately honor all ceremonies and allow you to accentuate the homely, cozy atmosphere by giving everything a warm and beautiful glow.