The Evolution of Candles

Accounts of candle use date back to ancient times, with biblical references as early as the 10th Century B.C. Many believe that the first candles were developed by the Ancient Egyptians, who used torches and rush lights, quite different than the traditional candle, as we know it. The look of our modern day" candle was actually developed by the Romans who were the first to use wicks, a cleaner and much safer alternative to the torch.

Tallow, fat rendered from cattle and sheep, was the most popular form of wax used to make candles and it wasn't until the Middle Ages that beeswax was introduced. An improvement over tallow, but so expensive that only the wealthy could afford to burn them. Colonial women, being inventive pioneers, made a huge contribution to candle making when they discovered that boiling bayberries produced a wax that burned cleaner and didn't emit the foul odor that previous forms of wax had. However, extracting the wax from the bayberries was extremely tedious and tiresome, so unfortunately it lost popularity much like its predecessor, beeswax.

The growth of commercial whaling in the late 18th Century brought with it the first significant change in candle making since the Middle Ages. It was discovered that crystallizing Sperm Whale oil made a superior wax that was available in large quantities. This wax was harder than both tallow and beeswax, so it burned longer and did not soften in the summer heat. Consequently the “standard candle” of the 18th Century was born, making all other waxes obsolete The candle has evolved through an amazing and diverse journey. Today, demand for soy-based and all-natural wax candles is definitely on the rise as consumers respond to studies showing that paraffin candles potentially harm the indoor environment.

People have always loved candles for the ambience they create, and now, at last, they are truly environmentally friendly.

It’s certainly a far cry from the rush torches of Ancient Egypt!