Ben Carter
The history of candle-making spans thousands of years, from ancient civilizations like Egypt and Rome, where candles were used for light and ceremonies, to today's decorative and scented options. The first candles were made by repeatedly dipping rolled papyrus in tallow or beeswax and were burned in homes, during travel, and in religious ceremonies. While the Romans are often credited with the creation of the candle, evidence suggests that the ancient Egyptians, Japanese, and Chinese also used wicked candles.
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What You'll Learn
Candles were made from plant materials and animal fat
Candles have been used as a source of light for thousands of years, with the earliest use attributed to the Ancient Egyptians, who made torches by soaking the pithy core of reeds in melted animal fat. Candles were also made from plant materials and animal fat in the olden days.
Animal Fat Candles
Animal fat, or tallow, was a common household candle ingredient for Europeans. Tallow was rendered from beef fat, and lard from pigs was also used. Deer fat and whale fat were other animal fats used for candle-making. To make tallow candles, the fat would be melted in a double boiler, or a DIY version of one, and then allowed to cool slightly. Wicks would then be dipped into the melted fat and lifted out slowly, creating dipped candles.
Plant Material Candles
In China, candles were made from wax extracted from tree nuts. In India, candle wax was made by boiling the fruit of the cinnamon tree. In Japan, wax was derived from the Japanese wax tree. In America, colonial women discovered that boiling the berries of bayberry bushes produced a sweet-smelling wax that burned cleanly. However, the process of extracting the wax was tedious, and so bayberry candles fell out of popularity.
Today, candles can be made from plant materials such as California bay laurel leaves, lavender, mint, rosemary, chamomile, and lemon verbena. To create a plant-scented candle, the plant material is infused in a carrier oil, strained, and then combined with wax and a wick to form a candle.
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The Ancient Romans dipped papyrus in animal fat
The use of candles can be traced back to ancient times, with various civilisations utilising different methods and materials to create these sources of light. One notable technique employed by the Ancient Romans involved dipping papyrus in animal fat, specifically a substance called tallow. This method of candle-making was a significant development in the history of illumination.
The Ancient Romans were known for their innovation in candle-making, creating what we would recognise today as true dipped candles. They achieved this by using papyrus, a thick form of paper, and repeatedly dipping it in molten tallow or beeswax. By doing so, they created candles that could be used for lighting their homes, aiding travellers at night, and even in religious ceremonies.
Tallow, the animal fat used by the Romans, was a readily available and inexpensive material. It was commonly sourced from kitchen fats, and chandlers, or candle makers, would go from house to house, transforming these fats into candles. This accessibility made tallow the primary material for candle-making in Europe for centuries.
However, tallow candles had their drawbacks. They produced a foul, acrid odour when burned, and the smoke they emitted was undesirable. As a result, when beeswax candles were introduced in Europe during the Middle Ages, they offered a significant improvement. Beeswax burned cleaner and emitted a pleasant, sweet fragrance.
The use of beeswax for candle-making by the Romans is also worth noting. Beeswax candles were more challenging to obtain and were typically reserved for the wealthy and religious ceremonies due to their higher cost. Nevertheless, they played a significant role in Roman culture, often given as gifts during Saturnalia.
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Beeswax candles were expensive and used by the wealthy
Beeswax was a byproduct of honey collection. It was collected after honey was extracted and purified by boiling it in seawater several times. Beeswax candles were introduced in Europe during the Middle Ages. Unlike tallow, which was made from animal fat, beeswax burned cleanly and emitted a sweet smell.
Beeswax candles were, however, expensive to produce. It took the work of thousands of bees to create enough wax for a single candle. As a result, beeswax candles were largely reserved for the wealthy, churches, and royalty. In the Middle East, beeswax was the dominant material used for candle-making, but these candles were costly, and most commoners used oil lamps instead.
In Europe, tallow candles were the common household candle. By the 13th century, candlemaking had become a guild craft in England and France. Candlemakers, or chandlers, would go from house to house, making candles from kitchen fats, or they would make and sell their own candles from small shops.
The ancient Romans are generally credited with developing wicked candles by dipping rolled papyrus repeatedly in melted tallow or beeswax. These candles were used to light homes, aid travellers, and in religious ceremonies. Beeswax candles were particularly favoured by the wealthy, who could afford them.
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Whaling industry changed candle-making in the 18th century
The use of candles dates back to ancient civilizations, with early candles made from various forms of natural fat, tallow, and wax. The Ancient Egyptians created some of the earliest candles around 3000 BCE, making torches by soaking reeds in melted animal fat. The Romans are generally credited with developing wicked candles by dipping rolled papyrus in melted tallow or beeswax. Beeswax candles, introduced in Europe during the Middle Ages, burned cleaner and emitted a pleasant smell, but they were expensive and inaccessible to most.
The whaling industry of the 18th century brought about a significant shift in candle-making. The growth of whaling made spermaceti, a wax derived from crystallizing sperm whale oil, readily available. Spermaceti candles offered several advantages over traditional tallow candles. They burned brighter and cleaner, with a more pleasant smell, and their harder texture made them slower to melt in warm temperatures. These qualities made them highly desirable for household and church use, driving up demand for spermaceti and leading to increased whaling activities.
The introduction of spermaceti also spurred innovations in candle-making techniques. The development of stearic wax, derived from animal fatty acids, resulted in harder and more durable candles that burned cleanly. The invention of candle-making machines in the 19th century further revolutionized the industry, allowing for mass production and lower prices. The emergence of paraffin wax in the 1850s, a byproduct of oil refining, made candles even more affordable and accessible to the general public.
The whaling industry's impact on candle-making extended beyond the introduction of spermaceti. It also influenced the development and adoption of new materials and techniques. The Industrial Revolution, coinciding with the growth of whaling, brought about the creation of stearin and paraffin wax. These new waxes largely replaced tallow and beeswax, further improving candle quality and performance.
In summary, the whaling industry of the 18th century transformed candle-making by introducing spermaceti as a prized material, driving innovations in candle-making techniques, and contributing to the development of new waxes that improved candle quality and accessibility. These changes marked a significant departure from the traditional use of tallow and beeswax, shaping the evolution of candle-making and lighting practices.
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Moulds were used in the 14th century
The use of moulds in candlemaking was introduced in the 14th century. This innovation allowed for the mass production of candles, revolutionising the industry and making candles more accessible to the general public. Before the introduction of moulds, candles were made by dipping wicks in melted wax or tallow, or by pouring wax or tallow over the wick. Moulds allowed for the creation of uniform candles in a variety of sizes and shapes, and some moulds could make multiple candles at once, boosting output and consistency.
The ancient Romans created dipped candles using tallow and beeswax, but they did not use moulds as we understand them today. The earliest use of true candles is often attributed to the Ancient Egyptians, who made wicked candles by repeatedly dipping rolled papyrus in melted tallow or beeswax. Other early civilisations, such as the Chinese, also developed candles made from various materials, including whale fat and seeds.
In the Middle Ages, candle moulds were made from metal or wooden containers, and craftsmen poured hot wax or tallow into these moulds to create candles. This method was much faster than the traditional hand-dipping technique and allowed for the creation of more complex candle shapes. The first candle moulds were introduced in Paris in the 15th century by Sieur de Brez, who brought the technique to England. However, candles tended to stick to the moulds and break when removed, so significant improvements were still needed.
It wasn't until the 19th century that large-scale industrial manufacturing techniques were introduced for the mass production of candles using moulds. By this time, candles were a common household item, and moulds made it easier to produce them in large quantities. The use of moulds in candlemaking has continued to evolve, with new technologies and materials transforming the craft into an industrial process that increases production and improves candle quality.
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Frequently asked questions
The ancient Romans are often credited with developing wicked candles by dipping rolled papyrus in molten tallow or beeswax. Beeswax candles were expensive and reserved for the wealthy, while tallow candles were the common household candles for Europeans. In China, textual evidence suggests that candles were made from whale fat, and in Japan, candles were made from wax extracted from tree nuts.
Candles in the olden days were produced using a number of methods. These include dipping or drawing a wick in molten wax or tallow, shaping it by hand by rolling soft wax around a wick, or pouring fat or wax onto a wick to build up the candle. The use of moulds was a 14th-century development.
Candles were the primary source of light for homes in ancient civilizations. They also played a significant role in cultural ceremonies and spiritual worship.
