Ben Carter
Candles in the 1700s were made from beeswax, tallow (animal fat), or spermaceti (a wax derived from sperm whale oil). While candles were a common source of light, they were not cheap. The price of candles fluctuated over time, but wax and whale oil were consistently expensive. Even cheaper alternatives like tallow candles were occasionally used by the upper classes to keep costs down, although these were less desirable due to their foul smell. Beeswax candles, widely used for church ceremonies, were also costly, and only the wealthy could afford to burn them at home. Spermaceti candles, which burned longer, cleaner, and brighter, were the most expensive due to the dangers of harvesting and lengthy production time. While candles were not priced out of range for the working class, hearth fires were the primary source of lighting in most homes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost of candles in the 1700s | Priced within range for a charwoman, but the very poor would not have been able to afford them. |
| Wax and whale oil were expensive for consistent use. | |
| Tallow candles were the common household candle for Europeans. | |
| Beeswax candles were widely used for church ceremonies, but they were expensive, so only the wealthy could afford them. | |
| Spermaceti candles were quite expensive due to the perils of harvesting and lengthy production. | |
| Candles were considered affordable enough to be used as everyday lighting. |
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What You'll Learn
Beeswax candles were expensive and used in churches and by the wealthy
In the 1700s, candles were a source of light and heat, and their use varied according to social class and availability. Beeswax candles, in particular, were highly regarded due to their pleasant scent and clean burn. However, they were relatively expensive compared to other types of candles, which limited their use primarily to churches and wealthy individuals.
Beeswax candles have a long history, dating back to ancient times. The ancient Romans, for example, created candles by dipping rolled papyrus in melted beeswax. During the Middle Ages, beeswax candles were extensively used by the clergy. Their preference for beeswax was due to its sweet smell and pure, clean burn, in contrast to the smoky flame and foul odour produced by animal-based tallow candles.
In the 1700s, the expense of beeswax candles meant that they were generally out of reach for most people. Tallow candles, made from rendered animal fat, were more affordable and widely used by Europeans as household candles. Candlemakers, or chandlers, would go from house to house, creating tallow candles from kitchen fats, or they would make and sell their own candles from small shops.
Despite the higher cost, beeswax candles remained the preferred choice for churches and the wealthy. This was due to their superior qualities, including a brighter light and lack of repugnant odour. The growth of the whaling industry in the late 18th century introduced spermaceti, a wax derived from sperm whale oil, as another option for brighter and less odorous candles. However, the labour-intensive process of harvesting and producing spermaceti candles kept their cost high, and they never became widely accessible.
The high expense of candles in general meant that even the wealthy had to consider their usage carefully. For example, it was considered a sign of Louis XIV's wealth that used candles were never relit. Instead, hearth fires served as the primary source of lighting for most homes, even those of the upper classes.
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Spermaceti candles were expensive due to harvesting and production costs
In the 1700s, candles were considered a source of light for the wealthy. While tallow candles, made from rendered animal fat, were the cheapest option, they were still too expensive for the very poor. Wax candles, on the other hand, were priced out of range for most people.
Spermaceti candles, in particular, were expensive due to their harvesting and production costs. Spermaceti is a waxy substance found in the head cavities of sperm whales. The process of obtaining this substance was challenging and time-consuming. Sperm whales could dive deeper and hold their breath longer than any other marine animal, making them difficult to hunt. The whaling industry responded to the high demand for spermaceti wax by sending ships to remote locations in search of these whales, which had devastating consequences for their populations.
The process of making spermaceti candles was also laborious. In the fall, the harvested spermaceti and oil were heated in large copper kettles. The liquefied mixture was then drained into casks and stored during winter, where the cold temperatures turned it into a semi-solid mass. This semi-solid mass was then placed in woolen sacks and pressed to separate the oil from the wax. The oil was sold as valuable sperm oil, while the remaining wax was boiled again with an alkali to remove any unwanted colour, resulting in pure white wax. This wax was then moulded into the desired candle shape.
The materials for making spermaceti candles were also rare compared to tallow or beeswax candles, further contributing to their high cost. Spermaceti candles were considered a luxury item and were often marketed as such, with advertisements highlighting their superior qualities, such as their bright and steady flame, minimal smoke, and odourlessness.
The high demand for spermaceti candles and the challenges associated with their production led to the formation of the world's first energy cartel, "The United Company of Spermaceti Chandlers," also known as the Spermaceti Trust, in 1761. This group of candle manufacturers attempted to control the market by setting maximum prices and allotments for head matter, but they struggled with internal trust issues and failed to stifle new competitors.
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Tallow candles were the most common household candle
Candles in the 1700s were made from a variety of materials, including beeswax, bayberry, and animal tallow. While the price of candles is hard to determine, it is believed that they were not out of range for most people, even those on a lower budget. However, the very poor likely could not afford them.
Tallow candles, made from rendered animal fat, were the most common household candle for Europeans. They had been used since ancient times, with evidence of their use by the Romans and Egyptians. By the 13th century, candlemaking had become a guild craft in England and France, with chandlers going door-to-door to make candles from kitchen fats. Tallow candles were also the most common candle in Colonial America, where candle merchants were scarce and expensive.
Tallow candles were cheaper than those made from beeswax, which burned cleanly and emitted a pleasant smell. Beeswax candles were therefore mostly used by the wealthy and for church ceremonies. The development of spermaceti candles from crystallized sperm whale oil in the late 18th century brought about the first major change in candlemaking since the Middle Ages. Spermaceti candles burned longer, cleaner, and brighter, with little odor, but they were quite expensive due to the dangers of harvesting and the lengthy production process. Despite the cost, demand remained high throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, but spermaceti never replaced tallow candles in popular use.
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Whale oil was costly
Beeswax candles were widely used for church ceremonies, but their reduced quantities made them too expensive for most individuals to burn in their homes. In contrast, the cheaper tallow candles, made from rendered animal fat, were the most common household candle for Europeans. These candles were also used by the upper classes when they wanted to keep expenses down, although tallow candles were less desirable due to their foul smell.
The cost of whale oil candles was driven up by the perils faced by whalers when harvesting the product, as well as the lengthy production process, which could take years from the time the whale was killed. Despite the high cost, demand for whale oil candles remained high throughout the 18th century and well into the 19th.
While the very poor may not have been able to afford candles at all, even cheaper alternatives like tallow candles, oil lamps, or rush lights were still occasionally used by the upper classes to keep down expenses, indicating that candle lighting was costly even for the wealthy.
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Candles were not priced out of range for a charwoman
Candles in the 1700s were made from various materials, including tallow (animal fat), beeswax, and spermaceti (a wax obtained from sperm whale oil). While the price of candles fluctuated over time, they were generally not priced out of range for a charwoman.
Beeswax and spermaceti candles were considered superior to tallow candles due to their clean burn, bright light, and lack of repugnant odor. However, they were more expensive and less accessible. Tallow candles, on the other hand, were the common household candle for Europeans. They were cheaper and more widely used, even by the upper classes on occasion, despite the foul smell.
The price of spermaceti candles remained high due to the perils of harvesting sperm whale oil and the lengthy production process. Despite this, demand for these candles remained high throughout the 18th century, indicating that they were still affordable for a significant portion of the population.
While the very poor may not have been able to afford candles, they were accessible to those above the lowest rungs of society. For example, James Gib, Master of Household to Prince Charles Edward Stuart during the 1745 Jacobite Rising, purchased candles multiple times during the campaign, indicating that candles were affordable for those with some level of financial means.
In conclusion, while candles in the 1700s may have been out of reach for the very poorest individuals, they were generally affordable for those above the lowest socioeconomic levels, including charwomen. The type of candle one could afford would vary, with tallow being the most affordable and widely used, and beeswax and spermaceti being more expensive and reserved for those with greater financial means.
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Frequently asked questions
Candles in the 1700s were priced such that even a charwoman could afford them, though the very poor would not have been able to. The price of candles fluctuated over time, but wax and whale oil were consistently expensive.
Candles made from tallow (animal fat) were the most common type of candle in the 1700s. They were inexpensive and widely used by Europeans. Beeswax candles were also available, but they were more expensive and less common due to reduced quantities. Candles made from bayberry bushes were also introduced by colonial women in America.
Hearth fires were the primary source of lighting in homes during the 1700s, as candles were too expensive to use consistently. Rush lights and oil lamps were also used occasionally, even by the upper classes, as they were cheaper than candles and produced less odour.
Candles made from beeswax and spermaceti (a wax obtained from sperm whale oil) were more expensive than tallow candles due to reduced quantities and the lengthy production process. Spermaceti candles, in particular, were in high demand in the 1700s due to their bright light, clean burn, and pleasant odour, but they were dangerous and expensive to harvest.
