Jessie Taylor
Candles are believed to have been invented by the Ancient Egyptians around 3000 BC. These early candles, called rushlights, were made by soaking the dried core of the rush plant in melted animal fat and used as torches or lights. The Romans are thought to have made the first wicked candles by dipping rolled papyrus repeatedly into melted tallow or beeswax. The use of moulds was a 14th-century development, and in the 19th century, large-scale industrial manufacturing techniques were introduced for the mass production of candles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Earliest use of candles | Attributed to Ancient Egyptians |
| Earliest known surviving candle | Found in the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty in China, dating back to 200 BC |
| Earliest candles | Made by soaking the dried pith or core of the rush plant in melted animal fat or grease |
| First wicked candles | Made by Romans by dipping rolled papyrus into melted beeswax or tallow |
| Candle production in the Middle Ages | Used beeswax and tallow |
| 18th century | Improvement in candle-making due to the growth of the whaling industry |
| 1820s | French chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul discovered stearic acid from animal fatty acids, leading to the development of stearin wax |
| 1834 | Inventor Joseph Morgan invented a machine for continuous production of moulded candles |
| 1850s | Chemists separated paraffin from petroleum and refined it into paraffin wax |
| 1980s | Candles became popular as decorative items and gifts |
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What You'll Learn
The Ancient Egyptians and their use of rushlights
The Ancient Egyptians are often credited with the earliest use of candles. They made rushlights or torches by soaking the pithy core of dried reeds, rush plants, or papyrus stems in melted animal fat or tallow. These rushlights lacked a wick, a key component of true candles. However, they were a significant innovation as they demonstrated that light could be contained and transported within houses and sites, and that fire could be harnessed.
Rushlights were an inexpensive and accessible source of illumination for all social classes. They were also safer than candles, commonly serving as nightlights. Their use was particularly advantageous in windy areas, where the steady flame was less prone to flickering and extinguishment. Rushlights were also more resilient to moisture, unlike beeswax or tallow candles, which could soften or melt in humid climates.
The Ancient Egyptians' use of rushlights inspired later civilisations to experiment with candle-making techniques. The Romans, for instance, created wicked candles by dipping rolled papyrus repeatedly in melted tallow or beeswax. The resulting candles were used for lighting homes, aiding travellers at night, and in religious ceremonies.
The evolution of the modern candle is attributed to the Romans' use of papyrus wicks coated in beeswax. Beeswax burned cleanly without producing a smoky flame and emitted a pleasant fragrance, in contrast to the foul odour of animal-based tallow. This innovation increased the expense of candles, making beeswax candles almost exclusively accessible to the upper classes and the Church in Europe.
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The Romans and the first wicked candles
The Romans are generally credited with developing the wicked candle before 3,000 B.C. They did this by dipping rolled papyrus repeatedly in melted tallow or beeswax. The candles were used to light their homes, to aid travellers at night, and in religious ceremonies. Tallow, a rendered form of beef or mutton fat, was cheap and easily available, so tallow candles were the most widely used type of candle for centuries.
The Romans weren't the only civilisation to develop wicked candles. Historians have found evidence that many other early societies also invented wicked candles using waxes made from local plants and insects. For example, early Chinese candles were moulded in paper tubes, using rolled rice paper for the wick, and wax from an indigenous insect that was combined with seeds. In Japan, candles were made of wax extracted from tree nuts, while in India, wax was made by boiling the fruit of the cinnamon tree.
In Europe, from the Roman period until the modern era, candles were primarily made from tallow and beeswax. Beeswax was introduced in the Middle Ages and burned pure and clean, without producing a smoky flame. It also emitted a pleasant sweet smell, unlike the foul odour of tallow. However, beeswax was more difficult to obtain, so beeswax candles were used almost exclusively by the upper classes and the Church.
The first "standard candles" were made from spermaceti wax, which was obtained by crystallising sperm whale oil. Spermaceti wax did not create a repugnant odour when burned, and it produced a significantly brighter light. It was also harder than tallow or beeswax, so it wouldn't soften or bend in the summer heat.
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The Chinese and their use of wax from insects and seeds
The Chinese are known to have used wax from insects and seeds in candle-making. Early Chinese candles were made by moulding paper tubes with rolled rice paper for the wick, and wax from indigenous insects combined with seeds. The wax from the insects was obtained from the secretions of certain insects on the branches of certain species of Ligustrum (privet) tree. The wax secretions are scraped off the branches and boiled in water to extract the raw wax. The wax is then remelted and poured into a deep pan, where it is allowed to cool and harden. This type of wax, known as Chinese wax, is a white to yellowish-white, gelatinous, crystalline water-insoluble substance. It is harder than spermaceti, with a higher melting point.
In addition to wax from insects, the Chinese also used beeswax to make candles, particularly during the Tang and Sung dynasties. They also used wax from plants, such as stillingia tallow from the Chinese tallow tree, which has a low melting point and is often combined with beeswax or Chinese wax. The Chinese may have started cultivating the tallow tree in the Yangtze Delta region as early as the 7th century. This type of wax was commonly used to make Buddhist ceremonial candles.
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The Indians and their use of wax from cinnamon trees
The use of candles dates back thousands of years, with the earliest use attributed to the Ancient Egyptians. However, the specific use of wax from cinnamon trees by Indians is a unique and intriguing chapter in the history of candle-making.
In India, the cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum verum) is native and holds cultural and economic significance. The process of making candle wax from cinnamon involved boiling the fruit of the cinnamon tree. This method was likely developed due to the accessibility of cinnamon trees in the region.
Cinnamon, derived from the inner bark of the Cinnamomum tree, has been a valuable commodity for centuries. Its fragrant aroma, warm sweet flavour, and medicinal properties made it sought-after in ancient civilisations. In India, cinnamon was not just a spice or medicine but also a key resource for candle-making.
The Indian subcontinent, particularly Sri Lanka, India, and Myanmar, was a hub for cinnamon production and trade. The Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company established cinnamon plantations and trading posts in these regions, recognising the spice's value. Wars were even fought between the British, Dutch, and Portuguese over control of cinnamon plantations, demonstrating its economic and strategic importance.
While the exact timeline of when Indians began using cinnamon wax for candles is unclear, it is known that candles played a significant role in early religious ceremonies across cultures. The use of cinnamon wax for temple candles in India would have added a unique fragrance and spiritual dimension to their rituals.
The use of wax from cinnamon trees by Indians showcases the innovation and resourcefulness of ancient cultures in utilising natural resources for lighting and ceremonial purposes. It also highlights the global nature of candle-making, with different civilisations adopting unique approaches based on their local resources and traditions.
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The use of whale fat in the 18th and 19th centuries
The use of whale fat for candles became prominent in the 18th and 19th centuries. The growth of the whaling industry in the 18th century led to the widespread use of spermaceti, an oil derived from the head cavities of sperm whales, for candle-making. Spermaceti was highly valued for its ability to produce a brighter light without an unpleasant odour, as well as its harder texture compared to tallow or beeswax, making it less susceptible to softening or bending in warm temperatures. The whaling industry in the 17th and 18th centuries was largely focused on harvesting and refining the contents of the head of the sperm whale, with the raw spermaceti being processed and sold as "winter-strained sperm oil".
The use of whale fat for candles continued into the 19th century, with the introduction of large-scale industrial manufacturing techniques for mass candle production. Spermaceti remained an important component of the American whaling industry's success in the early to mid-19th century. However, by 1800, cheaper alternatives like colza oil and rapeseed oil emerged, providing a clear and smokeless flame. Additionally, the discovery of stearin by French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul in the 1820s offered a hard, durable, and clean-burning alternative to whale-based waxes.
While whale fat played a significant role in candle-making during the 18th and 19th centuries, the introduction of new materials and technologies in the 19th century marked a shift towards alternative wax sources and large-scale production methods.
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Frequently asked questions
The earliest use of candles is often attributed to the Ancient Egyptians, who made rushlights or torches by soaking the pithy core of reeds in melted animal fat. However, these didn't have a wick. The Romans are generally credited with developing the first wicked candle by dipping rolled papyrus repeatedly in melted tallow (animal fat).
The first candles were made from reeds or papyrus, soaked in animal fat. The Romans also used beeswax, which was introduced as an alternative to tallow in the 1500s.
The Ancient Egyptians were using rushlights as early as 3,000 BC. The Romans developed wicked candles around 500 BC.
Candles have been used as a source of light, in religious ceremonies, and to illuminate celebrations for thousands of years. They were also used to aid travellers at night.
