Ben Carter
Candles have been used as a source of light and in celebrations and ceremonies for thousands of years. The earliest use of candles is often attributed to the Ancient Egyptians, who made rushlights by soaking the pithy core of reeds in melted animal fat. However, these rushlights did not have a wick. The Romans are generally credited with developing wicked candles, although evidence suggests that the ancient Japanese, Chinese, and Egyptians also used wicked candles. Candles were primarily made from tallow and beeswax in Europe from the Roman period until the modern era, when materials like spermaceti and paraffin wax were introduced.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Earliest use of candles | Attributed to the Ancient Egyptians, around 3000 B.C. |
| First wicked candles | Developed by the Romans, by dipping rolled papyrus in tallow or beeswax |
| First standard candles | Made from Spermaceti wax |
| First industrialized candles | 1834 |
| First paraffin wax candles | 1850s |
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What You'll Learn
Candles were first used over 5,000 years ago
Candles have been used as a source of light and to illuminate celebrations for more than 5,000 years, yet little is known about their origin. 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. While the Egyptians were using wicked candles in 3000 B.C., they lacked a wick and thus were not true candles. The Romans are generally credited with developing the wicked candle before that time by dipping rolled papyrus repeatedly in melted tallow or beeswax. The resulting candles were used to light their homes, to aid travellers at night, and in religious ceremonies.
The word "zhú" was used for "candle" during the Warring States period (403–221 BCE), and some excavated bronzewares from that era feature a pricket thought to hold a candle. In China, textual evidence suggests that candles may have been made from whale fat in the Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE). Chinese candles may be made from beeswax, or stillingia tallow from Chinese tallow trees, or Chinese wax derived from insects. In Japan, candles were made of wax extracted from trees. In India, candle wax was made by boiling the fruit of a cinnamon tree.
In the Middle Ages, which began around 500 A.D., candles took a turn for the better. Instead of using the acrid-smelling, animal-based tallow, there was a beeswax candle revolution. Beeswax burns much more cleanly, has a pleasant smell, and is almost smokeless. Beeswax candles were expensive though, and were most often found in churches and in the houses of the wealthy. In the 1500s, beeswax was introduced as an alternative to tallow in Europe. Beeswax candles burn brighter and longer with less smoke, and they smell better than tallow candles. However, beeswax was more difficult to obtain, which meant that beeswax candles were used almost exclusively by the upper classes and the Church.
In the 1800s, the growth of the whaling industry brought the first major change in candlemaking since the Middle Ages, when spermaceti — a wax obtained by crystallizing sperm whale oil — became available in quantity. In 1834, a molded candle production machine was invented, and candles could be mass-produced. This also made them cheaper. In the 1850s, chemists separated paraffin from petroleum and refined it into paraffin wax, which was odorless, clean-burning, and economical. However, it was also during the 19th century that the lightbulb was invented, and candle-making went into severe decline for more than 100 years.
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Ancient Egyptians made the first candles
The first use of candles is often attributed to the Ancient Egyptians, who are believed to have made and used them as early as 3000 B.C.
The Ancient Egyptians made rushlights or torches by soaking the pithy core of dried reeds or rushes in melted animal fat or grease. These early Egyptian candles did not have wicks, which are a defining feature of the candles we know today. However, they provided a contained source of light and were cheap to make, so they remained in use for centuries.
The ancient Romans are generally credited with developing the wicked candle before the Egyptians. They created candles by dipping rolled papyrus repeatedly in melted tallow (animal fat) or beeswax. These candles were used for lighting their homes, aiding travellers at night, and in religious ceremonies.
The Romans did not have a monopoly on candle-making, as historians have found evidence that many other early civilisations also invented wicked candles using waxes made from local plants and insects. For example, early Chinese candles were made by pouring wax from an indigenous insect combined with seeds into paper tubes with rolled rice paper wicks. In India, candle wax was made by boiling the fruit of the cinnamon tree, while in Japan, candles were made from wax extracted from tree nuts.
Candle-making techniques varied across Europe during the early periods. These techniques included dipping or drawing a wick in molten wax or tallow, shaping it by hand, or pouring wax or tallow onto a wick. Candles were primarily made from tallow and beeswax in Europe from the Roman period until the modern era. Beeswax candles were more expensive and less accessible, so tallow candles were the common household candle for Europeans.
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Romans developed wicked candles
The use of wicked candles is believed to have originated in Italy during the Etruscan period, with the earliest candlestick possibly dating back to the 7th century BC. The ancient Romans are credited with developing wicked candles before the Egyptians, who used them around 3000 BC. Romans created true dipped candles by repeatedly dipping rolled papyrus in melted tallow or beeswax. Tallow, a rendered animal fat, was easily accessible and affordable, making it the most common material for candles for centuries. On the other hand, beeswax candles were more expensive and typically limited to the wealthy.
Romans used candles for various purposes, including lighting their homes, aiding travellers at night, and in religious ceremonies. In Roman Italy, oil lamps were the primary source of illumination, but candles held cultural significance and were often exchanged as gifts during Saturnalia.
The production of candles in ancient Rome involved dipping or drawing wicks in molten fat or wax until the desired size was achieved. Another technique included building the candle by hand, which entailed rolling soft wax around a wick. The introduction of moulds for taper candles in the 14th century revolutionized the candle-making process.
The development of wicked candles by the Romans had a lasting impact on lighting and cultural practices. The use of candles in Christian churches gained importance due to their decorative, symbolic, and ceremonial values. Candles were documented as Easter candles in Spain and Italy in the 4th century, and the Christian festival Candlemas derives its name from the candle.
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Candles were made from plant materials and animal fat
The history of candle-making dates back to ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Rome, where candles were first crafted using animal fat and reeds. The Ancient Egyptians made rushlights or torches by soaking the pithy core of reeds in melted animal fat. However, these rushlights did not have wicks like true candles. The ancient Romans are generally credited with developing wicked candles by dipping rolled papyrus repeatedly in melted tallow or beeswax.
Candles of antiquity were made from various forms of natural fat, tallow, and wax. Tallow was rendered from animal fat, typically from beef or mutton. Tallow candles were the most widely used type of candle for centuries due to their low cost and easy availability. In contrast, beeswax candles were more expensive, and their use was often limited to the wealthy and religious ceremonies.
In China, textual evidence suggests that candles may have been made as early as the Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE). These early Chinese candles may have been made from whale fat, wax from plants like the Chinese tallow tree, or Chinese wax derived from insects. In Japan, candles were traditionally made from wax extracted from tree nuts, while Indian candles were made by boiling the fruit of the cinnamon tree.
Over time, candle-making techniques and materials evolved. In the Middle Ages, beeswax candles were introduced in Europe, offering a cleaner and less foul-smelling burn compared to tallow. In the 1500s, the whaling industry stimulated the development of spermaceti wax, derived from sperm whale oil. Spermaceti candles became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries due to their bright light, clean burn, and harder texture.
In the 19th century, significant advancements were made in candlemaking. French chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul discovered how to extract stearic acid from animal fatty acids, leading to the development of stearin wax. Stearin candles burned cleanly, were harder, and could burn brighter. The manufacture of candles became industrialized during this period, and new techniques, such as the use of moulds, improved production efficiency.
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Industrial manufacturing of candles began in the 19th century
The use of candles dates back thousands of years, with the Ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks all employing some form of candle or torch. However, the industrial manufacturing of candles is a much more recent development, beginning in the 19th century.
In the 19th century, large-scale industrial techniques were introduced for the mass production of candles. This revolutionised the candle-making process and transformed it into an industrialised mass market. One of the key innovations during this period was the introduction of moulds, which allowed for the efficient production of candles. Sieur de Brez of Paris is credited with introducing the technique of using a mould in the 15th century, but it was not until the 19th century that real improvements were made, enabling the mass production of candles.
Another significant development in the 19th century was the invention of a machine that allowed for the continuous production of moulded candles. In 1834, Joseph Morgan, a pewterer from Manchester, England, patented a machine that used a cylinder with a movable piston to eject candles as they solidified. This machine significantly increased the production rate, making candles more affordable and accessible to the general public.
During the 19th century, there was also a shift in the types of wax used for candle-making. Spermaceti, derived from sperm whale oil, became widely used in the 18th and 19th centuries, offering a brighter light and a harder texture compared to traditional tallow and beeswax. Additionally, the discovery of how to extract stearic acid from animal fatty acids led to the development of stearin wax, which burned cleanly and had a hard, durable texture.
The industrial manufacturing of candles in the 19th century brought about significant changes in the accessibility and affordability of candles. With the introduction of new machines and techniques, candles could be produced on a large scale, driving down costs and making them available to a wider range of people. However, with the arrival of alternative lighting sources, such as kerosene lamps and the incandescent light bulb in the late 19th century, the candle-making industry began to decline, and candles took on a more decorative and symbolic role.
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Frequently asked questions
The first candles were made around 3,000 to 5,000 years ago by the Ancient Egyptians. These were rushlights or torches made by soaking the dried pith or core of the rush plant in melted animal fat or grease.
The Ancient Romans are credited with developing the wicked candle around 3,000 B.C. by dipping rolled papyrus repeatedly in melted tallow or beeswax.
The first candles were made of wicks stuck into containers filled with flammable material, such as animal fat or tallow.
Candles were mass-produced starting in 1834 when a molded candle production machine was invented.
Today, candles are typically made of paraffin wax, which is made from coal, or stearin, which is derived from animal or vegetable fats.
