Jessie Taylor
Candles have been used as a source of light and in celebrations for thousands of years, with the earliest use often attributed to the Ancient Egyptians. However, it was the Romans who are thought to have made the first wicked candles, and candle-making techniques spread to many other early civilisations. The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century brought major changes to candle-making, with the invention of stearin candles and the introduction of paraffin wax, which was odourless, burned longer, and was more affordable than beeswax or spermaceti. This period also saw candles become integral to the growing middle class, used for both lighting and decoration. However, with the invention of the lightbulb in 1879, candle-making went into decline. It wasn't until the 1980s that candles began to experience a resurgence in popularity, this time as decorative items, mood-setters, and gifts, with a range of sizes, shapes, colours, and scents available.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Candles went out of fashion | When oil lamps and lightbulbs were invented |
| Candles came back into fashion | In the 1980s as decorations, gifts, mood-setters |
| and in the 1990s with new types of wax | |
| Ancient candles were made from | Plant materials dipped in animal fat |
| Tallow | |
| Beeswax | |
| Spermaceti | |
| Stearin | |
| Colza oil | |
| Rapeseed oil | |
| Cinnamon wax | |
| Japan wax | |
| Paraffin wax |
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What You'll Learn
The invention of the lightbulb
For centuries, candles were the primary source of indoor lighting for people around the world. They were made from various materials, including tallow, beeswax, plant materials, and animal fats. However, in the 19th century, the invention of the lightbulb revolutionized lighting and marked a decline in candle-making.
The development of the lightbulb can be attributed to the work of multiple inventors over several decades. In the early 19th century, Humphry Davy created the 'electric arc lamp' using the voltaic pile, a rudimentary lamp that burned out too quickly. Subsequently, in 1835 and 1840, James Bowman Lindsay and Warren de la Rue expanded on this idea and created a closer resemblance to the modern lightbulb. Lindsay's bulb used copper filament, while de la Rue's used coiled platinum filament.
In the late 1870s, Joseph Swan, a Sunderland-born chemist, created the first successful incandescent filament electric lamp. He gave public demonstrations of his invention in late 1878 and early 1879. Swan's design used carbonised cotton thread, which produced superior results in light longevity.
Around the same time, Thomas Edison was also working on improving the lightbulb. Edison experimented with the work of previous inventors and discovered the optimal mixture of thin carbon filament design and vacuum pump technology. In 1879, he patented and commercialized the world's first practical incandescent lightbulb. Edison's lightbulb used a small glass globe with a carbonized filament of sewing thread and just the right amount of vacuum, powered by a low electric current. It burned for more than 12 hours before the filament burned out.
Edison's contribution to electric lighting was significant as he did not stop at improving the bulb. He developed a suite of inventions that made the use of light bulbs practical. Edison demonstrated that electricity could be distributed from a centrally located generator through a series of wires and tubes. Additionally, he focused on improving electricity generation, developing the first commercial power utility, and invented the first electric meter to track electricity usage.
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The use of whale oil in the 18th century
Whale oil was obtained by boiling strips of blubber harvested from whales. This process was known as "flensing" and the boiling process was called "trying out". Whale oil was a valuable commodity, frequently stolen by staff for their own use or to sell outside the gardens. In the 18th century, the growth of the whaling industry meant that spermaceti, an oil that comes from a cavity in the head of the sperm whale, became a widely used substance for candle-making. The wax was made by crystallizing the oil, and it was the first candle substance to be available in mass quantities.
In the 1740s, 5,000 street lamps in London burned whale oil. Vauxhall Gardens was also lit with whale oil lamps, requiring huge quantities of the substance. Whale oil was used for lamps because it burned brighter and with less smoke than alternatives, although it did have a strong, fishy smell. Whale oil was also used to make soap and, in the 19th and 20th centuries, to make margarine.
Between 1768 and 1772, whale oil accounted for 53% of all sterling earned by direct exports to Great Britain from the northern colonies. Its importance as a valuable commodity was obvious, and the trade attracted some of the greatest merchants of 18th-century Massachusetts. By 1750, stocks of whales close to shore had thinned out, so voyages to more distant grounds were necessary to obtain whale oil. The trade was almost a century old at this point, with whalers catching the whales, merchants purchasing the oil, and then shipping it to the English market.
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The Industrial Revolution
The use of candles as a source of light and in celebrations dates back to the Ancient Egyptians, who made rushlights by soaking the pithy core of reeds in melted animal fat. However, these did not have wicks like true candles. The Ancient Romans are credited with developing 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.
Candles remained a significant form of indoor lighting until the invention of other light sources. The growth of the whaling industry in the 18th century brought the first major change in candlemaking since the Middle Ages, when spermaceti, a wax obtained by crystallizing sperm whale oil, became available in large quantities. Spermaceti did not produce a foul odour when burned, and it produced a significantly brighter light than tallow or beeswax. It was also harder and would not soften or bend in the summer heat.
The 19th century saw the most significant developments in candlemaking. In the 1820s, French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul discovered how to extract stearic acid from animal fatty acids, leading to the development of stearin wax, which burned cleanly and was hard and durable. In 1834, a moulded candle production machine was invented, allowing candles to be mass-produced and more affordable. In the 1850s, paraffin wax was introduced after chemists learned to separate it from petroleum. This wax was odourless, clean-burning, and economical.
However, with the invention of the lightbulb in 1879, candle-making went into severe decline for over a century. Candles became largely non-essential for illumination, but they continued to be used for functional, symbolic, and aesthetic purposes, especially in cultural and religious settings. It was not until the 1980s that candles regained popularity as decorations, mood-setters, and gifts, with various sizes, shapes, colours, and scents becoming available.
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The ancient origins of candles
The use of candles dates back thousands of years, with the earliest known use attributed to the Ancient Egyptians. However, the candles of this period, known as rushlights, lacked a wick and were made by soaking the dried pith or core of the rush plant in animal fat or grease. These rushlights provided a cheap source of light for the poor and were in use for centuries.
The Ancient Romans are generally credited with the invention of the wicked candle, which they made by dipping rolled papyrus into melted tallow or beeswax. The resulting candles were longer-lasting and of better quality than the Egyptian rushlights. The Romans also used candles in their religious ceremonies, a practice that continues in many cultures today.
Other ancient civilisations also invented their own versions of wicked candles, using materials available to them. For example, the Chinese moulded candles in paper tubes with wicks made from rolled rice paper, while the Indians used wax from the fruit of the cinnamon tree. In Japan, candle wax was derived from tree nuts, and in Alaska and Canada, tribes used dried eulachon fish as candles.
In Europe, candle-making techniques involved dipping or drawing a wick in molten wax or tallow, shaping it by hand, or pouring wax or tallow over the wick. Beeswax candles, introduced in Europe during the Middle Ages, burned cleanly without the smoky flame produced by animal-based tallow. They also emitted a pleasant smell, unlike the foul odour of tallow.
The 18th century and 19th century saw significant changes in candle-making, with the introduction of spermaceti, a wax derived from sperm whales, and the development of stearin, a hard, clean wax extracted from animal fatty acids by French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul in the 1820s. The invention of the lightbulb in the late 19th century led to a decline in candle-making, but the increased availability of paraffin and stearic acid byproducts in the 20th century revived the industry. The 1980s saw a renewed interest in candles as decorative items and gifts, with a variety of sizes, shapes, colours, and scents available.
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The revival of candles in the 1980s
Candles have been used for over two millennia, serving as a significant source of indoor lighting until the invention of other light sources. The 19th century marked a revolution in candle-making, with the discovery of stearic acid leading to the development of stearin, an affordable and clean-burning wax. However, the invention of the lightbulb in the same century caused a sharp decline in candle usage.
In the first half of the 20th century, the popularity of candles rebounded due to the increased availability of paraffin and stearic acid, byproducts of the thriving US oil and meatpacking industries. This trend continued into the 1980s, when candles underwent a significant transformation from utilitarian objects to decorative and gift items.
During the 1980s, the candle industry experienced rapid growth as candles became increasingly popular as decorations and gifts. This shift marked a departure from the traditional use of candles solely for illumination or religious ceremonies. The candles of the 1980s showcased a diverse range of sizes, shapes, colours, and scents, appealing to consumers' desire for customisation and aesthetic enhancement.
The availability of scented candles, in particular, marked a notable development during this period. Fragranced candles offered a dual purpose, providing both light and an appealing aroma, enhancing the ambiance of any space. This innovation captivated consumers, leading to a surge in the exploration and creation of diverse fragrances. The introduction of scented candles added a new dimension to the candle-buying experience, allowing consumers to choose candles that not only provided light but also created a specific atmosphere or evoked particular emotions.
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Frequently asked questions
Candles have been used for over two millennia and were a significant source of indoor lighting until the invention of the lightbulb in 1879. With the introduction of electric light, candle-making went into severe decline for over a century. However, candles never completely went out of fashion. They continued to be used for functional, symbolic, and aesthetic purposes, as well as in specific cultural and religious settings. In the 1980s, the trend of using candles as decorations and gifts took off, with candles of different sizes, shapes, colours, and scents becoming available.
Before the 1980s, candles were primarily made from tallow, beeswax, spermaceti, purified animal fats (stearin), and paraffin wax. Tallow candles were cheaper but less aesthetically pleasing, with a smoky flame and foul odour. Beeswax candles, on the other hand, burned pure and clean, emitting a pleasant sweet smell. Spermaceti, a byproduct of the whaling industry, was widely used in the 18th and 19th centuries as it did not produce a repugnant odour, burned brighter, and was harder than tallow or beeswax. The discovery of paraffin wax in the 1850s revolutionized candle-making as it was odourless, burned cleanly and consistently, and was more economical.
The renewed popularity of candles in the 1980s can be attributed to their use as decorative items, mood-setters, and gifts. The availability of candles in different sizes, shapes, colours, and scents appealed to consumers who wanted to enhance their living spaces and create a cozy and romantic ambiance. The growth of the oil and meatpacking industries in the first half of the 20th century also contributed to the increased availability of candle-making ingredients, making candles more accessible and affordable.
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