Tyler Brooks
Candles are an ancient invention, with the earliest known examples dating back to ancient civilisations. The Romans are often credited with creating the first wicked candle, but evidence suggests that the ancient Egyptians, Japanese and Chinese also used wicked candles. The first candles were made by dipping rolled papyrus in tallow or beeswax and were burned in homes, during travel, and in religious ceremonies. In the 19th century, several advancements were made in candle-making, including the discovery of stearic acid by French chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul, which led to the development of stearin wax. This was followed by the invention of a machine for mass-producing moulded candles by Joseph Morgan in 1834. Today, candles are primarily used for decorative, symbolic and aesthetic purposes, rather than as a source of light.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of invention | As early as 3,000 BC |
| First invented by | Egyptians |
| First type of candle | Rushlights made by dipping reed cores into animal fat |
| First wicked candle | Invented by Romans |
| Made from | Tallow, beeswax, spermaceti wax, colza oil, stearin, paraffin wax, stearic acid, etc. |
| Candle holders | Objects that could be candle holders have been found in Babylonian and middle Minoan cultures, as well as in the tomb of Tutankhamun |
| Industrial manufacturing | Introduced in the 19th century |
| Self-trimming wicks | Invented in 1825 by a French man M. Cambacérès |
| Largest candle manufacturer | Price's Candles, London |
| Decorative use | Candles began to be used as decorative items in the 20th century |
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What You'll Learn
The first candles
The exact origins of the candle are difficult to pinpoint, but historians have found evidence of candles in several ancient civilisations. Before the invention of candles, humans used open fires, torches, and oil lamps to provide light at night.
The ancient Egyptians were using wicks with torches or lights as early as 3,000 BC. They created these by dipping reed cores into animal fat. However, these rushlights didn't have a true candle wick.
The Romans are generally credited with developing the wicked candle before the Egyptians, by dipping rolled papyrus repeatedly in melted tallow or beeswax. However, evidence suggests that wicked candles may have been independently created in multiple ancient civilisations. For example, early Chinese candles were moulded in paper tubes, using rice paper for the wick, and wax from an indigenous insect. In Japan, candles were made from tree nut wax, and in India, cinnamon tree fruit was used.
In the Middle Ages, beeswax candles were introduced in Europe, providing a pure, clean-burning alternative to animal-based tallow. Beeswax candles emitted a sweet smell and were widely used in church ceremonies. However, due to their expense, they were typically only burned in the homes of the wealthy. Tallow candles, while cheaper, produced an acrid odour and a smoky flame.
The first "standard candles" were made from spermaceti wax, derived from the crystallisation of a substance found in sperm whale heads. Spermaceti wax burned cleanly, without an unpleasant odour, and produced a significantly brighter light than tallow or beeswax. It was also harder, so it wouldn't soften or bend in warm weather.
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Ancient civilisations and their candles
The history of candle-making dates back to ancient civilisations, when candles were the primary source of light for homes. They also played a significant role in cultural ceremonies and spiritual worship. While 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, objects that could be candle holders have also been found in Babylonian and middle Minoan cultures, as well as in the tomb of Tutankhamun.
The ancient Romans are generally credited with developing the wicked candle 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. Historians have found evidence that many other early civilisations developed wicked candles using waxes made from available 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, candle wax was made by boiling the fruit of the cinnamon tree.
In Christian churches, candles gained significance for their decorative, symbolic, and ceremonial uses. Wax candles, or candelae cereae recorded at the end of the 3rd century, were documented as Easter candles in Spain and Italy in the 4th century, and the Christian festival Candlemas was named after the candle. Beeswax candles were widely used for church ceremonies, but because they were expensive, few individuals other than the wealthy could afford to burn them in the home.
Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, trading disruptions made olive oil, the most common fuel for oil lamps, unavailable throughout much of Europe. Consequently, candles became more widely used. Candles were commonplace throughout Europe in the Middle Ages, and candle makers (known as chandlers) made candles from fats saved from the kitchen or sold their own candles from within their shops. Tallow, fat from cows or sheep, became the standard material used in candles in Europe. The unpleasant smell of tallow candles is due to the glycerine they contain. The smell of the manufacturing process was so unpleasant that it was banned by ordinance in several European cities.
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The Middle Ages
Beeswax was also used to make candles during the Middle Ages. Beeswax candles burned cleanly without a smoky flame and emitted a pleasant smell. However, beeswax candles were expensive to produce, requiring land and honey bees. As a result, beeswax candles were restricted to the wealthy, churches, and royal events. They were widely used in church ceremonies and appeared as luxury household items among the wealthy in the 16th century.
Candle-making became a guild craft in England and France by the 13th century, with French guilds documented as early as 1061. In London, the Tallow Chandlers Company was formed around 1300, and the Wax Chandlers Company existed before 1330. By 1415, tallow candles were used for street lighting.
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Industrialisation and mass production
The manufacture of candles became an industrialised mass market in the mid-19th century. In 1834, Joseph Morgan, an English pewterer, patented a machine that revolutionised candle-making. The machine allowed for the continuous production of moulded candles, using a cylinder with a moveable piston to eject candles as they solidified. This mechanised production method could produce about 1,500 candles per hour, making candles an affordable commodity for the masses.
Prior to this, in the 14th century, Sieur de Brez introduced the technique of using a mould to England. However, candles had a tendency to stick to the mould and break when removed. It was not until the 19th century that real improvements were made for the efficient production of candles in moulds.
In the 1820s, French chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul discovered how to extract stearic acid from animal fatty acids, leading to the development of stearin wax. This hard and durable wax burned cleanly and became a popular alternative to tallow candles, which produced an unpleasant smell due to the glycerine they contained.
In the mid-1850s, James Young succeeded in distilling paraffin wax from coal and oil shales. Paraffin could be used to make inexpensive candles of high quality, as it burned cleanly and left no unpleasant odour. By the end of the 19th century, most candles being manufactured consisted of paraffin and stearic acid.
By the late 19th century, Price's Candles, based in London, was the largest candle manufacturer in the world. The company traced its origins back to 1829, when William Wilson invested in 1,000 acres of coconut plantation in Sri Lanka, with the aim of making candles from coconut oil.
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Candles in the modern era
Candles have been used for centuries, but the materials used to make them have evolved over time. In the modern era, a variety of materials are used to make candles, including paraffin wax, stearin, and spermaceti wax.
Paraffin wax was introduced in the 1850s after chemists found a way to efficiently separate the naturally-occurring waxy substance from petroleum and refine it. It burns cleanly and consistently, and its discovery made candles more economical to produce. However, one drawback of paraffin wax is its low melting point. This issue was addressed by adding stearic acid, a hard and durable substance derived from animal fatty acids, which has a higher melting point. By the end of the 19th century, most candles were made from a combination of paraffin and stearic acid.
Stearin was discovered by French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul and patented in 1825. It is derived from animal fats but does not contain glycerine, which eliminates the unpleasant odour associated with tallow candles. Stearin candles burn cleanly and are hard and durable, making them ideal for candle-making. They remain popular in Europe today.
Spermaceti wax, derived from sperm whales, was also used in the 18th and 19th centuries to make candles. Like beeswax, it burned without producing a repugnant odour and produced a brighter light. It was also harder than tallow or beeswax, making it more resistant to heat. Spermaceti wax was used to make the first "standard candles".
In the modern era, the invention of new materials and mechanized production techniques revolutionized the candle industry. In 1834, Joseph Morgan invented a machine that allowed for the continuous production of moulded candles, significantly increasing the production rate and making candles more affordable for the general public. The development of these new materials and technologies transformed candle-making into an industrialized mass market in the mid-19th century.
While the advent of electric lighting, such as the light bulb in 1879, led to a decline in candle-making, candles are still produced and used today. They are often valued for their aesthetic appeal, scent, and atmospheric lighting. The modern candle typically burns at a steady rate of about 0.1 g/min, releasing heat at roughly 80 W and producing approximately 13 lumens of light.
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Frequently asked questions
The first candles were created by the Romans as early as 3,000 BC. They were made by repeatedly dipping rolled papyrus in tallow or beeswax and burned in homes, during travel, and in religious ceremonies.
Early candles were made from waxes derived from available plants and insects. For example, the ancient Chinese used wax from insects and seeds, the Japanese used wax extracted from tree nuts, and the Indians used wax from boiling cinnamon. In Europe, candles were primarily made from tallow and beeswax.
Candles became commonplace in Europe during the Middle Ages. They were mass-produced from 1834 onwards, thanks to Joseph Morgan's candle-making machine, and became affordable for the masses.
