Ben Carter
Candles have been traditionally made from various waxes, fats, and oils, many of which are derived from animals, insects, and plants. While candles today are typically made from soy or paraffin wax, there is a long history of candles being made from animal fat, including human fat. In ancient times, Romans made dipped candles from tallow (animal fat) and beeswax. Tallow candles were widely used for centuries due to their low cost and easy availability, while beeswax candles were more expensive and used primarily by the wealthy and the Church. In the Middle Ages, chandlers in Europe made candles from fats saved from the kitchen or sold their own candles made from tallow, which had an unpleasant smell due to the glycerine they contain. There are even mentions of candles made from whale fat in ancient China and speculations about worlds dedicated to producing wax and tallow in fictional universes like Warhammer 40k. Interestingly, in the 19th century, human fat from cemeteries was used to make candles in Paris, and there are fictional stories about candles made from babies being fed rich foods to increase their body fat.
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What You'll Learn
- Human fat candles are technically possible
- In the past, rumours circulated that Nazis made soap and candles from the bodies of concentration camp victims
- In the 19th century, large-scale industrial manufacturing techniques were introduced for mass candle production
- Romans made dipped candles from tallow and beeswax
- In the Warhammer40k universe, candles are made from psychers and criminals
Human fat candles are technically possible
In addition to soap, human fat has also been used to make candles. In Paris, the cemetery of the Innocents was found to contain bodies that had been converted into fat, or margaric acid. This substance was then used by soap boilers and tallow chandlers to manufacture soap and candles.
While the idea of using human fat for candles may seem gruesome, it is important to note that candles have historically been made from various forms of natural fat, including tallow and beeswax. Tallow, in particular, was widely used by the Romans and continued to be the most common type of candle for centuries due to its low cost and easy availability.
Today, there is still speculation about the potential use of human fat in candles. With the rise of liposuction, it is theoretically possible to use the extracted fat for candle-making. However, the practice has not gained widespread popularity, and human fat candles remain primarily a curiosity.
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In the past, rumours circulated that Nazis made soap and candles from the bodies of concentration camp victims
During World War II, Germany suffered from a shortage of fats, which led to the government control of soap production. The Nazis may have deliberately circulated these rumours to frighten camp inmates and taunt the Jews. While it is true that the Nazis did produce soap from human fat at the Stutthof Concentration Camp, it was only done on a small scale and experimentally. An assistant at the camp testified that the fat from about 40 people was used to make approximately 25kg of soap, and this soap was retained by the camp's commandant, Rudolf Spanner.
The idea that the Nazis made soap and candles from human fat has been a subject of debate and research by Holocaust historians and researchers. Some have argued that the connection between the Holocaust and "Danzig soap" is based on false rumours circulated during the war. Others have presented evidence at the Nuremberg trials, claiming that the Nazis produced soap and candles from human fat. However, the Yad Vashem Memorial and Professor Yehuda Bauer have concluded that soap was not manufactured from the bodies of Jews or other concentration camp inmates on an industrial scale.
The use of human fat for soap and candle production has a long history, dating back to the closure of the Holy Innocents' Cemetery in Paris in 1780. When the cemetery was exhumed in 1786, many bodies had incompletely decomposed and had reduced into deposits of fat. This human fat was collected and used by soap boilers and tallow chandlers to manufacture soap and candles. While the practice may seem repulsive to some, it is a reminder that even in civilized societies, there are aspects that can be as disturbing as the practices of savages if they are not rendered familiar.
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In the 19th century, large-scale industrial manufacturing techniques were introduced for mass candle production
The use of candles dates back millennia, with ancient civilizations relying on open fires, torches, and oil lamps to illuminate the night. Over time, candle-making evolved from a simple craft to a sophisticated industry, with the 19th century witnessing a significant transformation through large-scale industrial manufacturing techniques.
In the mid-19th century, candle-making underwent a revolution with the introduction of innovative machines. Joseph Morgan, a pewterer from Manchester, England, played a pivotal role in this transformation. In 1834, Morgan patented a machine that revolutionized candle production. This machine utilized a cylinder with a moveable piston, allowing for the continuous production of molded candles. With this invention, candle-making entered the realm of mass production, capable of producing about 1,500 candles per hour. This not only made candles more affordable for the general public but also improved accessibility.
The use of molds in candle-making, which gained popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries, was a significant advancement. These molds, often made of tin, enabled the creation of multiple candles simultaneously, ranging from one to 72 at a time. This innovation improved the efficiency and quality of candle production, making candles more accessible to a wider range of people.
During the 19th century, candle-making machines underwent further advancements, allowing for the production of thousands of candles per day. This led to a significant reduction in prices, making candles an affordable commodity for the masses. Additionally, stearic acid was added to waxes during this period, improving candle quality and burn time.
The mid-1850s witnessed another important development in candle-making with James Young's successful distillation of paraffin wax from coal and oil shales. This discovery led to the production of inexpensive, high-quality candles that burned cleanly without the unpleasant odor associated with tallow candles. By the end of the 19th century, candles were predominantly made from paraffin wax and stearic acid.
While the introduction of new lighting technologies, such as kerosene lamps and incandescent light bulbs, led to a decline in candle use, candles retained their symbolic significance and decorative appeal. In the 20th century, candles evolved into decorative items, available in various sizes, shapes, and colors. The consumer interest in scented candles and the development of new types of candle waxes, such as soy wax, further expanded the market.
Although the 19th century marked a significant shift towards large-scale industrial manufacturing, it is important to note that the use of candles made from fat, specifically baby fat, has been mentioned in literature and popular culture. While primarily fictional, these references contribute to the diverse and intriguing history of candle-making.
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Romans made dipped candles from tallow and beeswax
The Romans were the first to make dipped candles using tallow, a type of fat rendered from cows or sheep, and beeswax. Tallow was cheap and easily available, making tallow candles the most widely used type of candle for centuries. However, the manufacturing process produced an unpleasant smell due to the glycerine contained in the tallow, and it was banned by ordinance in several European cities.
In the 1500s, beeswax was introduced as an alternative to tallow. Beeswax candles burned brighter and longer with less smoke, and they emitted a sweet smell rather than the foul odour of tallow. However, beeswax was more difficult to obtain, and its use was mostly restricted to the upper classes, churches, and royal events due to its expense.
The use of moulds for taper candles was introduced in the 1400s by a French inventor, ending the practice of exclusively making candles by dipping. Other materials that have been used more recently for candle-making include spermaceti, a waxy material obtained from sperm whales, paraffin made from coal and oil shales, and bayberry wax, which is a residue from boiling large quantities of bayberries.
While there is no evidence that candles were made from baby fat, there are fictional references to candles made from human fat in popular culture, such as in the Warhammer 40k universe. In one example, an insanely rich and powerful family runs a "baby mill" where individuals are pampered and fed rich foods to fatten them up. Upon reaching adulthood, they are rendered into tallow for candles. In another example, a user speculates that criminals too weak to serve in a penal legion are kept alive to produce ear wax for the Imperium's candles.
In reality, there are historical accounts of candles being made from human fat. For instance, when the cemetery of the Innocents in Paris was relocated outside the city, it was discovered that the buried corpses had turned into fat. This human fat was used by soap boilers and tallow chandlers in Paris for the manufacture of soap and candles.
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In the Warhammer40k universe, candles are made from psychers and criminals
In the Warhammer 40k universe, candles are made from a variety of materials, including fat. While some have speculated that the fat used could be of animal origin, others have suggested that it is more likely to be human fat, given the lack of animal fat in this fictional universe. This is supported by references in several books from Black Library, which mention the fat of dead humans as a primary ingredient for candles.
One theory suggests that the Imperium utilizes the fat of psykers, who are sacrificed to keep the Emperor "alive," as a resource for candle-making. Additionally, it is speculated that criminal offenders who are too weak to serve in penal legions may be used to produce wax for the Imperium's candles, ensuring that no resource goes to waste.
The idea of candles made from human fat is not unique to Warhammer 40k. In the real world, there have been instances where candles were created from human corpses. For example, in Paris, the cemetery of the Innocents was found to contain bodies that had largely converted into fat, which was then used by soap boilers and tallow chandlers for candle-making.
While the use of human fat for candles may seem gruesome, it is important to note that the Warhammer 40k universe is known for its grim and dark themes. In this context, the utilization of psychers and criminals as resources for candle-making aligns with the setting's tone and narrative.
The practice of candle-making from human fat is also explored in the context of storytelling within the Warhammer 40k universe. One such story involves a powerful family that runs a baby mill, where individuals are indoctrinated from birth to believe they are chosen by the Emperor to serve. These individuals are fed rich foods and pampered until they reach huge proportions. On their 18th birthday, they are rendered into tallow for candles, marketed as the finest in the galaxy.
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Frequently asked questions
No, candles are not made from baby fat. However, historically, candles were made from animal fat, also known as tallow.
Nowadays, candles are commonly made from paraffin wax, beeswax, soy wax, palm oil, or plant-based waxes.
Animal fat was replaced by other waxes due to its unpleasant smell and the cruel process involved in making the candles.
