While candles have been around for quite some time, scented candles are a relatively new addition. In the beginning, candles actually smelled terrible, so this is a positive, to say the least. There is a great deal of history behind the evolution of the candle, so read on for more information.
Candles were originally invented so people could see at night. These candles were made from tallow, which is simply animal fat, and there are records of them as far back as the tenth century BC, during Biblical times. These candles did not smell good at all and also create a lot of soot, but things have improved greatly since this time.
It was actually the Romans who invented the candles that we use today. They began by melting the animal fat down into a liquid form and then adding cotton, flax, or hemp to this liquid. This material acted as a wick, so that the actual animal fat would not have to be burned. These candles were still used for interior lighting, but there are also many stories about them being used in religious ceremonies as well.
As the Middle Ages hit, candles were being used increasingly for religious ceremonies. Around this time, it was found that beeswax actually worked better than animal fat, as it burned much cleaner. Beeswax, however, was difficult to come by, so these candles could be very expensive. As a result, only those in the upper class could afford these new candles, while the majority of society kept using tallow.
Early settlers in the Americas introduced a new way to make candles during colonial times, as they boiled down bayberry berries and turn them into wax. This also created a great smell as it was being burned, so it was popular. The only drawback was that it was a long process that some people would avoid. Since these new candles smelled so great, however, there was a definite market for them.
During the 18th century is when the whaling industry was going strong. Whale oil proved to be quite useful and luckily was plentiful. A spermaceti wax made from this oil started being used instead of tallow, bayberry wax, or beeswax. It was not pleasant smelling though but it was a harder wax and held its shape even during hot weather.
During the 19th century, machines were invented to help with the candle making process. This meant that many candles could be made at once, so it eliminated much of the work that went into them. It was discovered that tallow contained sterine or stearic acid, which could be created alternatively. This improved the quality of these candles significantly and it's very important to the candle's history.
The braided wick came into being around this time as well, as the twists of cotton that were used before needed too much attention. It was found that braiding the cotton allowed the wick to burn better, which meant that these candles could be left unattended for longer.
Today, it is possible to find both scented and unscented candles in nearly any shape or size. There are also many different scents to choose from, so your options are endless. These candles come in soy wax, paraffin, and gel, in addition to beeswax, so you can see that candles have evolved a great deal throughout history.
This post was penned by Romina Evans, a writer for an online decorating publication. She has been making candles as a hobby for over 20 years. She can create various kinds of candles made from paraffin, beeswax, soy etc. Two of her favorites are woodwick candles and glow candles because they are able to create a soothing atmosphere once lit. Read more about candles, visit our site!
