The Illuminating History Of Candles
Since Prehistoric man’s discovery of fire, humans have experimented with many ways of using it. Although no definitive date or culture is given full credit for the first candles, many believe that the Egyptian’s of Ancient Egypt created the first types. These were called torches or rush lights in those days and were made with a reed pithy core made with soaking them in animal fats. In these early times no known use of a wick was discovered.
The first use of a wick in a candle is credited to the Romans of the Roman Empire. They used hemp or flax to form these wicks then melted animal fats until they were liquefied and poured on the wicks to soak them. The Romans now had the use of artificial light wherever they needed it. Most were used within homes and celebrations as well as ceremonies and religious rites.
A drawback from the use of the animal fats in these were that they gave off a horrendous smell and created much smoke when being burned. Cultures in early India were known to use the wax off cinnamon boiling to make the first type of tapered candle. These also had a slight cinnamon scent to them. They used these to light their temples during religious ceremonies.
During the Chinese Tang Dynasty beeswax became a use in candle making. It burned much cleaner and little odor except for a slight sweet aroma. In the Middle Ages beeswax became a favorite of all candle makers. Since it was not an easy item to acquire the price on candles made from this was high and much prized.
Within North America in the 1st Century AD fish called candle-fish by the Native Americans were burned because of their oily natures for light. Bark from a tree called the Cerio was boiled by missionaries settling in the United States Southwest territories to us in candle making by wax extraction from this bark once boiled.
In Colonial times many of the women folk used the Bayberry bush gray green berries to create a new way of candle making. They boiled these berries and wax was extracted and then used to make the candles. These had a sweet smelling Bayberry aroma to them as well. In 1834 known as the Industrial Age candle making got its start in mass production thanks to Joseph Morgan.
Mr. Morgan invented a machine which used pistons and a cylinder to eject the candle while it was in a mold solidifying. The invention within 1850 of paraffin wax was another great step in candle making. This wax came by being processed from residue which crude petroleum refinements left behind. These made candles more affordable and easy to access to the lower and middle classes.
Then we come to the 20th Century were candles were a necessity in households and businesses alike. That is until 1859 and the grand invention of the electric light bulb which changed lives all over the world. Today we use candles for an assortment of things from holidays, decor in our homes, celebrations and more.