Wiktor Wise
Before the invention of electricity, candles were a primary source of light, with the earliest evidence of candle-making dating back to 5000 BC. Candles were made by mixing tallow (animal fat) with wax and moulding it into a candle shape. The first candleholders were made from horns, shells, wood, or stone. Candles were used for religious purposes, reading and writing, and lighting homes during the winter months. They were also used for long journeys at night through forests or over oceans. However, candles produced by burning tallow created noxious smoke and attracted pests. As a result, candles made from beeswax were considered superior but were expensive and mostly used by the wealthy. The streets of pre-19th-century cities were often dark and dangerous, and travellers would hire link boys carrying torches of rope or twisted rags to light their way.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Earliest evidence of candle-making | 5000 BC |
| Candle ingredients | Tallow (animal fat), wax, beeswax, palm oil, bayberry wax |
| First candleholders | Made from horns, shells, wood, or stone |
| Use cases | Religious purposes, reading and writing, lighting during long journeys |
| Candle alternatives | Gas lighting, oil lamps, rushlights |
| Candle maintenance | Required trimming every 10 minutes (wax) or 40 times an hour (tallow) |
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What You'll Learn
The invention of the lightbulb
Before the invention of the lightbulb, candles were the primary source of light. The earliest evidence of candle-making dates back to 5000 BC, with candles being made by mixing tallow (animal fat) with wax and moulding it into a candle shape. The first candle holders were made from horns, shells, wood, or stone. Candles were used for religious purposes, reading and writing, and lighting homes during the winter months.
The invention of the incandescent light bulb in the 1870s revolutionised lighting and reduced the reliance on candles. While Thomas Edison is often credited with the invention, it was a series of small improvements by multiple inventors that led to the modern light bulb. Edison first patented his incandescent light bulb in 1879 and began commercialising it in 1880, but British inventors had already demonstrated that electric light was possible with the arc lamp. Edison's contribution to electric lighting was significant as he developed a suite of inventions that made the use of light bulbs practical. This included the first commercial power utility, the Pearl Street Station in lower Manhattan, which provided electricity to the public.
In the early 1880s, Joseph Swan obtained a British patent for his method of treating cotton to produce a 'parchmentised thread' for use in light bulbs. He began installing light bulbs in homes and landmarks in England, with the Savoy Theatre in London becoming the first public building in the world to be lit entirely by electricity in 1881. Mosley Street in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, became the first street in the world to be lit by incandescent lamps in 1880.
The next significant development in the incandescent bulb came in 1904 with the invention of the tungsten filament by European inventors. These bulbs lasted longer and were brighter than the carbon filament bulbs. In 1913, Irving Langmuir discovered that placing an inert gas like nitrogen inside the bulb doubled its efficiency. Scientists continued to make improvements over the next 40 years, reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
The invention of the light bulb changed the way buildings were designed, increased the length of the average workday, and jump-started new businesses. It also led to breakthroughs in power plants, electric transmission lines, home appliances, and electric motors.
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Types of candles
Candles have been used for lighting since ancient times, with the earliest evidence of candle-making dating back to 5,000 BC. Before the invention of electricity, candles were primarily used by the wealthy and for religious purposes. They were also used as a source of light during long journeys and to illuminate homes during the winter months.
Today, candles are used to create ambiance, set a mood, or introduce a cozy feeling into a space. They can also be used for decorative purposes, aromatherapy, and as gifts. With that in mind, here is an overview of some of the different types of candles available:
Pillar Candles
Pillar candles are classic and versatile, characterised by their cylindrical shape and self-supporting nature. They are available in various sizes and colours, making them perfect for both decorative and practical purposes.
Taper Candles
Taper candles are slender and elegant, tapering towards one end. They are traditionally used for formal occasions such as dinners and weddings and come in a range of colours and lengths, allowing for creative arrangements and displays.
Tealight Candles
Tealight candles are the smallest type of candle and come packaged in a metal or plastic container. They are mainly used for decor and accent lighting and will generally burn for up to five hours.
Votive Candles
Votive candles are small and do not come packaged in a container, which means that they burn into the holder they are placed in.
Beeswax Candles
Beeswax candles are made from natural beeswax, which gives them a warm, honey-like aroma. They are known for their clean-burning properties and are environmentally friendly.
Soy Candles
Soy candles are made from soybean wax, a renewable resource that burns cleaner and longer than traditional paraffin wax. They come in a variety of colours and scents, making them a popular choice for eco-conscious consumers.
Flameless Candles
Flameless candles are a safe alternative to traditional candles, as they do not have an open flame. They feature realistic designs and can be programmed to turn on and off at the same time every day.
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How candles were made
The use of candles dates back to ancient civilizations, with evidence of wick candles being made in Egypt as early as 3000 B.C. 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 for lighting their homes, aiding travellers at night, and in religious ceremonies.
Candles were primarily made from tallow and beeswax in Europe from the Roman period until the modern era. In China, textual evidence suggests that candles may have been made from whale fat in the Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE). Chinese candles may also have been made from beeswax, or stillingia tallow from the Chinese tallow tree, or Chinese wax derived from insects. In Japan, candles were made of wax extracted from the Japanese wax tree, while in India, candle wax was made by boiling the fruit of the cinnamon tree.
The first standard candles were made from spermaceti wax, an oil obtained by crystallizing sperm whale oil, which became available in large quantities due to the growth of the whaling industry in the 18th century. Spermaceti wax produced a brighter light, did not create a repugnant odour when burned, and was harder than tallow or beeswax, making it more resistant to heat.
In the 19th century, the manufacture of candles became an industrialized mass market. In 1834, Joseph Morgan, an inventor from Manchester, England, patented a machine that revolutionized candle-making by allowing the continuous production of molded candles. This machine used a cylinder with a moveable piston to eject candles as they solidified, producing about 1,500 candles per hour. This mechanized production method, along with the introduction of affordable paraffin wax in the 1850s, made candles accessible to a wider range of people.
During the same period, advancements in candle-making techniques were also being made. 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. Stearin candles produced a clean burn, were hard and durable, and remain popular in Europe today. The innovation of the self-trimming wick, made from tightly braided cotton strands, further improved candles by maintaining the height of the wick and the flame, enhancing the burning experience.
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Candle alternatives
Candles have been used for lighting since ancient times, but they were expensive and only the wealthy could afford to light multiple candles at once. Before the invention of matches in 1844, people used spill holders, tinderboxes, and flint and strikers to light candles.
Rushlights
Rushlights were the cheapest form of supplemental lighting and were made from the pith of the rush plant, dipped in grease or animal fat. They could be lit at either end to increase brightness, although this reduced their lifespan. Rushlights were placed in a holder and burned with noxious smoke, attracting pests.
Oil Lamps
Oil lamps were another alternative to candles. They used porous materials to carry the oil to the point of vaporization, where it could be ignited. Oil lamps were often expensive, but they provided a bright light that could be left unattended, except when lighting and extinguishing them.
Gas Lights
Gas lights used a bunsen burner to mix air with gas before burning it, creating a very hot flame with little light. Another variety used a rare earth "mantle" that was heated by the flame and glowed white-hot. Gas lights were commonly used for street lighting in the 19th century and were usually powered by coal gas.
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The dangers of candles
Candles have been used for lighting since ancient times, with the earliest evidence of candle-making dating back to 5000 BC. Before the invention of electricity, candles were primarily used by the wealthy and in churches and monasteries as a source of light. However, while candles provide both light and warmth, they can also pose certain dangers.
Fire Hazard
Candles are a fire hazard, and fire is dangerous when not handled properly. This is especially true in the case of tallow candles, which are made from animal fat. Tallow candles tend to burn with a noxious smoke and are more attractive to pests, increasing the risk of fire.
Indoor Air Pollution
Burning candles, especially scented ones, release chemicals and pollutants such as formaldehyde, CO2, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, contributing to indoor air pollution. These chemicals can be potentially dangerous to human health, causing headaches, shortness of breath, and coughing and even respiratory illnesses. The risk is higher for individuals with chronic lung conditions or those with bladder cancer, as certain chemicals in candles have been linked to an increased risk of cancer.
Allergies and Asthma
Candle chemicals, fragrances, and wax are known to irritate allergies and asthma. Paraffin wax, in particular, which is derived from petroleum, releases potentially harmful chemicals such as VOCs and phthalates when burned.
Proper Candle Usage
To minimise the risks associated with candle usage, it is recommended to use candles made from natural materials such as beeswax or soy wax and to burn them in well-ventilated spaces. Keeping candles away from drafts can also help reduce the amount of smoke produced. Additionally, ensuring proper fire safety precautions are in place is crucial when using candles.
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Frequently asked questions
Before electricity, candles were lit using a variety of methods, including using a self-trimming wick, which curls over into the flame, burning away the excess wick.
Candles were made by mixing tallow (animal fat) with wax and moulding it into a candle shape. The first candleholders were made out of horns or shells, and later out of wood or stone.
Before electricity, candles were primarily used by the wealthy. Beeswax candles were the best, but they were expensive. Ordinary people made do with rush lights or tallow.
Before electricity, the streets of pre-19th-century European and American cities were often dark and dangerous at night. Travellers could hire a "link boy" to light their way with a torch of rope or twisted rags, stiffened with fat, pitch, and resin. Gas lights were also used in the 19th century for street lights and in the home.
