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The History of Candle Making
The History of Candles and Candle making:
Candles have been used for thousands of years and up until the early 1900s they were the single source for artificial
light. Candles also have a rich tradition in religious services in many faiths through-out history. Today, the candle is no
longer the single source of light but is used abundantly in religious services as well as in birthday celebrations, holidays,
and home decorations.
Originally, candles were made from tallow, which was extracted from cattle and sheep, in the early Egyptian and Roman
times. These early candles burned poorly and probably smelled even worse. The Roman Empire was the first to provide evidence
of a candle that resembles the candle today. They melted the tallow until it was a liquid and poured it over fibers of flax,
hemp, and/or cotton, which were used as a wick. These candles were used in religious ceremonies as well as lighting for their
travel and homes.
During the Middle Ages candles became more prevalent in worship. It was at this time that beeswax was used to make candles.
These beeswax candles were made much like the Romans made their candles with tallow. Beeswax was a drastic improvement from
the tallow, but limited quantities were available, which made it expensive limiting it to clergy and the upper class.
Candle Types
There are a wide array of candles and candle types that are on the market today. Candles are either created to be free
standing or to be filled in a vessel. The candles are broken down into categories:
**CONTAINER CANDLES**
A candle that is created from wax poured into a special glass, tan, and/or pottery. Container candles can be used as decorative
and are typically highly fragranced.
**VOTIVE CANDLES**
Free standing candles that were originally produced as white and unscented and are typically lit for devotion or gratitude
in religious ceremonies. Today the votive candles are available in a wide array of color and fragrances. Votive candles should
be made intended to burn in an appropriate holder.
**PILLAR CANDLES**
A rigid, free standing candle that is available in a wide variety of shapes and designs.
*****NOTE**** LOUIS AROMA CANDLES/ PILLARS ARE 3X3 ROUND AND ARE THE NEW LINE OF AROMATHERPY PILLARS
TEA-LIGHT
A very small cylindrical candle that is in its own aluminum or polycarbonate holder.
HURRICANE CANDLES
A very unique candle that has an outer shell that typically has dried flowers, shells, and/or other items embedded in
the wax. The candle is designed to burn down the middle, illuminating the outer shell.
In colonial America the early settlers discovered that they were able to obtain a very appeasing wax by boiling the berries
from the bay-berry shrub. This wax created a very sweet smelling and good burning candle; however the process of making the
bayberry wax was very tedious and tiresome.
In the 18th century the whaling industry thrived and as a result, whale oil was available in large quantities. Spermaceti
wax was derived from the whale oil and was used as a replacement for tallow, beeswax, and bayberry wax. The spermaceti wax
candle did emit a rather unpleasant smell but the wax was hard enough to hold shape in the hot summer months.
The 19th century was a defining time for the candles and candle making. The first patented candle making machines were
introduced. This breakthrough allowed candles to reach the homes of all classes. It was also right around this same time that
a chemist named Michael Eugene Chevreul identified for the first time that tallow or animal fat consisted of various fatty
acids. One of the fatty acids he identified was stearine (stearic acid). In 1825, Chevreul and another chemist named Joseph
Gay Lussac patented a process for candle making from crude stearic. This process drastically improved the quality of candles.
The braided wick was also invented in the 19th century. Wicks before this time were made simply of twisted strands of
cotton, which burned very poorly and needed constant maintenance. The braided wick was tightly plaited and a portion of the
wick curled over and enabled it to be completely consumed.
It was in the middle of the 19th century that paraffin wax was first used in a candle in Battersea, UK. This led to the
commercial production of paraffin, which is an oil distillate. Paraffin burned clean, bright and without an odor. The paraffin
was also blended with stearic acid, which hardened the wax and created a superior and cheaper candle.
Today the candle market offers candle lovers a wide variety of candles produced from a wide variety of waxes: paraffin,
vegetable waxes, beeswaxes and the newest trend of gel waxes. These candles are offered in a myriad of colors, shapes, designs
and fragrances. Candles are no longer the sole source of light but they are desired for their ambience, home decoration and
fragrance.
**thank you for taking the time in reading the history of candles**
ABOUT SOY WAX/PALM WAX
Soy wax candles are the healthy alternative for all your candle needs.
**Benefits of soy wax**
An all natural Renewable resource, Biodegradeable and Environmentally Friendly, Easy OF Cleaning-- dried wax dries and
is easily Vaccumed up or Wipped UP; Water-solubale allowing for easy recycle of containers;low burn temperature; this wax
Burns Clean,Soot Free 95% and does not Pollute the air in your home.
all of our candles here at louis aroma candles are made with natural soy/palm wax blend our wicks are natural cotton wicks
with a paper core and are lead free
safe and non-toxic
produces a larger brighter flame
and economical growth for our farmers.
THIS IS WHY OUR CANDLES ARE THE SUPERIOR CANDLE SOLUTION
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