The Brilliance Of Candles!
Add Some Light To Your Life With Candles The Brilliance Of
Candles!
Candles first served as the main source of light for early
civilization. They have made many changes through the years. The
candles of today are not the same candles from hundreds of years
ago.
Before the introduction of wicks, early Egyptians lit their reed
torches by soaking them in molten tallow, which is fat from
sheep or cattle. Romans later developed wick candles which they
dipped into the tallow.
By the Middle Ages, beeswax was being used in the making of some
candles. The candles burned cleaner than tallow and had a more
pleasant odor than the tallow candles. However, they were more
costly and only the wealthy could afford them.
In Colonial times, the settlers found they could boil berries
from the bayberry bush to make a sweet smelling and clean
burning wax for their candles. Unfortunately, it was tedious
work and it took many berries to make just one candle.
By the 18th century, candles were being made from spermaceti, a
wax which was crystallized sperm whale oil. These candles had an
even better odor and would not bend and soften in warm weather.
In 1834, a machine was invented which mass produced molded
candles. By 1850, we were using paraffin wax made from oil and
coal shale. It was processed by distilling residues of crude
petroleum refinement. Soon after, stearic acid was added to the
paraffin wax and these are still the basic ingredients of
today