A History of Candle Use

The history of candles is rich, global, and deeply tied to how humans have created light, ritual, and atmosphere across thousands of years. From early animal-fat lighting to today’s luxury scented designs, candles have continuously evolved alongside culture, technology, and daily life.

Today, candles are both functional and decorative—valued for ambiance, fragrance, and craftsmanship. But their origins tell a much older story of innovation, necessity, and tradition.

Quick Answer: How have candles evolved over time?

Candles have evolved from early animal-fat rushlights used for basic lighting into refined wax-based products made from beeswax, paraffin, and modern plant-based waxes, now widely used for décor, fragrance, and ritual.

• Early candles were made from animal fats and plant fibers
• Romans introduced early wicked candle structures
• Beeswax improved cleanliness and scent in medieval Europe
• Industrial advances enabled mass production and new wax types

Early history of candle use

Some of the earliest forms of candle-like lighting date back thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians used rushlights made from plant fibers soaked in animal fat. These early light sources were simple but effective, providing illumination long before modern wax candles existed.

The Romans are often credited with developing early wicked candles by wrapping papyrus around twine and repeatedly dipping it into rendered animal fat. These early designs burned longer and more consistently than earlier rushlights.

Early candle traditions around the world

Candle-making developed independently across multiple ancient cultures, each using locally available materials to create light sources.

In China, rice paper was used for wicks. In India, wax was derived from natural plant sources such as cinnamon trees. Indigenous communities in parts of Alaska and Canada even used naturally oily fish that could burn like a candle when ignited.

Candles also became deeply connected to religious ceremonies. They were used in Jewish traditions such as Hanukkah and later adopted into Christian rituals to symbolize light, purity, and spiritual presence.

Medieval advancements: the rise of beeswax candles

During the Middle Ages, beeswax became a major advancement in candle-making. Compared to animal fat-based candles, beeswax burned cleaner, produced less smoke, and emitted a naturally pleasant aroma.

However, beeswax was expensive and largely reserved for churches and wealthy households. For everyday use, tallow candles remained more common despite their stronger odor and lower quality burn.

Today, beeswax candles remain valued for their natural composition and clean-burning properties, continuing a tradition that dates back centuries.

Industrial innovation in the 18th and 19th centuries

The 18th and 19th centuries brought major breakthroughs in candle production and materials. New wax sources and manufacturing methods transformed candles from handmade goods into widely accessible products.

• Stearin (1820s): A cleaner, harder wax derived from animal fats
• Mass production (1834): Machines enabled large-scale candle manufacturing
• Paraffin wax (1850s): A refined petroleum-based wax that burned cleanly and efficiently

Despite these improvements, the invention of the lightbulb eventually reduced the everyday necessity of candles, shifting their role away from lighting and toward ambiance and tradition.

Modern use of candles

In the 20th century, industrial byproducts from oil and meatpacking industries made wax materials more widely available again, helping revive candle production.

By the 1980s, candles had transformed into decorative and lifestyle products, valued for their aesthetic appeal, fragrance, and ability to create atmosphere in homes and events.

Today, candles are made from a wide range of waxes, including paraffin, soy, coconut, rapeseed, and palm blends—offering more variety, performance, and sustainability options than ever before.

Explore modern designs through our scented vessel candle collection to see how centuries of innovation have shaped today’s candle experience.

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