The Fascinating History of Candle Making: From Ancient Times to Today

You light a candle without a second thought but have you ever wondered where this simple, beautiful ritual came from? The history of candle making stretches back over 5,000 years, and it's filled with fascinating stories of ingenuity, culture, and craftsmanship. Let's take a journey through time.

Ancient Egypt: The First Candles (3,000 BC) The earliest known candles were created by the Ancient Egyptians — but they didn't look anything like what we use today. They were called "rushlights" reeds soaked in melted animal fat. There was no wick, no jar, and no fragrance. Just a flickering flame that kept the darkness at bay.

The Romans are credited with developing the first true wick candle around 500 BC, made by repeatedly dipping rolled papyrus in melted tallow (animal fat) or beeswax. These candles were used to light homes, aid travellers at night, and illuminate places of worship.

Ancient China & Japan: Rice Paper and Insects In ancient China, candles were made from whale fat during the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC). In Japan, candles were crafted from wax extracted from tree nuts and wrapped in paper. Meanwhile, in India, wax was obtained by boiling cinnamon making some of the world's first scented candles!

The Middle Ages: Beeswax Becomes King By the Middle Ages in Europe, beeswax candles had become the gold standard but they were incredibly expensive and reserved almost exclusively for the church and the wealthy. The common people continued to use tallow candles, which were cheaper but produced a smoky, unpleasant smell.

Candle making became a guild craft in England and France during the 13th century, with chandlers (candle makers) going door to door to collect kitchen fats and make candles for households.

The 18th Century: Spermaceti and the Candle Revolution In the 1700s, a new wax source emerged spermaceti, a waxy substance found in the head of sperm whales. Spermaceti candles were harder, burned brighter, and didn't produce the unpleasant odor of tallow. They became the first "standard candle" used to measure light output  a unit still referenced in science today.

The 19th Century: Paraffin Changes Everything In 1850, Scottish chemist James Young discovered how to distill paraffin wax from coal and oil shale. Paraffin was cheap, odorless, and burned cleanly and it completely transformed the candle industry. For the first time, candles were affordable for everyone.

Around the same time, stearin (a derivative of fatty acids) was added to paraffin to make candles harder and longer-lasting a formula that remained the industry standard for over a century.

The 20th Century: Electric Light & The Candle's Reinvention The invention of the electric light bulb in the late 1800s could have spelled the end of candles but it didn't. Instead, candles reinvented themselves. No longer a necessity for light, they became a symbol of ambiance, romance, relaxation, and ritual.

By the late 20th century, the candle industry had exploded into a multi-billion dollar market focused on fragrance, wellness, and home décor.

The Rise of Soy Wax: A Modern Revolution In 1991, a group of students at Purdue University developed soy wax as a natural, renewable alternative to paraffin. Soy wax burns cleaner, lasts longer, and is biodegradable making it the preferred choice for modern artisan candle makers who care about quality and sustainability.

At Oasis Candles, we use 100% natural soy wax in every hand-poured candle honoring thousands of years of candle making tradition while choosing better ingredients for your home and our planet.

Fun Candle Facts to Impress Your Friends 🕯️

• The word "candle" comes from the Latin candere, meaning "to shine"
• Beeswax candles are mentioned in the Bible and the Quran
• The world's largest candle was over 24 metres tall, built in Sweden in 1897
• Candles burn at approximately 1,000°C at the flame's core
• The US candle industry generates over $3 billion in sales annually
• Soy candles burn up to 50% longer than paraffin candles

From Ancient Flames to Oasis Candles Every time you light an Oasis Candle, you're participating in a ritual that humans have cherished for over 5,000 years. We think that's pretty special.

At Oasis Candles Inc., every pour tells a story of healing, strength, and finding light in the dark.