Written by Original Source | Posted in Interior Design

Candles have not always been the beautiful and fragrant object that we think of today. In fact for many thousands of years they were a necessity that was only used when absolutely needed due to its poor design. The earliest candles were so poorly made that many would rather go to bed then try and light their night with one.

These first candles were made for tallow, a product that is found inside animal hides. This was then melted down to form a “wax” of sorts that could be formed around a wick. The first wicks were made from any available material that would burn, and thus were somewhat unreliable. When these primitive candles were burnt they would give off a foul odor that permeated the room, to top this off they burnt the eyes with a thick smoke!

Beeswax candles were the next step in candle making, and they are still a popular option today. These candles were formed from natural beeswax and had wicks made from only the finest materials. They burnt cleanly and with a fragrant aroma but were very expensive due to the process and products used in their making. This meant they were limited to the wealthy and to church services for many years.

The first commercially produced candles for the masses were made from whale oils. These candles were cheap to produce because of the abundance of whale oils at the time. They also had a putrid smell though and thus were only burnt when needed. This coupled with the obvious moral dilemmas associated with  the use of whale oils has led to this candle types demise.

The modern candle is formed from paraffin wax and can be made cheaply and efficiently. These candles can be made in any shape,color,or fragrance, ranging from white candles to tea candles and everything in between. Even more modern versions have replaced the standard flame and wick with led lighting for a safe and efficient design.

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