Long before electricity, candles were the heartbeat of human civilization. Here's the surprisingly rich story of how they got from there to your dinner table.
The First Flames: Ancient Egypt & Rome
The story of candles begins over 5,000 years ago. Ancient Egyptians were among the first to use rushlights, reeds soaked in melted animal fat, to light their homes and temples. They weren't quite the elegant taper candles we know today, but they served the same essential purpose: pushing back the dark.
The Romans took things further, developing wicked candles made from tallow (rendered animal fat) that could be carried, traded, and used in religious ceremonies. Roman candles (the original kind!) were so central to daily life that they were given as gifts during the festival of Saturnalia, one of history's earliest examples of candles as a gesture of warmth and celebration.
The Middle Ages: Candles as Currency
In medieval Europe, candles weren't just light sources. They were a reflection of social class, economic status, and religious importance.
Most ordinary households relied on tallow candles, which were inexpensive but far from pleasant. They smoked heavily, gave off a strong odor, and required frequent replacement. Beeswax candles, by contrast, burned cleaner, lasted longer, and carried a naturally sweet scent. Because they were more costly, they were reserved for churches, monasteries, and wealthy households.
Chandlers (candle makers) became essential tradespeople, and candle-making guilds formed across Europe to regulate production and protect trade standards. Time was even measured by candles. King Alfred the Great reportedly used marked candles to divide his day into equal portions of prayer, work, and rest. In a world without clocks on every wall, a burning candle could serve as a practical measure of passing hours.
The 18th & 19th Centuries: A Revolution in Wax
The Industrial Revolution transformed candle-making dramatically. In the 1800s, spermaceti wax (derived from sperm whales) became popular for producing bright, odorless candles, though at a significant environmental and ethical cost tied to the whaling industry.
Further breakthroughs followed. Stearin helped create harder, longer-lasting candles, and the discovery of paraffin wax in the 1850s changed everything. Affordable, clean-burning, and easy to produce at scale, paraffin made candles accessible to everyone. Mechanized manufacturing accelerated this shift, helping candles move from luxury toward household standard.
Then came electricity, and almost overnight, candles went from necessity to luxury.
The 20th Century: From Utility to Ambiance
With electric light handling the practical side, candles found a new identity. They became symbols of romance, relaxation, and ritual. A candlelit dinner suggested intimacy. A candle in a quiet room signaled calm. Religious ceremonies continued to rely on candlelight for symbolism, memory, and reverence.
The rise of wellness culture gave candles yet another revival. They became part of self-care routines, meditation practices, and home design. The candle was no longer just an object that gave light. It became an experience.
Colored candles, in particular, gained deep cultural significance. From birthday cakes to Hanukkah menorahs, from Advent wreaths to Kwanzaa kinara candles, color became tied to meaning, memory, and identity.
Today: The Art of the Candle
Modern candles are a world apart from smoky tallow sticks. Today's taper candles and tealights are crafted with intention, chosen not just for light, but for color, form, and the mood they create in a space. The color of a candle on your table is a design decision, a personal statement, and a continuation of a tradition that stretches back millennia.
Whether you're setting a dinner table, marking a celebration, or simply making a Tuesday evening feel a little more special, you're part of a very long, very luminous history.