Candle Making Craft - A History

Candle making as a craft hobby is becoming increasingly popular as more and more people discover this absorbing and rewarding hobby which can be done from the comfort of their own home.

Candles have been used for thousands of years and up until the early 1900s they were the single source for artificial light. Candles also have a rich tradition in religious services in many faiths throughout history. Today, the candle is no longer the single source of light but is used abundantly in religious services as well as in birthday celebrations, holidays, and home decorations.

Originally, candles were made from tallow, which was a fat extracted from cattle and sheep, in the early Egyptian and Roman times. These early candles burned poorly and probably smelled even worse. The Roman Empire was the first to provide evidence of a candle that resembles the candle today. They melted the tallow until it was a liquid and poured it over fibers of flax, hemp, or cotton, which were used as a wick. These candles were used in religious ceremonies as well as lighting for their travel and homes.

Candle making wouldn't become recognizable to us until the 13th century. That's when itinerant candle makers traveled from village to town and door to door. Actually, these 'chandlers' as they were called were very popular. Strange as it may seem to the hobbyist who has taken up the candle making craft as an enjoyable pastime, when people relied on candles as a main source of light, making them was a necessary chore and if they could afford it, it was a job that they would happily delegate to a professional. The chandlers erected their specialized candle making equipment and their clients would provide the material for the merchants who fashioned the candles.

The 19th century was a defining time for candles and candle making. The first patented candle making machines were introduced. This breakthrough allowed candles to reach the homes of all classes as they became an affordable product for almost everyone.

The braided wick was also invented in the 19th century. Wicks before this time were made simply of twisted strands of cotton, which burned very poorly and needed constant maintenance. It was also in the middle of the 19th century that paraffin wax was first used and this led to the commercial production of paraffin wax candles. Paraffin wax burned clean, bright and without an odor. What an improvement on the early tallow candles!

Today, the candle making craft hobbyist can make a whole range of different candles from a wide variety of different waxes.

By: Julie Sinclair

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Julie Sinclair is a candle making enthusiast who enjoys helping others to get started in this amazing hobby. For more great information on the candle making craft, visit www.candlemakingtoptips.com