Candles are used for many, many reasons.

   In past centuries they were a necessity of life allowing people night life after sun down. It is thought that the ancient Egyptians were the first to use candles for light by soaking the pitchy core of river reeds in tallow.

The Romans believed to have been the first to develop candles with wicks. Those candles consisted of tallow derived from such animals as cow, sheep and pig those crude Smokey burning candles produced a smelly acrid odor.

   In the thirteenth century Paris brought forth the first guild of chandlers (candle makers) that traveled from home to home making candles from animal fats collected and saved over the year.

Sometime during the Middle Ages beeswax, an insect derived wax, made by honey bees also began to be used for candles. Due to the high expense of the candles they were primarily used by religious factions and those wealthy enough to afford them. Tallow remained the commoners candle wax.

   Lots of cultures have produced different ways of generating light, they have tried burning high fat of fish and birds. Some tried boiling berries from the bay berry bush which produced a sweet smelling wax but this process was too tedious which made these candles impractical.

   By the eighteenth century a new technology enabled the economical hunting of whales. Spermaceti wax obtained from whales became popular in candle making it is said the first “standard” candles were made from spermaceti wax.

   In the nineteenth century the first candle making machine was made producing 1500 candles an hour. By 1850 the bi-product paraffin became extremely economical a left over material from the newly created crude oil industry. By the end of the century most candles were made with paraffin.

In 1879 the light bulb was invented and the candle lost its name as KING OF LIGHT

   In the late 1990’s brought an amazing new type of wax to the industry, soybean wax an environmentally friendly longer burning wax. To date, soybean wax is the leading desirable alternative to paraffin wax.

   Candles have had a renewed growth in popularity and are estimated to be used for different reasons in 7 out of 10 house holds in Canada. Whether it be for relaxing, romance, life, light, ambience or décor. Burn Soy Candles as a Healthy Alternative.