The origin of candles dates back thousands of years, with their invention tied to the basic human need for light after dark. While it’s tough to pinpoint the exact moment candles came into being, evidence suggests they emerged independently across multiple ancient civilizations.
The earliest known use of candles is often credited to the Ancient Egyptians around 3000 BCE. They didn’t make candles exactly as we know them today, but they created rushlights or torches by soaking the pithy core of reeds in melted animal fat (tallow). These were more like primitive lamps than modern candles, but they laid the groundwork. True candles—wick-centered and made from molded or dipped fat—likely evolved later.
By around 2000 BCE, the Chinese were making candles from whale fat during the Qin Dynasty, and there’s evidence they used indigenous "candle trees" (like the tallow tree) to produce wax. In India, around the same time, temple candles were crafted from boiled cinnamon, creating a fragrant wax—a step up from smelly tallow.
The Romans, by 500 BCE, are often credited with refining candle-making into a more recognizable form. They used tallow or beeswax, dipping a wick (usually twisted flax or papyrus) into the melted material or pouring it into molds. Beeswax, being cleaner and less smoky, became a luxury item, while tallow candles were the gritty, smoky workhorses for the masses.
In Europe, the Middle Ages saw candles become a household staple, though still mostly tallow-based until the 13th century when beeswax grew in prominence, especially for churches. The craft got a massive upgrade in the 19th century with the discovery of paraffin wax (derived from petroleum) and stearin (from animal fats), making candles cheaper, more consistent, and less odorous. Around the same time, braided wicks replaced twisted ones, reducing smoke and improving burn efficiency.
So, candles started as a practical solution—light from fat and a wick—and evolved over millennia into the decorative, scented objects we know today. Each culture tweaked the recipe, but the core idea stayed simple: a slow-burning flame to push back the dark.