Scented candles have become a trend in recent years. Lighting scented candles in the home has become a way of life for many people. These candles have become not only accessories but also an essential element in creating a space that nourishes the mind, body and soul.
The history of scented candles
Candles were born very early and initially served as an important lighting tool for mankind. They tied beeswax or fat to wood chips such as tree bark or grapevines, which brought light through a continuous burning. Later, fixed beeswax candles gradually formed, which were used in ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, Rome and China in the 3rd and 4th centuries BC.
But the earliest candles were unscented and the smell was unbearable. For example, the ancient Egyptians inserted reeds into butter to ignite lighting. In coastal areas of China, whale oil was extracted and burned. The smell of burning fat is very scary and harmful.
About three thousand years ago, the Egyptians began dipping papyrus into candle-making ingredients to reduce the disgusting smell of animal fat. The Chinese started mixing plant seeds into the ingredients, and the Indians cooked cinnamon to make scented candles.
In the Middle Ages, Europe began to use beeswax to make candles, which not only burned cleanly, but also had a light fragrance. In palaces and churches, as a luxury item, this candle was used quite widely among the nobility. Of course, because of the high price, it is impossible for ordinary people to afford it. European household candles are still made from animal fat, which is cheap but still smells pungent.
It is also worth mentioning Japan. In the 6th century AD, candles were introduced to Japan from China along with Buddhism. This was also the beginning of the use of candles in Japan. During the Edo period, Japan began to make candles made from wild sumac trees. However, the production of such candles was very time-consuming and expensive, and it was also a luxury product. By the end of the Meiji period, the production process became more and more perfect, and the cost of wild sumac candles also dropped. The American continent first used laurel fruit as the raw material for candles, which not only has a fragrant aroma, but also has less fumes.
In the 19th century, the candle machine and stearic acid, which were born in the industrial era, greatly reduced the cost of candles. The isolation of lower-cost paraffin in the 1850s made candles completely accessible to ordinary people. Britain was the first to produce paraffin candles, which quickly became popular around the world. But in 1879, the light bulb was invented, and the candle industry inevitably went into decline.
However, it was precisely because of the decline of the candle industry and the loss of the daily lighting function of candles that the scented candles, which focused on atmosphere, emerged and gradually became an independent branch in the 1950s.
At the beginning, aromatherapy candles mainly used paraffin as raw material. However, burning paraffin would release harmful smoke and dust, which was not suitable for the atmosphere of aromatherapy candles. Therefore, people devoted themselves to the development of natural materials. In the 1990s, scented candles ushered in major changes. Because of the development of soy wax and palm wax, the raw materials of scented candles have made breakthroughs, and the variety of shapes and colors also make scented candles more artistic.
Moreover, the most common form of scented candles is container candles. The candles are placed in containers such as glass cups, amber cups, and ceramic lamps. They are compatible with various elements such as paintings and sculptures, and are more artistic.
The popularity of scented candles
The popularity of scented candles is largely attributed to American TV series, British TV series and Western movies.
In “Friends” broadcast in 1994, one of the protagonists, Monica, has a bathing trick: lighting scented candles, playing soft music, and taking a bubble bath. Chandler was reluctant at first, but became addicted once he tried it. Korean dramas have also made great contributions. For example, in “Descendants of the Sun” released in 2016, because “women need to be seen against the light to be beautiful,” scented candles are used and the placement angle must be adjusted through strict calculations.
Oriental incense sticks and Western essential oils can have the same fragrance effect as scented candles, but in comparison, scented candles also have candlelight, which has a better visual effect.
The widespread use of scented candles is really thanks to the process of modern civilization and industrialization, because when we go back to ancient times, scented candles are not “popular lovers”, but are reserved for the royal family. At present, using scented candles to create an emotional and de-stressing atmosphere is obviously a low-cost but high-quality choice.