The History of Candles

Whether a birthday party, romantic meal or trick or treat night, candles usually find their way into all sorts of special events. But did you know that prior to the 1980s, the primary use for candles was still illumination? What started as a mound of molded animal fat, has transformed over the past 5,000 years to become the most common decorative item in a home.  Here three things you probably didn’t know about your favorite flamed adornment.

Candles

Candles

1 – Candles have been illuminating celebrations for more than 5,000 years

It is known that the Egyptians began using candles somewhere around 3,000 B.C. because of artifacts found in the pyramids. Historians have also found evidence that other early civilizations, including the Chinese and Japanese, created candles around that same time. It is believed that these civilizations used candles to celebrate early religious ceremonies, to guide travelers and light their homes.

2 – Candles used to be made of animal fat

The Ancient Romans, who are often credited for inventing the wicked candle, used primitive candle making equipment to melt animal fat into papyrus paper to form candles. It wasn’t until the Middle Ages, that people began using beeswax to create candles. The beeswax burned cleaner and had no odor, so it quickly became the preferred candle material, although remained expensive until the 19th century.

3 – Candle making was revolutionized in the 19th century

The candle we think of now when the word is said didn’t come to creation until the 19th century. In the 1820s, a French chemist discovered the chemical stearin, which led to the creation of stearin candles which are still popular today. Then in 1834, Joseph Morgan developed candle making machinery that allowed for the continuous creation of molded candles. This tool allowed candles to be quickly produced at an affordable price. In the mid-1980s, interest for the candles again increased and candle makers because creating new types of candles including soy, aromatherapy, and various shapes and sizes.

Today’s candles have come a long way since their original inception. Whether used for relaxation, celebration or illumination, candles continue to play an important role in our lives.

Blog – Best Scents for the Holidays

Holiday CandlesDid you know that your sense of smell is intimately connected to memory in the brain? This is why classic smells form your childhood often evoke such a powerful emotional response and flooding of memories. Invoke the scents of the holidays to bring joy and comfort into your home with the high-quality candle making equipment from Savage Bros. Our equipment is perfect not only for baking and cooling edible goods but for creating candles to celebrate the holiday season. We’ve listed our top five favorite holiday scents below:

  1. Gingerbread – A playful scent of ginger, cinnamon, and notes of even frosting make gingerbread scented candles a fun way to invoke the holiday spirit.
  1. Balsam and fir trees – If “Silent Night” is your favorite Christmas song, than consider a candle that smells like the calm outside of a winter cabin. The smell of evergreen trees are classic this winter.
  1. Peppermint candy – Sweet and tasty, peppermint is not only the favorite kind of candy this season but also a favorite scent.
  1. Pumpkin pie – Get the taste buds savoring for a bit of sweet with a pumpkin pie scented candle. It’ll bring the family together!
  1. Bergamot and juniper – Add a little romance to your holiday with the sweet and floral smells of bergamot and juniper.

For over 150 years, our professionals have been providing only the highest quality candle making equipment in the industry. At Savage Bros we make sure to not only offer equipment from the best manufacturers but amazing customer service to boot. Learn more about how our equipment can help you create long lasting candles by giving us a call or filling out our online form for more information.

4 Reasons Why Candles Are Flying Off the Shelves

The candle market has taken off.  What was once used for emergencies or lighting is now used for many reasons.

Now is a great time to get into the candle industry. People are buying them for all times of the year and for any occasion. Candle equipment retailer, Savage Bros, have noticed this increase.  There are several reasons for the jump in popularity.

CandlesRelaxation- Candles are a great way for people to relax.  More and more people are using candles to help wind down at the end of the day.

Set the Mood- People are using candles for special occasions to set the mood and to create a certain ambiance. They are great for romantic and whimsical evenings or even a chic soiree.

Scent- Many people are using candles to make their room smell a certain way.  They often buy candles according to the season.  For instance, warm vanillas are great for the fall and winter while flowery scents are perfect for spring and summer.

Gifts- Candles have become a great gift item for friends and family members.  They are particularly nice for a house warming present.  Many people enjoy drowning the residual paint odor with a nice candle.

Candles are being used for many reasons today.  As their popularity grows, so will sales.  Savage Bros has the equipment you need to kick start your candle business. We have a wide variety of tools that you will need to keep up with the demand.  Call or visit our website for more information!