1. CANDLES WERE ALREADY THERE IN 500 BC.
They were made by the Romans from animal fat really early on to be used to honour Artemis's birth (a goddess) on the sixth day of every lunar month.
2. THERE IS A WAY TO BURN CANDLES CORRECTLY!
You thought it might be as easy as just lighting your candle up... well... it's a bit more complex than that! Did you know that the first burn of a candle is the most important?
The first time you light your candle, you have to let it burn long enough!!!!!!! The whole top layer of the wax has to become liquid and that takes several hours depending on the size of your candle. If you do not do this, then your candle will not burn evenly.
3. CANDLE WAX WAS EATEN DURING FAMINES
In the old days, candle wax was mainly made from animal products like beef fat or beeswax. During famines, it was not unusual to have candles been stolen to be eaten by the hungry.
4. YOU SHOULD NOT BLOW A CANDLE TO TURN IT OFF
Blowing out a candle produces soot and smoke, which is not cool. You also risk blowing droplets of hot liquid wax in the surrounding area.
TIP: the best (actually it should be the only!!) way to put out a candle is to use a candle snuffer as it puts the flame out by depriving it of oxygen.
5. CANDLE PRODUCTION IS GOING UP IN THE EU
The EU production of candles in 2018 was worth €1 638 million. It is an 11% increase in value compared with 2013 (source: Eurostat).
6. FREEZING YOUR CANDLE WILL NOT MAKE IT LAST LONGER
Many people say that freezing a candle before lighting it will make it last longer. Sorry… but it’s fake news! Freezing the candle actually makes the wax crack and damages the candle.
7. POLAND IS THE BIGGEST ION EU CANDLE PRODUCER
In 2018, Poland is the biggest candle producer in the EU. It was responsible for €619 million worth (38%) of all candles produced in the EU.
Germany and Italy come second and third and are responsible for 10% of the candle production value in the EU in 2018 (source: Eurostat). Candles from non-EU countries came mainly from China, the US and Vietnam.
8. A CANDLE SHOULD NOT PRODUCE SMOKE WHEN BURNING
There is no smoke without fire, sure... but when your candle is smoking, it means the wick is too long!
EASY TO FIX IT: put the flame out, wait for the wick to cool and trim it to about 6 mm long.
9. A CANDLE THAT STARTED TUNNELLING CAN BE SAVED
When you are only able to melt the wax near the wick, it leaves a ring of hard wax on the outer edges and that's not very nice. This is called tunnelling.
The only thing you have to do is covering the top of your candle with foil. Afterwards, cut a hole in the centre where the wick is. It encourages the hard outer wax to soften and melt evenly. Burn your candle for several hours with the foil lid to ensure the whole top layer is liquid.
10.SCENTED CANDLES HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON YOUR TASTE BUDS
Our sense of taste is highly influenced by our sense of smell. So, be careful when using scented candles at the dinner table.
11. CANDLES HAVE BEEN MADE FROM A WHOLE FISH
It is called “candlefish” or Eulachon. This fish has such a high-fat content that it can be used as a candle.
12. THE CANDLE FLAME DOES NOT ALWAYS STAND STRAIGHT
Did you know that under microgravity (like on a space station), some NASA scientists have revealed that a flame would be spherical. This phenomenon is due to the lack of gravity.
13. A CANDLEMAKER IS CALLED A CHANDLER
Cocorico! It comes from the Old French word “chandelier”. Before the introduction of electricity, a “chandelier” was a ceiling fitting made of several candles to light up the rooms.
14. CANDLES HAVE BEEN MADE OUT OF COWS, INSECTS, AND WHALES
Candles are not all vegan and natural! Tallow (a by product of beef fat) was popular in Europe in the Middle Ages to make candles.
Candles have also been made out of wax made out of insects and seeds. It was even made of spermaceti from sperm whales and various plants.
15. PUTTING CANDLES ON CAKES IS A TRADITION FROM ANCIENT GREECE
True. Ancient Greeks would bring a cake decorated with candles. It represented the glowing moon, to the temple of Artemis, the Goddess of the hunt and the moon. It only became a birthday tradition from the 1700s as every candle represented each passing year.
Have know more about different types of candle wax check out our blog post here.
Find out more about benefits of candles here.