"Candles" -the bridge between primitive and modern society in terms of illumination
As a part of evolution and progress inventing the fire control techniques changed the lives of our ancestors widely. They were able to use fire to stay warm, ward of wild animals, cook food, and the dwelling area was also lit up.
Candles were primarily used for illumination. It is believed that candle making dates back to 500 BC when Greeks used them for worship. In India candles used in temples were made from the wax of boiling cinnamon. But primarily in India oil lamps called “diyas” were used in temples which are still in practice. In Europe, Africa as lamp oil was available from olive oil, the use of candles was not known for a long time.
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Materials used in candle making have also undergone a vast change from tallow to paraffin wax. Paraffin wax proved to be inexpensive and during burning, no foul smell was released. Later on, William Wilson in 1830 applied the technique of steam distillation, and from then candles were manufactured from a wide range of raw materials, including skin fat, bone fat, fish oil, and industrial greases.
Despite such advancement, the candle industry suffered a setback with the invention of other superior lighting methods like kerosene lamp and particularly incandescent bulbs. Now we live in a technologically advanced era where we have light from nonconventional sources. But even then candles are still in use. Candles are now used for their aesthetic value and aroma, particularly to set a soft, typical ambiance, for emergency lighting during electrical faults, and for religious or ritual purposes. Song Dynasty of China used Candle clocks to measure time.
At present we have a variety of candles-Scented/Fragrant candles, Gel candles, Floating Candles, Pillar Candles, Decorative candles, etc. This has given rise to a small scale industry. “Candlemaking” has given employment to the unskilled section of society particularly women. Moreover, aromatic or scented candles are used to create a lovely ambiance in spas, spiritual centers, hotels, and personal rooms. People do use candles to date in festivals for decoration and is considered a good gifting item.
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