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section of our site is devoted to all things candle, and the best part? No sales pitch!
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Candle
History | Candle Tips | The Candle Challange!
A Brief History of
Candles
Candles has been very
popular eversince,
but there is very little known information about the origin of candles. The first candles
were developed by the Ancient Egyptians who used rushlights, or torches, made by soaking
the pithy core of reeds in molten tallow, the rushlights had no wick like a candle. It is
the Romans who are credited with developing the wick candle, using it to aid travelers at
dark, and lighting homes and places of worship at night. |
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The first "standard candles" were made from
spermaceti wax which when burned it did not elicit a repugnant odor . Spermaceti wax
was found harder and did not soften or bend in the summer heat.
In 1834, inventor Joseph Morgan introduced a machine which
allowed continuous production of molded candles by the use of a cylinder which featured a
movable piston that ejected candles as they solidified.
The basic ingredients of contemporary candles are paraffin
and stearic acid, the by-products of crude oil and meat production.
No longer man's major source of light, candles continue to
grow in popularity and use. Today, candles symbolize celebration, mark romance, define
ceremony, and accent decor -- continuing to cast a warm glow for all to enjoy.
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Useful Candle Tips
1. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
2. Keep lighted candles out of the reach of children and
pets.
3. Avoid burning candles near combustible materials.
4. Always store candles in a cool, dark, dry place. They
should be stored flat to prevent warping.
5. Before a party, light and extinguish the candles. They'll
light more quickly and easily later.
6. Avoid putting candles in drafts to prevent rapid and
uneven burning and excessive dripping.
7. Keep wicks trimmed to one half inch. Long or crooked wicks
cause uneven burning and dripping.
8. Clean solid candles with a piece of nylon or use a touch
of salad oil on a soft cloth.
9. To remove wax from washable fabrics, scrape off excess wax
and run boiling water through the material.
10. Remove wax from holders by running very hot water over
them.
11. Candles refrigerated before using will burn more slowly
and evenly. Wrap in foil or plastic before refrigeration to prevent wicks from absorbing
moisture.
12. Votive candles will clean easily if you add
1/8" of water to the glass before inserting the candle.
13. Candles will fade if left in the light for an extended
period of time. Never put candles in a window or directly expose to bright outdoor light
or indoor spotlights.
14. Candles should always be burned in proper
candle-holders or bases.
15. Extinguish candles when they get within 2 inches of their
holders or decorations.
16. When blowing out a candle, hold your finger in front of
the flame and blow at it. The air will flow around the finger and extinguish the candle
from both sides. This will prevent hot wax from splattering.
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The Candle Challange!
Now that you know a bit more about candles, why not try our
Candle Challange to test your candle knowledge.
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