It is generally believed that candles originated from torches in primitive times. Primitive people painted things like fat or wax on bark or sawdust, and then tied them together to make torches for lighting. There is also a legend that in the pre-Qin and ancient times, someone tied mugwort and reed into a bundle, then dipped it in some oil and lit it for lighting. Later, someone wrapped a hollow reed with cloth, filled it with beeswax and lit it.

Beeswax, which appeared in the 3rd century BC, may be the embryonic form of candles we see today. In the west, there was a time when bees were kept in monasteries to make beeswax. This is mainly because Catholicism believes that beeswax is a symbol of virgin conception, so it is regarded as pure light and is enshrined on the altar of the church. According to the existing literature, the time of producing beeswax in China is roughly the same as that in the west, and this kind of candle was introduced from China in Nara period (AD 7 10 ~ 784).

The popularity of candles has gone through a long historical period. According to Xijing Miscellanies, there were candles in the tribute from South Vietnam to Gaudi in the Han Dynasty. It is said that the king will send candles to officials above the marquis and top-grade officials during the Cold Food Festival, indicating that candles were extremely scarce at that time. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, candles were used a little wider, but they were mainly used for lighting in the upper class, not in the homes of ordinary people. In the Tang dynasty, it was also recorded that there were candles in Jinzhou's tribute, and officials of the Tang dynasty also set up an official to look after the candles in the palace. It was recorded in the Song Dynasty that there was a candle trade in the border trade with Xixia at that time. Candle, as a kind of foreign trade and foreign exchange, shows that although it was widely used at that time, it was still precious. After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, candles gradually entered the homes of ordinary people, and people used them more in their daily lives. But ordinary lamps, such as oil lamps and torches, can't be compared.

Compared with modern candles, ancient candles have many disadvantages. Li Shangyin, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, wrote a poem "How to Cut Candles in the West Window". Why do poets cut candles? At that time, the wick was made of cotton thread and stood upright in the center of the flame. Because it is impossible to burn out carbonization, it is necessary to cut off the remaining wick ends with scissors from time to time. This is undoubtedly a troublesome thing. 1820, a Frenchman, Jean Bessie, invented a wick made of three cotton threads, which made the wick loosen naturally when burning, and the end just tilted to the outside of the flame, so it could burn completely.

However, candles need to be further improved, and their materials are generally animal fat, which has many shortcomings. It was Michel Eugene Schaeffler and others who solved this problem. 1809 From June to July, French chemist Michel Eugè ne schaeffler received a letter from a textile factory, asking him to analyze and determine the composition of a soft soap sample they sent. He thought about this letter for a long time, thinking: the study of soap seems to start with oil production. In the experiment with very simple equipment at school, he studied all kinds of oils and fats needed in the saponification process. After a lot of experiments, he discovered the fact for the first time: in all oils and fats, regardless of their source, the content of fatty acids accounts for 95%, and the remaining 5% is glycerol generated in the saponification process. Through research, he found out the essence of saponification process, and at the same time made an important discovery: candles made of oil at that time, because there was glycerin in them, burned with smoke and smell. If stearic acid is used as a candle, it will not only burn brightly, but also have almost no black smoke and will not pollute the air. Schaeffler told Gay-Lussac about his findings and suggested that the two of them study how to solve this problem. They saponify the oil with strong alkali, then decompose the soap with hydrochloric acid and take out stearic acid. This is a kind of white material, and it feels greasy. Candles made of it are soft and cheap. In 1825, Schaeffler and Gay-Lussac obtained patents for producing paraffin wax stearin candles. The appearance of paraffin wax stearin candle opened a new era in the history of human lighting. Later, someone discovered a large oil field in North America, so a large amount of paraffin can be extracted from oil, and the ideal candle has been popularized and popularized all over the world.

In ancient times when there was no electricity, the lighting function of candles was particularly important. However, with the rapid development of high technology, people generally no longer use candles in their daily lives, and candles are given more emotional colors, such as lovers' parties, birthday dinners, mourning for the dead and praying for the future. Especially on anniversaries and festive days, people will light candles. In addition, candles are often used as supplies for physical or chemical experiments.