TEN things you didn't know about Candles

Candles are the comfort foods of homes, but did you know candles have literally been in use for centuries? It is a known fact that candles have many uses around the world from religious ceremonies to providing light, to being used in aromatherapy. The uses of candles are vast, and they have been around for a long time. Here are TEN little known facts I bet you didn't know about candles.

1. The word candle is actually Latin. It is derived from the words candela and candere which mean torch and light.  

2. There is a correct way to burn a candle. Did you know you could ruin your candle if you do not burn it correctly the first time? When you first burn a new candle, let the candle burn until the entire top layer of the wax is melted. If you do not have time to let your candle burn evenly to melt the top layer, wait for a time that you do. This will help you get more mileage out of your candle.

3. Candles have been around for a long time. Their use has been reported as early as 221 B.C. in China. It is believed candles were used by early Roman civilizations in 500 B.C.

4. Burning a scented candle can alter your taste perception. It is known that our sense of taste and smell are connected, and so the smell of a candle can temporarily alter your taste buds. This is a good nugget to remember when you host events where there will be food such as dinner parties. The scent of the candle will affect the way food tastes.

5. Throughout history, candle wax has been made of many things including fish, pork, insects, seeds. There is a big push for natural candles today, but historically candle makers have created wax out of whatever was available to them. There are even stories of impoverished people stealing and eating candles made from animal wax.

6. Candles have been used to tell time. There was a time when candlemakers would put metal rods in candles, in periodic points that would fall out when the candle burned past a certain point, alerting people that a certain amount of time has passed. Candles have long served many purposes.

7. A candlemaker is called a Chandler. This term is French and comes from the word chandelier. We all know chandeliers as the beautiful light fixtures people install in their homes and grand dining rooms. Before the introduction of electricity, chandeliers were filled with small candles.

8. There is a correct way to put out a candle. Blowing out a candle is the incorrect way, as it creates soot and smoke. Neither of which is good for the lungs. Use a candle snuffer to cover a flame when you are ready to put out your candle. 

9. Contrary to popular belief, freezing a candle does not extend its life. This is a common myth that many people believe. However, the truth is, freezing a candle will actually dilute its scent. We recommend storing in a closed closet or cabinet if you do not have a cover for your candle. 

10. There are more than 350 candle manufacturers in the United States. 7 out of 10 people in the U.S. burn at least one candle a day, and candle sales gross over $2 billion annually.

Candles have served many purposes over time, and the evolution of the candle from fish grease to beeswax is one for which we should all be thankful. We hope you enjoyed these facts about candles, and think about them each time you burn a candle of your own.