Candle

Candle, illuminating device made of a fiber wick enclosed in a cylinder of wax or fatty material. Beeswax candles were used by the Romans, and tallow (animal fat) candles have been made in Europe since the Middle Ages. In the 18th century, spermaceti, a wax obtained from the heads of whales, was introduced for candles. Since the mid-19th century, ordinary candles have been made from mixtures of paraffin wax, stearic acid (a solid fatty acid), and beeswax. Hydrogenated vegetable oils and other waxes are also used.

The earliest method of candlemaking was dipping the wick, usually made of flax or cotton fibers, into melted wax or fat and removing it to let it cool and solidify in the air. The candle was built up to the required thickness by successive dippings. Taper candles are still made by dipping, but most candles used today are molded, usually by machine.