Scented Candles: A History

Many people probably already know that scented candles are a great way to make their home smell great and give it a warm, inviting atmosphere that any guest will appreciate, but what they might not know is that the history of these lovely candles goes back to nearly 200 AD. They have a history that is as rich and compelling as their scent, and throughout the ages, their use has extended far beyond the decorative.

While some people think Americans were the first ones to come up with scented candles, in truth, it was actually the Europeans who first used them. Candles themselves were also invented around this time, but their harsh, oily odors made breathing any air indoors unpleasant. To alleviate this, people began to add essential and floral oils to their candles in order to make their scent more pleasant, and in turn, the scent also made the home smell nice and helped to improve the mood of its occupants. Scented candles first came about in America during the colonial era, when people began to boil sweet-smelling berries, such as the bayberry, as an alternative to making wax from animal fat. This was the first American-made scented candle, and from there, their popularity skyrocketed. Molded candles for mass production then began around 1835, which brought scented candles into nearly every home, as the new means of making them by machine made them affordable for almost everyone. 

During the 1990’s, scented candles came roaring back in popularity because once again, they were being produced in ways that were better for the environment. Candles made from soy became especially sought after, and many new and exciting scents were produced, including holiday-themed scents, outdoor collections that included popular scents like ocean, pine, and floral selections. Around this same time, aromatherapy candles also began to enjoy a comeback as the New Age movement began and people began to search for ways to deal with their stress-related issues. Today, these trends continue and more new scents are being introduced as both professional and amateur candle makers strive to discover unique and trendy scents that everyone can enjoy. Scented candles have enjoyed long and varied history, and it’s easy to see that they will continue to be popular in the future.