Junior Mahalete Molla has boxes full of candles stuffed in her closet just incase she runs out of candles. She loves the smell and aroma of pumpkin spice, vanilla, and many other scents filling the atmosphere around her. Now candles weren’t created to be used for aroma when they first began. According to Candles.org candles have been used for more than 5,000 years, yet little is known about their origin. It started with wicked candles which the Egyptians were using in in 3,000 B.C. Romans are usually credited for wicked candles before the Egyptians because they used to dip rolled papyrus repeatedly in melted tallow or beeswax. The resulting candles were used to light their homes, to aid travelers at night, and in religious ceremonies. Early Chinese candles are said to have been molded in paper tubes, using rolled rice paper for the wick, and wax from an indigenous insect that was combined with seeds. In Japan, candles were made of wax extracted from tree nuts, while in India, candle wax was made by boiling the fruit of the cinnamon tree.It is also known that candles played an important role in early religious ceremonies. Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights which centers on the lighting of candles, dates back to 165 B.C.

“The wax trend is totally back! I put wax on my oil burner instead of using candles because I feel like it has a stronger scent and the people in my household like it as well,” Counselor Ryan Miwa said.

In the colonial times colonial women offered America’s first contribution to candle making, when they discovered that boiling the grayish-green berries of bayberry bushes produced a sweet-smelling wax that burned cleanly. However, the process was to slow so that phase of candles died off quick. Now girls use candles to provide a feeling of comfort!

“Candles make me feel as if I am at home. Without a candle a home is incomplete, because I define homes by their scents. Candles make a home, complete,” 11th grader Valeria Arceo said.

“My favorite fall candle is Apple Cinnamon from Bath and Body Works. Candles give a aroma of coziness and they make the room have a story behind itself,” 11th grader Jolie Cerda said.

Now in the 19th century is when most of the major developments happen to candles. stearin wax was found, which was hard, durable and burned cleanly. Stearin candles remain popular in Europe today. Also odorless candles were formed in the 19th century.

“My family is Ethiopian and we use wax candles in Ethiopia too, that is where my obsession started from. My grandma used to light stearin candles and her passion for candles was passed down to me as well,” Mahalete Molla said.

In the 20th century candles just became more popular, and new scents started coming out. Candles started getting healing and calming properties in them. Now today candles are a very important part of our society.

“My favorite fall candle is Pumpkin Spice from Bath and Body Works because it just reminds me of Thanksgiving and Halloween. Candles have evolved into a very beautiful and significant part in our society today,” Arceo said.