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The History of Candles The word "candle" comes to us from the Latin candere, meaning "to shine." Illuminating the darkness was one of early man's first concerns, along with finding a source for heat on cold dark nights. Gaining control of fire solved both the illumination and heat problems. Archeological records reveal that Paleolithic humans began to the creation and use of fire. The candles of early man were plants, like reeds or grasses, in animal fat.   The Egyptians have been credited for both the inventive use of soaking pithy reeds in animal fats for "rushlights", and the early use of beeswax. Clay candle holders in Egypt have been found dating back to 400 BC. The first Emperor of the Chinese Qin Dynasty in 221–206, Qin Shi Huang’s, mausoleum contained candles made from whale fat. The Chinese made tapers in wax by extracting oils from seeds and from insects called "Cocus" as well as plant oils. Romans quickly adopted and improved the methods of candle making, adding a "wick" of woven fibers. Romans used these "candles" to illuminate their homes and places of worship. Although many ancient cultures also used clay type oil lamps for illumination, the principles were the same: They used a wick, usually made of flax to hold the flame, and fuel- tallow, fat from cows or sheep, or plant oils (such as olive oil) or beeswax. Tallow candles created an unpleasant smell due to the glycerine they contain. In India, there was a ban on the use of animal fat candles in temples, so temple candles were made from boiling cinnamon and skimming the remaining wax. At churches and royal events in Europe, candles from beeswax were used, as the smell was usually less unpleasant. The smell of the manufacturing process was so unpleasant that it was banned by ordnance in several cities. The first candle mould comes from 15th century Paris. The oldest candle manufacturers still in existence are Rathbornes Candles, founded in Dublin in 1488. Native people from Oregon to Alaska during the 1st century AD, used things like Jojoba nuts for oil. Animals such as the eulachon were also discovered to have oily wax content.  Native Americans made use of these "candlefish" by threading them with a wick and impaling them on forked stick to use as a torch. The first American colonists discovered that bayberries could be used to make candles, but the yield was very poor. Fifteen pounds of boiled bayberries would provide only one pound of wax. Joseph Sampson was granted a United States patent for a new method of candle making in 1790 (this was the second patent ever granted by the United States). In 1834, Joseph Morgan began to industrialize the production of candles. He invented a machine to manufacture 1,500 per hour, from a mould. A chemist, Laurent, distilled paraffin from schist in 1830. Soon after, paraffin replaced tallow as the main ingredient for candle making.   With the invention of kerosene and eventually electricity, candles have  been replaced as an important source of light, but the candle is still important today for its role in home decor, religious and festive celebrations, and for the general mood of warmth, relaxation, and even romance it creates.