First of all candles are source of light. Usually they are column-shaped, made from the solid fuel (e.g. beeswax, paraffin, stearin), with specially prepared cotton wick located inside. Ancestor of contemporary candle was torch. Initially wooden stick was wrap around by linen soaked by oil. In time stick was not used any more and linen was started to coat by beeswax. Before electricity candles were quite common source of light. They were more popular than oil lamps on the north of Europe till XIX century (probably because of oil price).

Candles history goes back to 2 thousand years B.C. and they were known to ancients e.g. Etruscans. Mentions of candles can be found in the Old Testament. Ancient Romans made candles from linien coated by tar, animal fat or beeswax. The art of production of well burning and not smoking candles was mastered by Chinese about II century B.C.  
Originally, candles were mostly used for religion rites due to their high price. It has been changed in X century A.D. (some sources state that it already happened in the Christians persecution times) when worse burning but cheaper candle made from tallow was discovered. First mentions concerning tallow candles (where wick was made from leaf) come from XVI century Polish chronicles. Then beeswax candles were used only in upper class houses, poorer people had to use animal fat candles.

In Zygmunt August (XVI century Polish monarch) times beeswax and tallow candles production was restricted and permissions for production was limited by so-called privileges. Przemysl city can be an example, it received privilege of tallow candles production about year 1580.  In XVI century in Poland only three factories had a privileges of dipped candles production. Production of beeswax candles by pouring and stroking method, which also was a privilege, was well know by Poznan chemist in the beginning of XVIII century.

We are also obligated to mention about candles which are currently the most popular – paraffin and stearin candles. The innovator of the first, good quality stearin candle was French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul. He created stearin by hydrolysis of tallow. All process was patented approximately in 1825. In 1831 stearin candles were commonly produced by European factories.

End of XIX century is described as dynamic development of petroleum distillation – source of paraffin. Then, paraffin candles were stared to produce on large scale. Currently, candles are often made from mix of paraffin and stearin in appropriate proportions.

From time immemorial candlelight was connected with different religious rituals, e.g. in Christian religion it symbolize Jesus Christ and it is present during whole Mass. Candles made from natural beeswax are used in Catholic Church, in Orthodox Church made from artificial wax (ceresin). However, during Jewish Hanukkah holiday (called also Feast of Light) menora (nine-branched candelabrum) lighting is celebrated.

Nowadays, candles are use mostly in emergency e.g. lack of electricity and in situations where they esthetical virtues are important e.g. to create a special atmosphere. Moreover, often and often beeswax candles are appreciated due to their healthy characteristics. Beeswax candles are used in aromatherapy and apitherapy. Currently, beeswax candles are mostly produced by beekeepers and professionally by MAREMIL company which specialize in these kinds of products.