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🕯️ The Lit Life: A Fun & Fabulous History of Candles

From Ancient Flame to Bougie Bliss

Let’s be real: we love candles. They’re cute, cozy, and smell amazing. But before candles were all about good vibes and dreamy scents, they had a much tougher job—like literally lighting up ancient civilizations.

At Bougie Bliss, we like our candles with a side of fun—and a sprinkle of history. So grab your favorite blanket, light your go-to scent, and let’s take a not-so-boring trip through time.

🔥 Flashback: Candles Before They Were Cool

Once upon a time (okay, around 3,000 BCE), there were no matches, no wax melts—just people trying to see in the dark. The Egyptians made these things called rushlights by dipping reeds in animal fat. Not super glamorous, but hey, it got the job done.

Then came the Romans, who thought, “Let’s add a wick to this mess,” and voilà—real candles were born. They also used tallow (read: beef fat). Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly a spa day for the nose.

🐝 Beeswax and Bougie Vibes

Fast-forward to the Middle Ages, and candles started leveling up. Enter: beeswax. These candles burned cleaner, brighter, and actually smelled kind of nice (hello, honey!).

But beeswax was expensive, so only the fancy folks and churches could afford them. Think medieval bougie. Basically, if you had beeswax candles back then, you were that person.

🐋 Whale Wax? Yep, That Happened

By the 18th century, people were getting creative. They started using spermaceti (a wax from sperm whales) to make candles that didn’t stink and burned like champs. Honestly, it was kind of genius—and kind of weird.

Then came the real game-changer: paraffin wax in the 19th century. Cheap, clean, and smokeless. Suddenly, everyone could enjoy a little candle-lit bliss.

Just when you thought candle evolution peaked with paraffin, soy wax slid in with a sustainable flex. Made from soybean oil (yep, the same beans that make your tofu), soy wax showed up in the 1990s and said, “Let’s burn cleaner and greener.”

Unlike paraffin (a byproduct of petroleum), soy wax is renewable, biodegradable, and super eco-friendly. It burns slower, lasts longer, and holds fragrance like a dream — which means your space smells amazing for hours without the soot.

Bonus points? It’s vegan. And in a world of conscious choices, that kind of matters.

So whether you're setting the mood or manifesting some peace, soy wax is proof that candles didn’t just survive the light bulb—they evolved with the times.

Sustainable. Scented. Stunning. That’s soy wax for you.

💡 The Light Bulb Tried It...

...but candles didn’t care. Even after Mr. Edison gave us the electric light, candles were like, “We’re not going anywhere.”

That’s when candles went from being practical to being personal. Romantic dinners? Candles. Self-care Sunday? Candles. Power outage? You guessed it—candles.