Light and Legacy: Candles, Black History, and the Power of Resilience

febrero 14 2026, por Mika Jackson, 7 Tiempo mínimo de lectura

Explore African American candle history, resilience, and modern artistry, celebrating Black History Month while honoring heritage, culture, and the power of light and legacy in every candle.

I am writing this article in honor of Black History Month. As a candle maker, I began to wonder: What connection does Black history have with candles?

At first, I did not find a neat list or a simple timeline. But the deeper I researched, the more I realized that candles and Black history share something meaningful, resilience, creativity, survival, and light during dark seasons.

Candles have always meant more than illumination.
They represent hope.
They represent endurance.
They represent legacy.

And that connection runs deeper than we may think.

A Legacy of Light: Historic Candle Companies

World’s Oldest Candle Companies

Rathbornes 1488 (1488): Founded in Dublin, Ireland, by John G. Rathborne, this company is recognized as the world’s oldest candle manufacturer. Originally providing candles for lighthouses, homes, and streets, Rathbornes still uses traditional hand-pouring techniques with beeswax, maintaining over 500 years of craftsmanship.

Cire Trudon (1643): This French luxury candle manufacturer was the provider for the royal court of Louis XIV and large French churches. Today, they continue to produce high-end scented candles using techniques refined over centuries.

Caza das Vellas Loreto (1789): Located in Lisbon, Portugal, this shop is one of the oldest continuously operating candle stores in the world. Known for its artisanal, fragrant, and traditional candles, it has survived centuries while maintaining its classic European craftsmanship.

These historic companies have endured for centuries by adapting to modern needs while maintaining traditional, high-quality manufacturing techniques, proving that craftsmanship, resilience, and vision can create a lasting legacy.

Their stories made me ask myself a bigger question:

What does candle history look like within Black history?

Candles in Black History: Survival and Symbolism

During slavery in America, even basic candles were hard for enslaved Africans to get. Rich families used beeswax candles that burned clean and bright. Most people made tallow candles from animal fat. These candles were smoky and smelled bad, but they were better than nothing. Making them took hours. Families set up huge pots over fireplaces that were eight feet long. They dipped wicks into hot fat over and over, then hung them on poles to dry.

Even these smelly candles were precious. Colonial families used sunlight during the day, moving their furniture to follow the sun. At night, they walked in darkness between the fireplace and one small candle flame.

For enslaved people, it was much worse. Most relied on firelight after dark. Sometimes they could make a small candle from leftover wax or fat scraps, but not often. The difference between who had light and who didn't became just another way slavery controlled people's lives.
But candles meant something deeper than just light. In African spiritual traditions from Nigeria to other parts of the diaspora, candles were sacred. Their flames showed the presence of God and honored ancestors. They created a pathway for spirits to move between worlds. Families built altars with candles to talk with those who came before them, asking for guidance and protection. Light itself was a beacon calling spirits to visit the physical world. It meant life continued even after death. Even during slavery, these spiritual beliefs survived. People whispered them, adapted them, and kept them alive.

You won't find many 18th or 19th century African American candle companies that lasted for generations. But that doesn't mean Black people lacked creativity or business skills. It shows how the system was designed to keep them from succeeding.
Before the Civil War, only 10% of Black people were free. Laws made it nearly impossible for enslaved people to buy their freedom. Free Black people faced terrible racism and laws that blocked them from starting businesses.

After the Civil War ended, things got a little better for a while. Between then and the Great Depression, over 130 Black-owned banks opened. But economic opportunity was still choked off. During Jim Crow, lynchings happened two to three times every week. Successful Black business owners and farmers were common targets. White competitors killed them because they saw them as threats.
The Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma showed what Black people could build when given a chance. Known as "Black Wall Street," it had over 300 Black-owned businesses. In 1921, white mobs burned it all down.

Even today, the barriers remain. Four out of ten Black-owned businesses get denied when they apply for loans or credit. Only 18% of white-owned businesses face the same rejection. Studies from 1993 to 1998 found that Black-owned small businesses were twice as likely to be denied credit, even when their finances looked just as good. The reason was discrimination, plain and simple.
This history matters. It means today's Black-owned candle companies aren't just selling products. They're building the legacies that centuries of slavery, segregation, violence, and economic barriers prevented their ancestors from creating. They're reclaiming light itself.

Modern Black-Owned Candle Companies Carrying the Flame

While there may not be a 300-year-old documented African American candle company, there are powerful brands today shaping what the next century could look like.

Harlem Candle Company

Founded: 2014

Founded by Teri Johnson, Harlem Candle Company creates luxury candles inspired by the Harlem Renaissance. Each fragrance honors art, music, literature, and Black cultural excellence.

What makes them unique:
They combine fine fragrance with historical storytelling. Their candles feel curated, intentional, and rooted in cultural pride.

Bright Black

Founded: 2019

Based in Durham, North Carolina, Bright Black creates candles inspired by cities connected to the African diaspora.

What makes them unique:
Each collection centers Black identity, geography, and global cultural influence through scent.

Southern Elegance Candle Company

Founded: 2016

Founded by D’Shawn Russell, this brand began in a kitchen and grew into a nationally recognized company.

What makes them unique:
Their scents capture Southern life, memory, and nostalgia, blending storytelling with entrepreneurship.

Love Ground Candle Co.

Founded: 2015

Based in Atlanta, Love Ground focuses on intentional self-care and grounding rituals.

What makes them unique:
Their brand centers emotional wellness and mindful living.

Wigenton Candle Co.

Wigenton emphasizes clean-burning candles and safe fragrance choices.

What makes them unique:
They focus on wellness-driven formulations and community connection.

Blk Sunflower

Blk Sunflower centers empowerment, identity, and intentional lifestyle branding.

What makes them unique:
Their messaging leans into affirmation and cultural pride.

Scent & Fire Candle Company

Founded by Monisha Edwards, Scent & Fire blends fragrance with music, fashion, and culture.

What makes them unique:
They use scent as artistic expression and community storytelling.

Why This Matters to Me

When I look at historic candle companies such as Rathbornes 1488, Cire Trudon, and Caza das Vellas Loreto, I see more than longevity. I see centuries of careful craftsmanship, adaptation to changing times, and dedication to quality that allowed them to survive wars, revolutions, and societal shifts. These companies had access to resources, networks, and markets that allowed their legacies to endure across generations. Their stories are fascinating and inspiring because they show what is possible when skill, vision, and opportunity come together over time.

When I look at modern Black-owned candle companies such as Harlem Candle Co., Bright Black, Southern Elegance, and Love Ground Candle Co., I see resilience in action. These entrepreneurs are building legacies in a world that historically denied them access to the same infrastructure and opportunities. They face challenges that centuries-old European candle makers never had to confront, yet they create beautiful, meaningful, and culturally rich candles that celebrate heritage, community, and identity. Their success is not just measured in business growth but in the way they preserve and amplify Black culture and stories through their craft.

Reflecting on both historic and modern examples, I realize that building a lasting legacy is not only about time or wealth. It is about intentional effort, creativity, and commitment to something greater than oneself. As I work on my own candle brand, I am not simply pouring wax into vessels. I am participating in a story of endurance, innovation, and light. I am contributing to a tradition of artistry and resilience that spans continents and centuries.
Legacy is not built overnight. It is built intentionally. It is built consistently. It is built flame by flame. Every candle carries a story, a culture, and a vision forward.