The History of Paraffin

Paraffin is a colorless or white odorless wax that is derived from petroleum and is very cheap to produce. While it started out as a simple candle-making substance in the 1800s, it has numerous medical, aesthetic and commercial applications as of 2010.

1800s

• Paraffin wax was produced commercially in the mid-1800s after chemists learned to separate the waxy substance from actual petroleum and then refine it to make it safe for a variety of commercial uses. Some sources indicate that paraffin was made from this petroleum oil and coal shale instead of petroleum alone. Paraffin, at this point, was mostly used for candle making.

World War I

• The French and the British were among the first to use paraffin medically during World War I. The French brushed it on small open wounds and the British used the heated wax to treat orthopedic problems.

2010

• As of 2010, paraffin wax is still used in most manufactured candles. Medically, paraffin wax uses have greatly expanded. The wax is used in thermotherapy to treat tendentious, arthritis and sports-related injuries; the wax is heated and applied to the body to reduce pain in joints and muscles. Spas and dermatologists use the wax to treat eczema or otherwise dehydrated skin. Paraffin has numerous other commercial uses such as insulation, cosmetics, heating and printing ink.