From Roman Rituals to Modern Romance: The Illuminating History of Candles on Valentine's Day

By Karen Platt, Co-Founder, CandleXchange

Valentine's Day falls on the 14th of February each year — but where it came from, and why candles became so central to how we celebrate it, is a story that crosses centuries, continents, and competing theories.

Whether you approach the day as a romantic, a historian, or simply someone who appreciates an excuse to light a beautiful candle, the connection between candlelight and love runs deeper than any greeting card company invented it.

The Murky Origins of Valentine's Day

The history of Valentine's Day is genuinely contested. One widely held theory traces the holiday to Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr of the 3rd century AD — though which Saint Valentine is itself unclear, as the Roman Martyrology lists several. One version of the story holds that a priest named Valentine was executed by Emperor Claudius II after secretly performing marriages for Roman soldiers, whom Claudius had banned from marrying on the theory that single men made better soldiers.

Another theory connects Valentine's Day to Lupercalia, an ancient Roman festival held in mid-February that celebrated fertility and the coming of spring. The festival involved rituals associated with purification and pairing, and some historians have suggested that as Christianity spread through Rome, the Church overlaid Christian saints' days onto existing pagan festivals to ease the transition — though this theory is disputed, and others argue there's little direct evidence connecting Lupercalia to the February 14 date we observe today.

What does seem clear is that the association between Valentine's Day and romantic love developed during the medieval period. The English poet Geoffrey Chaucer referenced the belief that birds chose their mates on Saint Valentine's Day in the 14th century — one of the earliest known written links between the day and romantic partnership.

Candles and Candlelight Through the Centuries

Long before electricity, candlelight was simply how people lived after dark — but it was never only functional. From ancient Rome, where candles were lit in temples to honour Juno Februa, goddess of love and marriage, to medieval churches where candles marked feast days and devotional occasions, flame carried meaning beyond illumination.

Candlelit dinners became associated with romance not because of marketing, but because of what candlelight actually does. It softens edges, reduces the visual noise of a space, and draws two people into a shared pool of warmth. It signals that the moment is different from the ordinary — set apart, slowed down, worth attending to. That quality has carried forward from antiquity to the present without interruption.

Scented candles added another dimension. Certain fragrance families have long been associated with romance and intimacy: floral notes like rose and gardenia, warm base notes like sandalwood and vanilla, fresh green notes that evoke the natural world. The choice of scent in a shared space is an intimate one — it shapes mood, triggers memory, and contributes to how a moment is experienced and recalled.

Valentine's Day in Modern Times

The commercial dimension of Valentine's Day expanded significantly through the 19th and 20th centuries, with printed cards, flowers, and confectionery becoming standard. But the instinct behind the day — to mark romantic connection with something intentional and sensory — has remained consistent across all that commercialisation.

Candles have survived as a Valentine's Day staple precisely because they resist the throwaway quality of many gift categories. A candle you've chosen thoughtfully — for its fragrance, its quality, the mood it creates — is a considered gift. Lit on the evening itself, it becomes part of the experience rather than sitting wrapped on a shelf.

Choosing a Candle for Valentine's Day

If you're looking for a candle that adds something genuine to a Valentine's Day moment, the fragrance choice matters more than the packaging. Floral notes — rose, gardenia, Australian florals — evoke softness and warmth. Sandalwood and vanilla work in deeper, more intimate spaces. Citrus and fresh notes suit a lighter, celebratory mood.

CandleXchange candles are made with natural soy wax and fragranced with natural oils: a blend of pure essential oils and naturally-derived fragrance oils. They come in returnable glass containers — you bring the container back when the candle is finished, and it goes back into use through our Return & Swap program rather than to landfill. Browse our full candle range to find a fragrance for the occasion.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Valentine's Day and how did it get its name?

Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14 each year. It takes its name from Saint Valentine — though which historical Saint Valentine is unclear, as several are named in early Christian records. The association of the day with romantic love appears to have developed through medieval European tradition rather than ancient Roman practice, though the origins remain contested among historians.

Why is candlelight considered romantic?

Candlelight creates warmth, softness, and visual intimacy in a way that electric lighting doesn't replicate. It draws people together in a shared space of warmth and reduces the ambient noise of a room visually. These qualities — along with fragrance, if the candle is scented — make candlelight genuinely conducive to the slowed-down, present-focused quality that romantic occasions call for.

What scents are good for Valentine's Day?

Floral fragrances — rose, gardenia, lavender — are traditional choices. Warm base notes like sandalwood, vanilla, and amber suit intimate indoor settings. The best choice depends on the space and the people in it; fragrance is personal. Browsing by scent family through our soy candle range is the most reliable way to find something suited to the occasion.