Candles were made from animal fats in ancient times. As knowledge and materials improved, people began making them with beeswax and vegetable wax, which burned more cleanly and produced less odor. Before __1__ lighting, candles were considered highly valuable. In many religions, they came to symbolize life and wisdom. Even today, candles are frequently used in religious rituals and for cultural celebrations.
The __2__ toward industrial candle making began in 1834, when Joseph Morgan patented a machine that could produce molded candles without interruption. His __3__ marked the start of mechanized production, though for many decades, candles were still made mainly in small workshops. Since the early 20th century, however, candle making has grown into a large-scale industry. The use of synthetic oils and modern scent-blending techniques has made it possible to mass-produce a wide range of scented items that were once __4__ only by hand.
Scented candles today can be made from countless combinations of fragrances. Some candles are designed to evoke __5__ moods or natural environments, such as fresh spring rain or a misty mountain forest. Others capture the distinctive scents associated with major __6__, like Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Photo: AdobeStock I 照片： AdobeStock
Typically, scented candles release fragrance in three phases: top notes, heart notes, and base notes. When a candle is first __7__, the top notes are the most prominent. After about an hour, the heart notes become apparent, and as the candle continues to burn, the base notes slowly __8__.
A well-chosen scent can make any space feel more inviting and even affect one’s mood. Some scents help us feel energetic and are perfect for lively gatherings. Others can offer a feeling of calm for a relaxing evening. By stimulating our sense of smell, scented candles are __9__ tools for creating a comfortable atmosphere. They can also provide therapeutic __10__, helping lift spirits, relieve stress, or promote restful sleep. No wonder they continue to be cherished in homes around the world.
在古代，蠟燭是由動物脂肪製成的。隨著知識與材料的進步，人們開始用蜂蠟和植物蠟來製作蠟燭，這些蠟燒得更乾淨，且產生的味道較少。在電力照明設備發明以前，蠟燭被認為具有極高價值。許多宗教中，它們日漸象徵著生命和智慧。即便到了今日，蠟燭仍時常用於宗教儀式及文化慶典中。
Photo: Ivy English 照片： Ivy English
蠟燭製造業走向工業化的轉變始於 1834 年，當時喬瑟夫摩根替一臺能不間斷生產模製蠟燭的機器取得了專利。他的發明標誌著機械化生產的開端，雖然在往後的好幾十年裡，蠟燭主要仍於小型工作坊製造。不過自二十世紀初以來，蠟燭製造已成長為大規模行業。合成油與現代香味調製技術的運用，使各式各樣原本只能純手工製作的香氛產品得以大量生產。
如今的香氛蠟燭可由無數種香味組合製成。有些蠟燭的設計是為了喚起季節氛圍或自然環境，例如清新的春雨氣息或雲霧繚繞的山林氣味。有些則捕捉與重大節日相關的獨特香氣，如感恩節或聖誕節。
一般而言，香氛蠟燭的香氣會分三個階段釋放：前調、中調與後調。當蠟燭剛點燃時，前調的香味最為明顯。約一小時後，中調香氣開始顯現，而隨著蠟燭持續燃燒，後調的氣味則會慢慢浮現。
精心挑選的香氣能讓任何空間更具吸引力，甚至影響人的情緒。有些香味有助於使人感覺充滿活力，特別適合熱鬧的聚會。另一些則能帶來平靜感，適合在放鬆的夜晚使用。藉由刺激嗅覺，香氛蠟燭成為營造舒適氛圍的有效工具。它們也具有療癒的益處，有助於提振心情、舒緩壓力或促進放鬆睡眠。難怪香氛蠟燭至今仍深受世界各地家庭的喜愛。
What Did You Learn?
(A) lit (B) benefits (C) seasonal
(D) emerge (E) invention (F) shift
(G) crafted (H) holidays (I) electrical
(J) effective
參考答案 :
1. I 2. F 3. E 4. G 5. C
6. H 7. A 8. D 9. J 10. B
Words in Use
1. aroma n. 香氣，香味（常用來形容植物清香、合成香料或是食物的香味）
scented a. 有香氣的／scent n. 香氣
odor n. 氣味（香味／臭味），名聲
fragrance n. 香味，芬芳（指各種令人愉悅的香味，常指花香）
Daniel lit a candle that released a calming lavender aroma.
丹尼爾點燃了一根散發平靜薰衣草香氣的蠟燭。
Noah bought a box of scented soaps as gifts for his friends.
諾亞買了一盒香皂當作送給朋友的禮物。
The scent of fresh pine filled the air during our hike in the mountains.
我們登山時，空氣中瀰漫著新鮮松木的香氣。
After cleaning the refrigerator, the strange odor finally disappeared.
清理完冰箱後，那股奇怪的氣味終於消失了。
The shop was famous for selling handmade soaps with natural fragrances.
這家店以販售帶有天然香氣的手工皂而聞名。
2. ritual n. 儀式，典禮
The wedding ceremony included a traditional candle-lighting ritual.
婚禮中包含了一項傳統的點燭儀式。
3. industrial a. 工業（用）的
The city was once a major industrial center before shifting toward tourism.
這座城市在轉向觀光業發展曾是重要的工業中心。
4. patent vt. 為……申請∕取得專利（權）
The start-up patented a special type of battery with a longer lifespan.
那家新創公司為一種壽命更長的特殊電池申請了專利。
5. mass-produce vt. 大量製造
Once the design is finalized, the factory will start to mass-produce it.
設計一旦定案，工廠就會開始大量製造。
Practical Phrases
1. come to V 漸漸……
Emma came to see that mistakes are a natural part of learning.
艾瑪漸漸明白，犯錯是學習過程中自然的一部分。
2. without interruption 不間斷地
interruption n. 中斷
The power supply must remain stable without interruption during the test.
在測試期間，電力供應必須保持穩定，不能中斷。
3. be associated with. . . 與……有關；和……聯想在一起
The smell of fresh pine is often associated with Christmas.
新鮮松木的氣味常與聖誕節聯想在一起。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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