We have a set of beeswax candles in our Tudor Handling Collection.
In Tudor times, those who were poor would have made the candles from tallow, which is made from animal fat. These candles would have created an unpleasant smell when burning and released smoke which blackened the walls of homes. Rich people would have had candles made from beeswax, which has a fragrant smell, and did not give off the black smoke which tallow candles did.
During Tudor times, candles and oil lamps were the main way of lighting spaces at night.