Early western cultures used primarily tallow and beeswax candles. Beeswax candles were considered to be superior to tallow candles as the beeswax candles burned cleanly without the smoky flame of tallow candles. Beeswax candles also produced a more pleasant scent than the foul, acrid odor of burning tallow. However, as beeswax candles were more expensive, they were generally used only by the wealthy and the church.