Whether a separate office or not, the function was naturally an important one, in a time before electric light, and when production of candles was often done privately.
[2] While this usage is obsolete today, the term can refer to a candle business.
[3][4] By the 18th century, most commercial chandlers dealt in candles, oils, soap, and even paint.
As these provided ships' stores, chandlery came to refer to a shop selling nautical items for ships and boats, although for a time they were called ship-chandleries to distinguish them.
The term chandelier, at one time a ceiling fixture that held a number of candles, is still used.