Jessie Taylor
Emergency candles are a great resource to have on hand for power outages, blackouts, and other survival situations. They can be used for light, heat, and cooking. Fortunately, they are easy and inexpensive to make at home with everyday items, such as wax, cooking oil, cotton string, mason jars, and even crayons. In this guide, we will explore various methods for creating emergency candles using common household objects, so you can be prepared for any unexpected events.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use | Heat, light, and cooking |
| Ingredients | Wax/fat, wick, and a fire-resistant container |
| Wax/Fat Sources | Crayons, cheese wax, vegetable shortening, cooking oil, butter, Crisco, animal fat, soy flakes, coconut oil, olive oil, canola oil, almond oil, paraffin oil, remnants of used candles |
| Wick Sources | Cotton string, cardboard, newspaper, toilet paper, old clothing and fabric scraps, cotton balls |
| Containers | Mason jars, baby food jars, tin cans, aluminum cans, cups made of aluminum foil, lip balm tins, shoe polish tins |
| Other Tools | Hammer, nail, scissors, drill, screw, cook pot, double boiler, skewer, toothpick |
| Burn Time | Dependent on wax/fat amount and type of wick; can range from 15 minutes to 100 hours |
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What You'll Learn
Using wax crayons
Wax crayons can be used to make emergency candles, but they may not be the most effective option. While they can provide light in a pinch, there are some drawbacks to consider. Here are the steps to create an emergency candle using wax crayons:
First, prepare your workspace. You will need a fire-resistant surface, such as a dinner plate or a small glass container. It is important to ensure that the area is clear of any flammable materials and that there is proper ventilation, as crayon candles can produce smoke.
Next, prepare the crayon. Some sources suggest removing the wrapper from the crayon, while others recommend keeping it on. The wrapper can act as an external wick, but it may take longer to light and produce more smoke. If you choose to remove the wrapper, be careful when handling the exposed crayon, as it can melt easily.
To create a stable base for your crayon candle, heat the bottom of the crayon and press it onto your fire-resistant surface. This will melt the wax, creating a flat surface for the crayon to stand upright. You can use a match or another heat source to melt the bottom of the crayon.
Once the crayon is secure, prepare your wick. You can use a variety of materials for the wick, such as cotton string, cotton balls, or even twisted toilet paper. If using cotton string, consider braiding three strings together for a sturdier wick. You can dip the wick in wax or soak it in a salted water solution to make it stiffer and help it burn slower and cleaner.
Place the wick into the centre of the crayon, ensuring it is secure and does not fall over. You can use salt or sand at the base of your fire-resistant surface to help the wick stay upright.
Now, you are ready to light your crayon candle. It may take several attempts to get the crayon wrapper to catch fire, so be patient and use caution when lighting. Once lit, the crayon candle will provide light for approximately 15 to 30 minutes.
While wax crayons can be used to create emergency candles, they have a shorter burn time and may produce more smoke and soot compared to traditional candles. However, in a true emergency, they can be a creative solution to provide temporary light.
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With cooking oil and a flame-resistant container
If you have cooking oil and a flame-resistant container, you can make an emergency candle. Here's how:
First, prepare your wick. If you have a cotton shoelace, you can use that. If you don't, you can make a wick by cutting a square of toilet paper into quarters, then twisting and folding one of the quarters into a fishhook shape. You can also use a wooden wick, which doesn't need to be soaked in oil or wax before burning. If you're using a cotton wick, dip it in wax or soak it in a salted water solution, then let it dry. This will help it burn more slowly and cleanly.
Next, prepare your container. You can use a glass or metal container, such as a mason jar. If you're using a metal container, make sure it's flame-resistant. Punch a hole in the centre of the lid—it should be wide enough to accommodate the wick, but not so wide that the wick falls into the jar.
Now, prepare your candle. If you're using an orange or other citrus fruit, slice off the top part of the peel, taking care not to cut into the fruit. Carefully remove the peel from the bottom half of the orange, taking the pith (the long white part) out with it. You should be left with a bowl-like structure made from the peel, with the pith sticking straight up from the centre. Place this in your container, then fill it with cooking oil, soaking the pith as you go. Alternatively, simply fill your container most of the way with oil, leaving about half an inch of space at the top. Place a small amount of salt in the bottom of the container first to help the wick stand upright.
Finally, insert your wick. If you're using a cotton shoelace, bend a paperclip and use it to hold the wick in place. If you're using a wooden wick, simply place it in the oil. If you're using the toilet paper wick, insert it into the oil all the way down into the salt, so that the wick stands about one-quarter of an inch above the oil. If you're using an orange, the pith will act as the wick; light the top of it.
Your candle is now ready to light. You can add more oil to extend its life, but the wick will eventually stop working, so you can't keep adding oil indefinitely.
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Out of cheese wax
While it may be a fun and simple way to learn basic survival skills, making an emergency candle out of cheese wax is not the most practical option. For the same price as a packet of cheese, you could buy purpose-built candles that would last longer and produce less sooty smoke. However, if you regularly consume cheese coated in wax, such as Babybel, and are looking for a creative way to reuse the wax, here are some options for making emergency candles:
Using Cheese Wax as the Candle Wax
One option is to use the cheese wax as the candle wax itself. To do this, collect a sufficient amount of cheese wax and melt it down. You can then dip a wick into the melted wax or cast the wax around a wick using a mold. Make sure to add salt to the melted wax before it solidifies to make the candle burn more slowly. You can use a purpose-made wick or create your own by braiding three cotton strings together and dipping them in wax or soaking them in a salted water solution.
Using Cheese Wax as a Protective Casing
Another option is to use the cheese wax as a protective casing for another type of wax or fuel. For example, you can roll up a strip of newspaper into a tight thin roll and wrap it in cheese wax. When lit, the cheese wax will act as a protective casing that will burn slowly, allowing the newspaper to act as the fuel for the candle.
Using Cheese Wax as a Container
A final option is to use the cheese wax as a container for another type of fuel. For example, you can cut a hole in a can of tuna in sunflower oil and place a short length of cotton string into the oil. The string will act as a wick, and the oil will act as the fuel. You can then place the can of tuna into a container made of cheese wax to catch any spills or drips.
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From an orange and cooking oil
To make an emergency candle using an orange and cooking oil, you will need an orange, a knife, and some cooking oil. Any type of cooking oil will work, but olive oil is the most stable when lit.
First, cut the orange. Place the orange on a cutting surface with the ends facing horizontally. Cut all the way around the center of the orange peel, just deep enough to cut through the white pith lining the peel. Once you've cut all the way around, stick your thumb into the slice on one half of the orange, between the peel and flesh. Carefully rotate the orange to loosen the peel from the flesh. Once the peel is loosened, slowly twist and pull the peel away from the orange.
Next, fill the orange peel bowl with olive oil, soaking the pith as you go. Allow the stem to soak in the oil for a few minutes. Finally, light the top of the pith like a wick. It may be a little difficult to get the pith to light initially, so hold the flame to it for around 30 seconds.
You can extend the burn time of your candle by adding more oil to the orange as it burns. You can also use any other type of citrus fruit, such as a clementine or lemon, but keep in mind that the burning time will vary depending on the size of the fruit.
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With cotton string and a glass jar
Creating an emergency candle with cotton string and a glass jar is simple and straightforward. The first step is to clean and dry your glass jar thoroughly. It is important to ensure that the jar is completely dry before proceeding to the next step.
Next, prepare the wick by cutting a length of cotton string. It is recommended to braid three strings together to make a thicker wick, which will burn more slowly and cleanly. You can also dip the wick in wax or soak it in a saltwater solution and then let it dry to increase its stiffness. Once the wick is ready, attach it to the bottom center of the jar using hot glue or another adhesive.
Now it's time to add the wax. You can use paraffin, soy wax, or beeswax, melting it in a double boiler over low heat or in a microwave-safe container. If using a microwave, heat the wax in short intervals, stirring in between, until it is completely melted. Once the wax is melted, carefully pour it into the jar, holding the wick upright with a pencil or chopstick to ensure it remains centered.
Leave the wax to cool and harden completely before trimming the wick to about 1/4 inch. You can adjust the wick length to your preference, but a longer wick may result in a larger flame. Finally, your emergency candle is ready for use. Remember always to keep an eye on burning candles and never leave them unattended.
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Frequently asked questions
Slice the top off an orange, remove the centre pith and pour in some cooking oil. You can use olive oil, canola oil or any other type of cooking oil. The larger the orange, the longer your candle will burn for.
You can make an emergency candle out of a wax crayon, cheese wax, butter, a tin can and oil, or vegetable shortening. You can also use a jar, such as a baby food jar, a mason jar, or a jam jar, and fill it with wax or vegetable shortening.
You can use a cotton string as a wick. If you're using cotton string, braid three strings together to make a heftier wick. You can also make your own wick out of old clothing and fabric scraps, as long as they are 100% cotton. Alternatively, you can use a strip of newspaper, a quarter of toilet paper, or a strip of cardboard.
