Ben Carter
Relighting a candle without using its wick is an impressive trick to master. It involves blowing out a candle and then relighting it by causing a flame to travel along a path of smoke. This works because when a candle is lit, the flame vaporizes the wax, and when the candle is blown out, the residual heat from the wick keeps vaporizing wax. By bringing another flame close to the smoke trail, you can reignite the candle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What you need | A candle, a second source of flame (e.g. another candle, a lighter, or a match) |
| How to relight | Blow out the candle, immediately place the other flame into the smoke |
| Scientific explanation | When you light a candle, the heat from the flame vaporizes the candle wax. When you blow out the candle, the residue heat from the wick keeps vaporizing wax. The smoke trail is actually vaporized wax. By bringing another flame close to the fuel trail, you can reignite the candle. |
| Tips | If you have trouble lighting the smoke, try moving your flame closer to the wick because that's where the concentration of vaporized wax is highest. Make sure the air is still around the candle to maximize the amount of wax vapor and have a clear smoke trail. |
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What You'll Learn
Relighting a candle without using the wick
Relighting a candle without touching the flame to the wick may seem impossible, but it is possible to relight it by touching the flame to the smoke. This trick works because when you light a candle, the heat from the flame vaporizes the candle wax. When you blow the candle out, the hot vapourised wax remains in the air for a few seconds. If you apply a flame to the smoke, the wax vapour ignites and the flame travels down the smoke trail to the wick.
To perform this trick, start by lighting the candle and letting a big flame develop. Then, blow out the candle and wait a couple of seconds for the smoke trail to rise from the wick. Hold a lighter near the smoke trail and place the flame in the smoke. You can be close to the wick, but don't let the flame touch it. A blue flame will travel along the trail to the wick and the candle will relight.
It is easier to ignite the smoke if the air in the room is still and quiet. This is because the smoke trail is very straight when the air is still, and the concentration of wax vapour is highest near the wick.
If you have a candle with no wick, you can recycle the wax to make a new candle. To do this, put the candle in the freezer. The wax will contract and loosen overnight. Pop out the wax disc, melt it into a jar, and insert a new wick. You can make a wick by dipping a piece of kitchen twine or hemp string in melted wax. Alternatively, you can buy a pack of wicks from a craft store.
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How to light a candle with smoke
To light a candle with smoke, start by lighting the candle. Once it is lit, blow it out. It is important to do this when the air is still, so that the smoke travels in a straight line away from the wick.
After blowing out the candle, wait a couple of seconds for the smoke trail to rise. Then, hold a lighter, match, or another lit candle close to the smoke trail, without letting the flame touch the wick. The flame will travel down the smoke trail and relight the candle.
This trick works because when you light a candle, the heat from the flame vaporises the wax. When you blow out the candle, the residue heat from the wick keeps vaporising wax, and this vaporised wax is what catches fire, not the smoke. The smoke trail is simply vapourised wax that is carried up into the smoke.
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Using candle wax to make new candles
If you want to make new candles using old candle wax, there are several methods you can try. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Firstly, you need to melt the wax. Place your old candles in a pot with water, about 2 inches deep, and bring it to a boil. You can also place your candle in a small pot and then place that pot inside a larger one filled with water. Bring the water to a simmer and melt the wax. Make sure the pot doesn't overflow and keep adding water if it starts to evaporate.
Once the wax is melted, remove any old wicks and metal wick holders using tweezers or tongs. You can also cut up larger candles so they fit into your pot. If you are combining different types of wax, make sure they are all the same type.
Now, prepare your containers. You can reuse old candle holders, but make sure to clean and dry them thoroughly before use. Use double-sided tape or stickers to secure the wick in place inside the container. Position the wick upright and tight using a wick positioning tool or cocktail sticks, skewers, or similar items. You can also use blu tack or tape to stick your skewers together.
Finally, pour the melted wax into your containers, stopping about half an inch below the rim. Let it stand until it sets, which should take about an hour. You can add any extras, such as essential oils or dried flowers, at this stage.
You can also make your own votives by cutting a piece of wicking, available at craft stores, 2 inches taller than the votive holder. Knot one end and thread it through a wick tab. Then, dip the wicking and tab into the melted wax to coat them. Press the tab to the bottom of the holder and rest the skewer on the rim. Pour the melted wax into the votive holder and let it set.
There are many ways to reuse old candle wax, so get creative and enjoy the process of making new candles!
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The science behind relighting a candle
Relighting a candle is a fun science trick that can be done by causing the flame to travel along a path of smoke. This trick is based on the science of how candles work. When you light a candle, the heat from the flame vaporizes the candle wax. When you blow out the candle, the residual heat from the wick keeps vaporizing wax, and this vaporized wax is what we see as a smoke trail.
To relight the candle, immediately place another flame into the smoke trail. The flame will then travel down the smoke and relight the candle. The vaporized wax in the smoke is ignited, and the flame travels down to the wick. It is important to note that it is not the smoke that is ignited, but rather the wax vapor. Soot and other debris from the flame are not ignited.
Some types of wax vaporize less than others, making it more challenging to light the smoke. For example, bayberry wax, soy wax, and tallow candles may be more difficult to relight using this method. Additionally, the distance from the wick can also impact the success of relighting the candle. The closer the flame is to the wick, the higher the concentration of vaporized wax, increasing the likelihood of relighting the candle.
This trick can be a fun way to impress your friends or teach children about the science behind candles. It can also be a starting point for further experiments, such as exploring the effect of wind speed on the burning rate of a candle or investigating the amount of heat energy released by a burning candle.
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The best sources of flame to relight a candle
Relighting a candle is an impressive trick to perform, and it's made even better by the fact that it's rooted in science. When you blow out a candle, vaporized wax is released into the air. If you apply a heat source quickly enough, you can ignite the wax vapour and use this reaction to relight the wick of the candle. This is why smoke is often referred to as a 'path' or 'trail'—it's the trail of wax vapour that leads back to the wick.
There are several sources of flame that can be used to relight a candle. Here are some of the best options:
Candle
You can use one candle to light another. This is a simple and effective method, but it does require you to have two candles. Light the first candle and use it to light the second. Then, blow out the first candle and immediately place the flame of the second candle into the smoke of the first. The flame will travel down the smoke trail and relight the first candle.
Lighter
A lighter is a convenient and portable option for relighting a candle. Like a candle, a lighter can be used to ignite the wax vapour in the smoke and relight the candle. Light the lighter and hold the flame in the smoke near the wick.
Match
Matches are another good source of flame for relighting a candle. Hold a lit match in the smoke near the wick of the blown-out candle, and the flame will travel down the smoke trail and relight the wick.
It's worth noting that some candles are easier to relight than others. Candles made with waxes that vaporize more readily, such as beeswax, paraffin, or gelatin, may be better options for this trick. Additionally, ensuring that the air is still around the candle will maximize the amount of wax vapour around the wick and create a clear smoke trail.
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Frequently asked questions
You can relight a candle using the smoke that remains right after you blow out the flame. Light a candle and blow it out. Have a second source of flame ready, such as another candle, a lighter, or a match. Immediately place the other flame into the smoke. The flame will travel down the smoke and relight your candle.
When you light a candle, it takes a second or two to melt and vaporize the wax before it can ignite and become self-sustaining. When you blow out the candle, the residual heat from the wick keeps vaporizing wax. The smoke trail you see is vaporized wax. So, by bringing another flame close to the fuel trail, you can reignite the candle.
Some kinds of wax vaporize less than others, making it more difficult to light the smoke. Try using different kinds of wax candles, such as beeswax, paraffin, gelatin, bayberry wax, soy wax, or tallow.
Try moving your flame closer to the wick because that's where the concentration of vaporized wax is highest. Another tip is to make sure the air is still around the candle to maximize the amount of wax vapor and have a clear smoke trail.
Please be advised that candles and their flames are dangerous and should always be handled with care and used with common sense. Do not leave candles unattended and keep them away from flammable objects and materials.
