Why Choose Candles As A Source of Light ?
Candles are probably one of the oldest forms of light. They’re simple to use, don’t require electricity and, depending on which type of candle you decide to use, they are relatively inexpensive. However, they do have their drawbacks :
Candles don’t shed a lot of light, so you will normally need more candles in a room to have a decent light output. A single candle can light up enough things to move around without tripping over and also do simple chores.That being said, reading a book with a single candle would be an awful strain on a good pair of eyes.
Above all, Candles also have a bad habit of igniting what passes in their path. We are talking about an open flame here and candles can alight almost anything that falls in their way. To put it bluntly, they can also be regarded as a fire hazard.
In addition, ordinary wax candles also smoke and melt, so they’re not the cleanest form of light nor can this type of candle be re-utilized.
Before we continue, note well the advice in the following infograph :
There is another, very important 8th Tip to Candle Safety which is to NEVER USE A CANDLE AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE due to the possible presence of broken gas lines/pipes.
Best Emergency Candles
With respect to emergency situations, any candle will do but of course, purpose-built emergency candles perform better. Their best role is for long-term needs in your home, but some people also carry them in go-bags and car supplies. modern LED, rechargeable battery, and solar charger tech have changed the equation — making candles more of a nice-to-have backup, for very long-term emergencies where it makes sense to have un-powered passive light, or for a fringe event like an EMP attack.
To be prepared for emergencies, you need to have a variety of emergency lighting options. So stock up on emergency candles. How Many ? In the article “Emergency Lighting” in the LDS Preparedness Manual, authors Robert Roskind and Greg Pope say, “Every family should have a large supply of candles. Three hundred sixty-five candles, or one per day is not too many. The larger the better.”
365 candles isn’t a crazy amount, but that also may be too overwhelming for a casual prepper. If you’re just trying to cover your basics, which means being able to survive a two-week emergency, you can back out the math :
- If a candle lasts 25 hours, and you’re only using it to keep a room bright enough for basic needs, you could assume 6 hours of burn time per day (from dusk until sleep) for 4 total days per candle.
- So 2 weeks would require about 4 candles. That means you’ll cover the vast majority of emergency situations for $20-40.
- But that’s just the bare minimum. You’ll need more for multiple rooms, to create enough heat to warm a shelter or food/water, etc.
| – Most emergency candles are meant to last between 20-115 hours – If stored properly, candles otherwise last forever. Scented candles can lose their scent over time, but that’s not our concern here. – For house candles, liquid paraffin is good because they are sealed, don’t drip, burn clean, and last for over 100 hours. – For go-bags etc, choose self-contained candles in metal tins or something similar. – Prefer candles that are freestanding / don’t depend on other pieces for a foundation. Some models are designed to work within separate lanterns, for example. TYPES of WAX CANDLES we recommend : (1) = Liquid paraffin: Liquid paraffin candles are a different story, though when compared to solid paraffin. They are usually self-contained, don’t give off smoke, and last a very long time ; (2) = Soy: Soy candles are more “natural” than paraffin, and in theory, you can eat them if you’re desperate… but don’t, because soy is often blended with other waxes. Soy is often reported to burn longer than paraffin. Soy is also very soft, so soy candles almost always come in containers ; (3) = Beeswax: Like soy, beeswax is less toxic than paraffin and is often cited as burning longer than paraffin. Melted beeswax is also useful for other things such as rust-proofing steel. |
| NAME Of PRODUCT | UCO Natural Beeswax Candles. | UCO Standard Candle. | SDS Liquid Oil Emergency Survival Candles. |
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| CANDLE TYPE / CHARACTERISTIC | Pillar: Thick candles that can stand on their own. | Pillar: Thick candles that can stand on their own. | Votive: Short candles intended to sit in a container. |
| NATURE Of WAX | 100% Natural Pure Beeswax. | REFINED paraffin wax. | Liquid paraffin. |
| NATURE Of CANDLE WICK | Braided Cotton, Lead free. This a flat braided wick with stabilized threats to help the wick "curl" during the burning process. | Braided Cotton, Lead free. This a flat braided wick with stabilized threats to help the wick "curl" during the burning process. | Made from cotton. |
| DURATION / BURN TIME | 12 Hours. | 9 Hours. | 115 Hours. |
| PROS / CONS | + 12 hour duration - very good ! + Well-made and designed + Minimal dripping + Clean-burning. - Expensive - Best results obtained when used with the manufacturer's (i.e.UCO) own candle lantern holder. | + A great and cheap candle that still has a long burn time. This candle will burn for up to 9 hours, + It has the same cotton wick to help with the flame. - The shape of the candle helps keep the wick above the wax so that it won't go out on you for any non-weather-related reason. | + Very long burn time + Great value - Can’t reuse the paraffin. |
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To close this sub-section on Emergency Candles and in fact the whole subject as regards Survival Lighting, we have to consider 2 additional products. The first of these is relevant ONLY to the UCO Beeswax & Standard Candles previously reviewed above. It is their manufacturer’s lantern holder :
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS :
- Lantern Type = Candle
- Burn Time (Max Flame) = 9 hours
- Material(s) = Aluminum
- Open Length = 6.5 inches
- Closed Length = 4.25 inches
- Weight = 6.4 ounces
- Compact lantern is ideal for backpacking and home emergency kits;
- Easy-slide glass chimney collapses down to 4.25 in. in height for compact storage
- Includes a single UCO candle that provides up to 9 hrs. of warm light
- Viewing slot on the side of the lantern lets you monitor the slow-burning candle to see how much is left
- Spring-loaded system keeps the candle at a consistent height
- Hang the UCO Original Candle lantern up or carry it around camp with the metal handle.
- NB: ONLY COMPATIBLE WITH THE ORIGINAL UCO CANDLE !
Finally, there are a significant number of us – subscribers and non-subscribers – who live in territories, regions, continents where there is a prevalence of power outages particularly due to environmental / climatic incidents.
Unfortunately, when these incidents occur, the absence of power particularly electricity (and gas supplies) can last for weeks rather than a few hours or a couple of days. With communities faced with this scenario we also recommend an emergency candle which will at least diminish (however small) the distress experienced by people living in these areas:
Although this candle isn't necessarily meant for survival kits, it truly is an excellent option for one. This candle lasts for 9 days, and it comes in a plastic holder, so it is a free-standing candle. People have used it for emergencies, and it would be great for outdoor light.
- It is also clean-burning, so it doesn't add smoke to your home.
- It is supplied in a plastic holder and so can stand on its own. You can set it up anywhere.
- Made from 100% vegetable oil.
PROS
These holders contain the flame safely so you need not worry about anything near the candle for its many hours of burning.
CONS
it may drip a bit out of the container, so make sure to keep it in a safe area. It's a great option for anyone who might be in a power outage or storm situation for a few days.
This concludes our discussion and review of Survival Lighting. If there is one important consideration to remember from having read our articles and products review it is ALWAYS try to include a variety of lighting devices in your future Emergency / Survival Plans & Kits.
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