Best emergency candles and what to know before buying

March 25, 2021March 25, 2021 admin

Table of Contents

Introduction

Candles have been a source of light and to a lesser degree, heat for thousands of years. They remain popular today for many reasons, primarily for the ambience and scents they provide. There are so many varieties of candles and waxes that go into making candles it can be confusing for the lay person to decide which to purchase. In this article we explore the types of candles and the assorted waxes that go into making candles. We look at pros and cons for each and come to some conclusions on the best emergency candles to store for unexpected power outages. I’ll round off with some final thoughts and list my best 3 emergency candles that I found to be the best for my purpose.

Why store candles?

There are many sensible and valid reasons to store candles in our world today. First and foremost they provide a source of light during power failures. It seems to me power failures are more common today than years gone by. If that’s true or not I’m not sure, but it may be because I’m older and wiser and prefer to be prepared for unexpected situations. Having candles shouldn’t be your only light source in emergency situations but definitely should be part of your light source’ arsenal. Candles don’t require batteries or electronic components such as torches and crank flashlights need to work. Making candles the perfect emergency light source to store, the only drawback is you will require a way to light them, i.e matches, lighter etc.

Types of Candles

Here I list the 4 major candle types, there are many variances of the major types which we wont list here as it’s not the scope of this article.

1. Taper Candles

These are the candlesticks varieties, they are generally long, narrow and slightly thicker at the bottom. They can be an excellent candle for emergencies as they generally burn for a long time. By placing the candle holders with candle inserted strategically around the house they can be lit at a moments notice. The candle holders can be ornamental to blend into the décor of the house. A candle such as the Bolsius are ideal for these situations. They provide a clean and smooth flame and last up to 7 hours.

2. Pillar Candles

This particular candle stands on it’s own and requires no candle holder. I prefer to place them in large jars as they do require constant monitoring if they are stand alone. Also remember to place on a heat resistant surface as they could cause damage to the surface over time. These types of candles have a longer burn time than taper candles making them a better choice. Also being free standing you don’t need extra equipment to use them, making them also an easier choice.

3. Votive Candles

These candles are small and squat measuring approximately 6 cm high by 5 cm wide. They are small but burn for a very long time, some burn up to 10 hours. Another advantage is they produce negligible smoke levels, making them really safe in small spaces. To use them will require a container to avoid the obvious wax mess. Candles such as these are fantastic in small spaces where a small amount of light will see you through.

4. Tea light candles

The tea lights are a little smaller than the votive but are really versatile. They usually come in a metal container. This make them are a good choice when making your own candles. They are relatively cheap and bought in bulk. Their burn time is only 6 hours but comparative to their size a good candle to have in storage. With several tea lights you can make a small heater to heat a small space.

Types of Wax

Beeswax

Being a natural product makes it my second favorite. Can be more expensive than other candle waxes it’s certainly the cleanest. It has a clean light and is generally brighter than other waxes. It is known to emit ions which help clean the surrounding air. The beeswax from a candle has other practical uses, such as mentioned in the tips section below. There are contentious issues about the exploitation of bees, so I now prefer to use other waxes instead as my first choice.

Soy wax

This wax is a cleaner option to paraffin wax making it one of the best emergency candles. Derived from soy bean oil, it comes as soy wax flakes which easily melt making them a good option for the do it yourselfers. Soy wax is primarily used for votives, tea lights and container candles. Being a naturally wax it’s a clean source of light and lasts longer than paraffin candles. As a scented wax it’s not the best as it burns slowly. For emergency situations this may not be a primary concern though.

Paraffin wax

Paraffin is petroleum based wax and is the cheapest. It is extracted by dewaxing light lubricating oil stocks. Paraffin has been around since about the time of the first petroleum well was drilled. Generally speaking paraffin emits some carbon, whereas beeswax burns hotter and therefore emits less soot or carbon. The good quality paraffin candles are smokeless and long burning which make them an excellent source of light for long outages.

Palm wax

Palm candles is the first choice for those that love scented candles. Being a harder wax they are great for pillar, taper and votive style candles. Also note that if dropped they are more prone to crack or break. They are generally the first choice for candle makers that enjoy their scented candles. Palm wax is environmentally friendly and generally has a longer burn time. This burn time is longer because it requires a hotter flame. Notice when you blow out the flame the liquid solidifies quickly.

Coconut wax

The new kid on the block is making great strides in the candle industry. It is slow burning and considered to be the most eco friendly of all the waxes. It has an excellent scent throw by many reviewers although not an important consideration for emergency use.

Tips about candles and their uses

Keep candles away from drafts to reduce dripping.
If smoking begins to occur. Blow out candle trim the wick and relight.
To clean wax from a tea light container, place in fridge, once frozen crack the wax clean.
Beeswax can also be used to treat leather, lubricate wood to stop squeaks, water proof shoes and more.
Stored candles will virtually last forever.
Use candles near mirrors to amplify the light.

Final thoughts

Who thought there was so much to learn about candles right? Before learning more about candles I would go to my thrift shop and buy a few boxes of candles when they were discounted. The important aspects I look for now are a clean and hot burn. I tend to prefer the soy and palm wax candles, mainly due to their non toxic emissions. They make the best emergency candles in my opinion. This makes for longer burn time and cleaner air. To be frank I don’t have one particular type of candle I store. I currently have three types. I have a box of pillars and tapers and several boxes of the tea lights. They each have their pros and cons, below I list my best emergency candles that I have purchased and they are the best I found so far.

The important take away from this article aside from making you more knowledgeable about candles is to make candles an important part of your prepping items. Candles have saved me many times in the past and daresay will continue to do so. Battery powered and crank shaft torches are great but they don’t come close to providing the soft and homey type of light that candles emit.

Over the years I have purchased several types from Amazon which I will add for your perusal below.