Power outage and your candle burns out too fast? You can make a simple emergency oil lamp using rice, water, vegetable oil, and a cotton wick.
What You Need:
- a heat-safe glass
- uncooked rice
- water
- vegetable oil
- a cotton wick or paper-stem cotton swab
Step by Step:
- Fill the glass with rice
- Add water until the rice is covered
- Pour a layer of vegetable oil on top
- Place the cotton wick in the middle, making sure the top sticks out above the oil
- Let the wick absorb the oil for a moment, then light it carefully
The Science Behind
The oil is the real fuel. The cotton wick pulls the oil upward, then the flame burns the oil slowly. The water sits underneath because oil floats on top, while the rice helps hold the wick in place and keeps the setup more stable.
This can last much longer than a small candle if there’s enough oil, but it’s not truly everlasting. Once the oil runs out, the flame goes out. Always use a heat-safe glass, keep it away from anything flammable, and never leave it unattended.
