In our last DIY survival candle article, I showed you how to construct a butter candle. The butter candle can light up your home for at least four hours. But there is another survival candle that burns for even longer: the olive oil lamp.
How to Make Your Own Olive Oil Lamp
The olive oil lamp can last up to 12 hours – which could really help you in a blackout! This lamp also will produce the most heat of any DIY survival candle that we have talked about thus far. Unfortunately, this is also the most expensive candle, but it really doesn’t matter in an urban survival situation. This candle is extremely easy to make and only requires a few kitchen supplies.
Olive oil lamp supplies:
- A Glass Bottle and it’s cap
- A pint (16 oz.) of olive oil
- A paper towel
- A lighter or match
How to make an olive oil lamp:
Step 1: Fill your glass bottle with olive oil.
Step 2: Drill a tiny hole through the center of the lid.
Step 3: Crumple your paper towel into a thick strand, then place it into the bottle. Push the paper towel through the cap's hole. (Important: Be sure to drench the entire towel in olive oil first. This will make igniting the candle easier.)
Step 4: Use your lighter or match to light the paper towel.
The olive oil lamp is by far one of the best survival candles that you can make with your kitchen supplies. Always have some spare olive oil in your kitchen – you may need it in a survival situation.
Want to learn more? Click here to learn how to make a DIY survival candle out of an orange.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on April 19, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
Olive oil is food. I don’t burn my food. I do have a gallon or two of rendered fat saved from my smoker’s drip pans.
Excellent point. They have some good tips on this site, however you need to use common sense. Ive used vegetable oil candles for over 35 years. When the oil gets old it can put off a smell (all oil does), just infuse the oil first.