Somewhere in your home, probably shoved in a drawer or scattered under a couch cushion, there's an emergency candle waiting to be discovered. It's just disguised as a crayon.

That's right—the same waxy sticks that helped you color outside the lines as a kid can actually save the day during a power outage. A standard Crayola crayon will burn for approximately 15 to 30 minutes when lit at the tip, functioning as an improvised candle when you need light in a pinch.

Why This Actually Works

Crayons are primarily made of paraffin wax—the same material used in many commercial candles. The paper wrapper acts as a wick, drawing the melted wax upward to fuel the flame. It's basically a candle that someone accidentally made colorful and kid-friendly.

The burn time varies depending on the crayon's size and brand. Standard crayons tend toward the 15-minute range, while larger "jumbo" crayons can push past 30 minutes. Some survival enthusiasts have tested various brands and found Crayola to be among the most reliable performers.

How to Light One

Getting a crayon lit takes a bit more patience than a regular candle:

Stand the crayon upright (pointy end up) in a stable holder or press it into clay, sand, or aluminum foil
Light the tip of the paper wrapper—this takes 20-30 seconds of sustained flame
Once the wax starts melting, the crayon will burn on its own
Keep it away from flammable materials and never leave it unattended

Fair warning: burning crayons produce a waxy, slightly chemical smell. It's not toxic in small doses, but you'll definitely want ventilation.

A Genuine Survival Hack

This isn't just internet folklore. Emergency preparedness experts and outdoor survival instructors have endorsed crayons as legitimate backup light sources. They're waterproof, don't expire, and you probably already have a box lying around somewhere.

Some preppers deliberately include a small box of crayons in their emergency kits. They're cheaper than purpose-built emergency candles, take up almost no space, and have the added bonus of keeping kids entertained during stressful situations.

The U.S. military has even acknowledged this trick, with some survival training materials mentioning crayons as an improvised light source. (This may or may not be related to the long-running joke about Marines eating crayons—but that's a different story entirely.)

Not Just for Emergencies

Beyond survival situations, crayon candles have found their way into camping trips, power outages, and even quirky home décor projects. Some crafters melt crayons into proper candle molds, combining colors for rainbow effects.

So next time you step on a stray crayon in the dark, consider this: that little wax stick might be the thing that lights your way during the next blackout. Maybe pick it up and toss it in a drawer—just in case.

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