How To: Relight a candle by igniting the smoke with a flame

Magic is a wonderful thing. But so is science. So, which category does this mystifying candle trick fall in? Perhaps both.

You only need three items to perform this magic trick: a lighter (or matches), a candle, and a candle holder (if your candle is not already in a container). The trick is to relight the candle without lighting the wick of the candle directly.

In order to relight the candle without directly flaming the wick is as simple as igniting the smoke. Impossible! No, nothing is impossible. Once you light the candle normally with your piezoelectric lighter (piezo lighter) or matchstick or whatever, blow the candle out. Then watch the smoke drift into the air. Ready your lighter or match again, but this time don't strike the wick, strike the top of the smoke stream. Instantly, the smoke will catch fire and burn downward until it reaches the wick itself and then — your candle is once again lit.

But how? The wax in the smoke burns, so when you light it, it catches on fire and continues down until it's all burnt up. That's the secret behind this fire trick — the candle wax.