10 Best Emergency Candle 2025 in the United States

The UCO 12-Hour Natural Beeswax Long-Burning Candles are a solid option for anyone looking to add reliable, long-lasting candles to their emergency preparedness kit. One of the standout features is the impressive burn time of 12-15 hours per candle, making them ideal for power outages and outdoor adventures like camping and hiking. The 100% natural beeswax material ensures a clean burn with minimal soot and dripping, which is beneficial for both indoor and outdoor use. Additionally, the naturally sweet scent can make the atmosphere more pleasant while using them indoors.

Each candle is equipped with a carefully sized cotton wick designed for optimal flame height and burn time, reducing the need for frequent relighting and thus conserving the candle's longevity. The size of each candle (1.25 inches in diameter and 3.5 inches in height) makes them reasonably portable, and the 20-pack offers good value for extensive use. However, one potential drawback is that they are specifically designed for use with UCO candle lanterns, which may limit their utility if you don’t own one.

The candles are also slightly heavier compared to other emergency candles, with the entire pack weighing over 1 kilogram, which might be a consideration for backpackers looking to minimize weight. The lack of specific safety features like a drip tray or a protective holder means that users need to be cautious to prevent any wax spills or fire hazards. These candles are well-suited for those who prioritize long burn time, clean and natural materials, and are likely to use them with UCO lanterns or as standalone emergency candles.

The 15-Hour Natural Beeswax Candles by NOMFIX are a great choice for emergency and outdoor scenarios. Each candle offers a burn time of up to 15 hours, which is generous for emergencies and power outages. Made from natural beeswax, these candles are GMO-free and feature a high-melt temperature, ensuring minimal dripping and soot, thus maintaining a clean environment even during prolonged use.

The candles are unscented, making them suitable for individuals sensitive to strong smells, but still offer a slight natural beeswax aroma that is calming. Each pack includes 20 small, round candles, measuring 3.5 inches in height and 1.18 inches in width, making them quite portable and easy to pack in an emergency kit or for outdoor activities like camping and hiking. The cotton wick is carefully engineered to maintain an optimal flame height, ensuring a steady burn without excess soot.

However, the candles are specifically designed for outdoor use and are not suitable for indoor heating and drying purposes. Additionally, they are unscented, which might be a drawback for those who prefer a fragrant candle experience. These candles perform well for their intended use in emergencies and outdoor settings, offering long burn times and clean usage, though they may not meet every user's needs for indoor use or scented ambiance.

The UCO 15-hour white candles are specifically made for use in UCO Candle Lanterns, ensuring a perfect fit and efficient burn. Their standout feature is a long burn time of up to 15 hours inside the lantern, which is excellent for emergency situations like power outages or outdoor adventures such as camping or hiking. Made from a high-melt wax, these candles burn cleanly with minimal dripping and soot, which helps keep the lantern and surrounding area tidy. The candles are unscented, which suits emergency use since there are no distracting smells. They come as a 9-pack of moderately sized candles (about 3.5 inches each), making them quite portable and easy to store in emergency kits or backpacks. The wick type is standard with one wick per candle, providing steady and reliable light.

These candles do not include specific safety features like flame guards, but their design for use inside a metal lantern adds a layer of safety by containing the flame. A limitation is that these candles are intended mainly for the UCO lanterns, so if you don’t have one, the burn duration outdoors drops to around 9–12 hours. Also, they are container candles, which means you can't use them freely like taper candles. They represent a solid choice for dependable, long-lasting light suitable for emergencies and outdoor activities, especially when paired with the recommended lantern.