Buzz
For kids of a certain age, few things are as astonishing as blowing out a birthday candle only for it to relight—almost like it has a life of its own! Laughter, gasps, and several more attempts to extinguish the flame follow, until a responsible adult steps in, saying, "Alright, let’s dunk these in water before we turn the house into a bonfire."
But wait a minute, you old Grinch. Where’s your sense of awe? How can you explain what just took place?
A regular candle features a wick made from a flammable material, often braided cotton or something similar. Once the flame goes out, it leaves behind a glowing ember that eventually cools off. This ember is still warm enough to melt the wax, causing a small puff of smoke—called "paraffin vapor." The melted wax solidifies, the smoke vanishes, and the candle returns to its dull state.
Trick candles, on the other hand, contain magnesium flakes (or similar metals) in their wicks. Magnesium has a relatively low ignition point of around 800° Fahrenheit and is tough to put out when in its flake or powder form. The ember is hot enough to ignite these flakes, causing them to spark and release the energy needed to reignite the paraffin vapor. Ha ha! Your wish didn’t come true, little one. Maybe next time!
Wicks containing magnesium were used for years in applications such as dynamite and by explorers and hunters in difficult environments. Today, they’re more likely to be found on your nephew’s birthday cake—unless, of course, he’s from Canada. Trick candles are banned in Canada.
