Candle made from lard

Lard and Light: How to Make Candles That Smell Like Survival (And Maybe a Little Like Breakfast)

There’s a moment in every prepper’s journey when you look at a jar of lard and think, “Is there anything you can’t do?” And now, my friends, we can officially add “emergency illumination” to lard’s long list of hidden talents. Yes—candle-making. With. Lard.

You heard me right. We’re about to set fat on fire. And not in a metaphorical “I’m going keto” kind of way. I’m talkin’ honest-to-goodness lard candles that’ll keep your homestead lit even when the grid goes down and Steve’s headlamp batteries have mysteriously migrated to his HAM radio stash.

Why Lard? Why Now?

Lard has a high fat content, a low melting point, and a long shelf life—basically the trifecta of candle dreams if you’re trying to McGyver light during a blackout with what’s in your pantry. Plus, when store-bought candles are $14.99 and scented like “Midnight Cedar Unicorn Fog,” you start appreciating the humble, stinky practicality of homemade tallow and lard.

And yes, if you’re wondering, the smell is… noticeable. But not terrible. It’s like “campfire breakfast” meets “grandma’s house before cholesterol was a problem.” Just imagine a flickering flame whispering softly: “I could’ve been biscuits.”

How to Make a Lard Candle Without Burning Down Your Homestead

Grab your apron—or at least wipe your hands on something—and let’s get cooking. Err… candling.

You’ll Need:

• Rendered lard (store-bought or homemade)

• A glass jar, tin can, or old teacup

• A wick (cotton string works in a pinch; braided cotton twine is better)

• A pencil or skewer

• Optional: a few drops of essential oil (for olfactory damage control), or a splash of beeswax to firm things up

Step 1: Melt the Lard Like You Mean It
Put your lard in a small saucepan and melt it over low heat. This is not a fast process. You want it to melt, not fry your eyebrows off. If the smell reminds you of Sunday gravy, you’re doing it right.

Step 2: Anchor That Wick
Wrap one end of the wick around a pencil or skewer and lay it across the top of your jar, so the wick dangles in the middle and touches the bottom. You can even glue the base of the wick down with a dab of melted lard or a wad of stubborn determination.

Step 3: Pour and Pray

Lard Candle

Carefully pour the hot lard into the container. Go slow. Nobody wants a splash of molten pig fat to the face—it’s not a good look and definitely not covered by your beauty routine. Let it cool completely (a few hours). It’ll solidify into a creamy white candle that looks eerily like frosting but trust me: don’t taste it.

Step 4: Trim, Light, and Impress Your Friends
Trim your wick to about ¼ inch before lighting. And voila—you’ve got yourself a bona fide survival candle made from fat. Light it, bask in your brilliance, and wait for someone to say, “Wait, is that…bacon?”

How Long Will It Burn?

A half-pint jar of lard can burn for 12–18 hours depending on your wick and lard purity. That’s enough time to read a book, heat a can of chili, and question your life choices—all by candlelight!

What If I Want Fancy?

Add a splash of beeswax (about 1 tablespoon per cup of lard) if you want a firmer texture and longer burn time. You can also add lavender, pine, or orange essential oils to fancy up the aroma, though be warned: nothing truly masks the scent of hot pig fat. It’s just…assertive.

There’s something wildly empowering about taking something humble—like lard—and turning it into a source of light. It’s a beautiful reminder that usefulness doesn’t always look pretty or smell like sandalwood. Sometimes resilience smells like Crisco.

So next time the lights go out and your neighbor’s frantically Googling “how to make a flashlight from a potato,” you can calmly walk over, candle in hand, and say, “Don’t worry. I’ve got fat-based solutions.”

Because preparedness isn’t just about gear. It’s about grit. And grease.