When we think of elegant outdoor meals, whether on a restaurant patio, an ocean beach, or in our backyards, we imagine them lit by torchlight. Flickering flames create a romantic atmosphere, and torches can provide much more than ambiance – they can help control bugs and add an artistic touch to any culinary theme (think Tiki bar). According to BackyardCity.com, a single 16 oz. filling of citronella or lamp oil will light an area for an entire evening (more than 10 hours). Most fuel-fed torches are easy to refill; you simply unscrew the oil container from the torch body and fill it up. But fuel-based torches aren't the only type available; there are battery-operated and solar-powered torches that can illuminate decks or residential walkways, or even mimic the flickering of a burning flame.
If you're interested in adding torchlight to your home's outdoor ambiance, what are some of your options?
Most home stores, and even many supermarkets, carry simple, inexpensive backyard torches. Home Depot, for example, sells a Tiki Torch Medal Island featuring a King Large Flame, and a South Seas Bamboo Torch. You can buy refills of torch fuel and wicks right in the store, and can choose between regular torch fuel or citronella fuel designed to repel bugs. Be sure to use torch fuel and to follow manufacturer instructions; substituting any other fuel can be dangerous. Home Depot offers a citronella/cedar fuel refill combination, as well as fuel that creates flames in different colors.
What if you want to go “green" and skip the fuel? This Solar Powered Wicker Tiki Torch automatically shines at dusk and casts a flickering glow designed to look just like a real torch. It should be placed in a sunlit area to receive the sun's rays for four to five hours per day. Replaceable, rechargeable batteries are included. The torch is adjustable to either 39 inches or 59 inches tall. Many available torches have adjustable height settings.
BatteryOperatedCandles.net offers a Battery Operated Wicker Tiki Torch crafted from high quality bamboo. It has a bowl-shaped lens and six bright flickering LEDs for bright, long-lasting illumination. LEDs, the latest lighting development, use less energy than many other types of bulbs.
How about something more sleek and contemporary? Improvements offers a Stainless Steel Garden Tiki Torch. This modern twist on torches is made of rust-proof stainless steel, is 58" high, and uses any standard lamp oil, including citronella. The brushed finish won't rust or tarnish, and these torches are easy to stake into either ground or sand.
For something a little more exotic and stylish, check out these Hammered Copper Maui Tiki Torches, a sophisticated garden torch available at Nextag. And the beautifully engineered Starlite Garden Large Round Tabletop Outdoor Torch, available through the same site, adds class to any setting. It features a fiberglass wick and color-coded snuffer, and holds 32 ounces of fuel for long burning times.
If you do use backyard torches, especially of the flame-burning variety, take all precautions recommended by the manufacturer, and use common sense. Don't leave a burning torch unattended, and make sure children and pets are kept at a safe distance from any flame. Store fuel in a childproof and pet-proof location, and after you've snuffed out the flames, make sure torches cool in a fire-safe area. In June of this year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a warning concerning gel and other illuminating fuels used in firepots, Tiki torches and similar products. The jellylike fuel can splatter onto clothing or skin, and when it catches fire, just splashing water or smothering it won't always kill the flames. The commission offered the following advice on firepots and other devices with open flames:
- Never refuel anything that's hot or has open flames, because the fuel can splatter.
- First look for flames, then cautiously feel the vicinity of the flame, as some flames are difficult to see.
- Follow proper safety guidelines when refueling any open-flame device.
- To report an incident with a hazardous product visit www.SaferProducts.gov.
- With safety processes in place, anyone can enjoy romantic torchlight as part of an elegant, culinary summer.