Spirit Lamps & Alcohol Burners

A spirit lamp, or alcohol burner, is a simple flame heater that burns methylated spirits or ethanol through a wick, giving a small, steady flame without needing any gas supply. Glass and stainless steel versions both work the same way, with fuel wicking up through a cotton or fibreglass wick to burn at the tip.

SmartLabs stocks spirit lamps and alcohol burners in South Africa for labs, schools, and fieldwork, along with replacement wick packs to keep an existing lamp burning cleanly. Wherever gas is unavailable or a small, portable flame is all that is needed, an alcohol burner remains a simple, low-cost choice.