![Navbar Icon](http://rizla.co.uk/cdn/shop/t/2/assets/Custom.png?v=2530696943434742471749126029")
18 SEPTEMBER 2025
Rizla Guide to
in the world.
The beloved lighter
A simple device for a very important purpose: sparking flames. Lighters come in all forms, from disposable ones to cool lighters with fancy designs. With so many around, you may start to wonder how they could possibly be that different.
Lighters have been around for approximately a billion years (not really but it has been a while), changing with the times and eventually growing into a whole lighter market to fit different needs.
The roots of the humble lighter
Pinpointing the exact history of lighters is tricky. Many refer to them as being an invention by German Chemist Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner in 1823. But the fact is, lighters were around way before then.
The very first lighters were made from modified flintlock pistols that were operated via gunpowder (bit dramatic!). Evidence of these go as far back as the mid-1600s throughout the Ottoman Empire, where they were used to bring light to dark battlefields.
The first lighter created by Döbereiner was appropriately named Döbereiner’s lamp (not to be confused with Schrödinger's cat). However, it was way too big to be carried around in our back pockets, so we’re very thankful lighters have now shrunk down, though at least we wouldn’t have lost them in a pub garden back in the day!
Types of lighters
Here are all the different types of lighters you can find these days, with the pros and cons of each one to help you tell them apart.
1. Sparkwheel lighters
Sparkwheel lighters are often cheap as chips and so are seen as being disposable. Some of them can be refilled but, because of the low cost, most people can’t be bothered. Chances are if you’ve ever asked someone for a light, they will have begrudgingly passed you one of these bad boys.
Pros & cons
Pros
• Cheap
• Available in multiple sizes
• Can take anywhere without worrying you’ll lose them
Cons
- Can be low quality
- Might not last long
- Hard to use in the wind
- Not sustainable if used as disposable
1. Spark ignition lighters
Spark ignition lighters are probably the simplest of the bunch. Plus, creating fire at the click of a button has a slightly magical feel to it that we’ll never grow tired of.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Long lasting – will stick by your side through thick and thin!
- Customisable
- Often produce stronger flames
- Interchangeable parts
- Repairable
Cons
• More expensive
• Needs maintenance
• Needs to be refilled often
• Would be devastated if you lost it
1. Electric lighters
Electric lighters are one of the latest lighter developments, taking inspiration from that mysterious 12v lighter in your car that you really can’t fight the urge to touch (trust us, don’t do it).
Pros & cons
Pros
• Long lasting
• No live flame = seems safer?
• Sustainable
• Wind resistant
Cons
• Slower
• Usually more pricey
• Hard to repair
1. Torch lighters
Torch lighters are the ones that you are always jealous whenever any sort of breeze pops up, with a strong blue flame that seems to be able to resist almost hurricane-level wind.
Pros & cons
Pros
• Very strong flames
• Long lasting
Cons
• Uses lots of fuel
• Needy – wants a lot of maintenance