Q&A for How to Make Torches

No, it does not have to be a green stick, and no, it will not blow up if you use a blue one.

Before European contact, Alaska Natives used animal oil with carved rock lamps. On Kodiak Island, these lamps used seal oil and a wick of twisted moss or cotton grass. Lamps were preferred over torches, because torches burned too quickly. A seal-oil lamp can burn for several hours; a burning torch lasts an hour or less, and create high flames that are dangerous in wood/sod homes.

As it says in the article, if it can soak into the wick and is flammable, then it will work.

Burn times are explained in the text above. Aluminium has lower heat conductivity, hence the advice to use it for making the torch.