Potassium Permanganate Bushcraft How To — Water Purification, Medical & Fire Uses

by Forest Fundamentals on March 18, 2026

Potassium Permanganate (KMnO₄) — The Multi-Tool Chemical Every Bushcrafter Should Know

From water purification to fire starting, Chris explores the many field uses of Condy's Crystals.

The Bushcrafter's Rule

Bushcrafters love multi-purpose kit. If one piece can do many jobs well, then it's a valuable asset to the toolkit. Remember what Mors said: "The more you know, the less you carry."

Potassium Permanganate, or "Condy's Crystals," is becoming less commonly used nowadays, but it was once a staple in first aid kits. Depending on the dilution, this chemical compound can carry out a host of field tasks.

Survival & First Aid Uses

1 Water Purification

Once you have filtered the water to the best of your ability, add 3–4 crystals per litre and let it stand for a minimum of half an hour, but longer (up to 3 hours if very cold) if possible. The water should have a very faint pink hue. If it's any darker, it will be hazardous to drink — dilute further and repeat the wait. A second filter will remove any undissolved crystals. Not recommended for long-term use.

2 Wound Care

For skin issues that leave weeping sores, such as chafing, gravel rash, or tropical ulcers, a wet soaked bandage or bath in a rose wine–coloured solution will help dry out the skin with its astringent properties and lessen the spread of infection.

3 Wound Wash / Antiseptic Treatment

A light purple solution can be used as an antiseptic wash on dirty cuts to reduce the chance of infection. Dry well afterwards and apply a clean dressing.

Dilution Guide

The colour of the solution is changed by the number of crystals added to the water. Potassium permanganate is a very strong dye, so even a few crystals will noticeably alter the colour.

Colour	Approx. Dosage	Use
Very pale pink	3–4 crystals per litre	Water purification
Light purple	8–10 crystals per litre	Wound wash / antiseptic
Rose wine colour	15–20 crystals per litre	Soaking skin infections or ulcers
Dark purple	Very concentrated	Not suitable for skin or drinking

Fire Starting Uses

Potassium permanganate in its dry state is stable, but can become quite excitable once exposed to certain chemicals or intense heat, making it a great survival fire starter.

1 Sugar

Mixing the coarse crystals with sugar in a 50/50 mix gives you a grainy source of fire if a bit of friction is added. I like to use the bearing block and drill from a hand drill setup. Sprinkle the mix into the divot in the bearing block and grind it together with the top tip of the spindle.

You may need to get two hands on and spin the drill a bit to get the substance ignited, but it should burn for a few seconds — long enough to get your tinder bundle going.

2 Glycerin / Antifreeze

For a more passive reaction, use finely ground crystals in a cotton pad or similar flammable material (tissues and hand towels would work too). Add a few drops of glycerin onto the crystals and bunch up the bundle.

As the two chemicals react, they create a bit of smoke and then ignite. This could be placed into the middle of a fire lay with plenty of fine tinder. I have noticed this works best in warmer temperatures and with finer crystals. You may need to do a bit of additional prep to increase your chances of a first-hit fire.

3 Fire Roll

If you are experienced with a Rudiger fire roll, this almost feels like cheating by how effective it is. Adding sugar tends to bring it to flame, but if you don't have it you will still get a viable ember.

Safety Notice

As with any chemicals, you do need to take additional care when using, storing, and transporting them. Do your homework, and you will have a great addition to your survival toolkit.

See It in Action

Watch just how well the KMnO₄ fire roll works with sugar:

KMnO₄ Fire Roll (with Sugar) — Forest Fundamentals

Want to try it yourself? Pick up some high-purity Potassium Permanganate crystals below.

View on Amazon

Have a great week.

Cheers,
Elvis & the FF Team