diff --git a/src/render3d.rs b/src/render3d.rs
index f7cd8ed..92710d6 100644
--- a/src/render3d.rs
+++ b/src/render3d.rs
@@ -2705,16 +2705,17 @@ fn draw_torch_flame((x, z): (f32, f32), base: f32, k: f32, t: f32) {
         let sway2 = (t * 5.3 + k * 2.7 + f * 1.9).cos() * 0.025 * f;
         let h = base + f * 0.24 * flick;
         let size = (0.11 - f * 0.08) * (1.0 + 0.18 * (t * 17.0 + k * 3.1 + f * 4.0).sin());
+        // bright: almost white at the bottom, golden in the middle, orange at the tip
         let c = if f < 0.4 {
-            vec3(1.0, 0.95, 0.65).lerp(vec3(1.0, 0.68, 0.2), f / 0.4)
+            vec3(1.0, 1.0, 0.88).lerp(vec3(1.0, 0.86, 0.38), f / 0.4)
         } else {
-            vec3(1.0, 0.68, 0.2).lerp(vec3(0.95, 0.25, 0.06), (f - 0.4) / 0.6)
+            vec3(1.0, 0.86, 0.38).lerp(vec3(1.0, 0.56, 0.16), (f - 0.4) / 0.6)
         };
-        draw_cube(vec3(x + sway, h, z + sway2), Vec3::splat(size), None, Color::new(c.x, c.y, c.z, 0.95 - f * 0.4));
+        draw_cube(vec3(x + sway, h, z + sway2), Vec3::splat(size), None, Color::new(c.x, c.y, c.z, 1.0 - f * 0.15));
     }
     // the halo last: the glow material writes depth, so anything drawn after it inside the
-    // sphere would be hidden
-    draw_sphere(vec3(x, base + 0.1, z), 0.24 * flick, None, Color::new(1.0, 0.55, 0.15, 0.16));
+    // sphere would be hidden; light and thin, so it does not dim the flame
+    draw_sphere(vec3(x, base + 0.1, z), 0.26 * flick, None, Color::new(1.0, 0.78, 0.4, 0.12));
 }
 
 // particles that glow (embers, sparks, smoke, flashes, shock waves)