The Effect
A sealed condiment sachet floats inside a clear bottle filled with water. You hold the bottle lightly near its base while making magical gestures with your free hand.
At your command, the sachet slowly sinks, stops in the middle and then rises back to the top.
🎭 Presentation Idea
Present the effect as psychokinesis: your free hand appears to control the sachet while the hand holding the bottle secretly supplies the pressure.
What You’ll Need
🥤 Clear Plastic Bottle
Use a flexible soft-drink or water bottle with the label removed.
💧 Cold Tap Water
Fill the bottle almost completely so pressure changes transfer efficiently.
🍅 Sealed Sachet
Use a small ketchup or condiment sachet that initially floats in water.
Choose the Bottle and Sachet
Remove the label from a clear, flexible plastic bottle so the audience has an unobstructed view.
Test the condiment sachet in water before performing. It must float at the surface and contain a small trapped air pocket.
Fill the Bottle
Fill the bottle almost to the top with cold tap water.
Leave enough room to insert the sachet and close the bottle securely.
Insert the Sachet
Place the sealed sachet into the bottle and check that it floats near the surface.
Secure the cap firmly before beginning the performance.
Make the Sachet Sink
Hold the lower part of the bottle as though you are simply keeping it steady.
Gently squeeze the bottle. The increased pressure compresses the small air pocket in the sachet, causing it to become denser and sink.
Make It Hover
Adjust the pressure until the sachet stops around the middle of the bottle.
This requires a light, steady grip. Practise finding the balance point before performing for an audience.
Make the Sachet Rise
Gradually release the pressure on the bottle.
The trapped air inside the sachet expands again, making the sachet more buoyant so it rises towards the surface.
Watch the Tutorial
Why It Works
The sachet contains a small pocket of air. Squeezing the flexible bottle increases the pressure throughout the water and compresses this trapped air.
As the air pocket becomes smaller, the sachet becomes effectively denser and sinks. When the pressure is released, the air expands and the sachet rises.
💡 The Magic Secret
The audience watches your free hand making magical gestures while the hand holding the bottle secretly controls the pressure.
Performance Tips
🖐 Hide the Squeeze
Hold the bottle near its base and apply pressure with small finger movements.
✨ Use the Free Hand
Gesture above the bottle to draw attention away from the secret grip.
🐢 Move Slowly
Gradual rising and sinking looks much more mysterious than sudden movement.
🧪 Test the Sachet
Different sachets behave differently, so test the exact one before performing.
Common Mistakes
The sachet will not sink
Try a more flexible bottle, fill it closer to the top or test a different sachet with a more suitable air pocket.
The sachet sinks and will not rise
Release all pressure slowly. If it remains at the bottom, replace the sachet because it may contain too little trapped air.
The squeezing action is visible
Use smaller finger movements and keep attention on your gesturing hand.
The sachet moves too quickly
Apply and release pressure more gradually to create a smoother levitation.
Practice Plan
1. Test the Props
Find a bottle-and-sachet combination that responds reliably.
2. Control the Descent
Practise making the sachet sink slowly rather than dropping suddenly.
3. Find the Hover Point
Learn the exact grip pressure needed to hold it in the middle.
4. Add Presentation
Coordinate the secret squeeze with gestures from your free hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the sachet sink when the bottle is squeezed?
The increased pressure compresses the air pocket, making the sachet denser so it sinks.
Will every condiment sachet work?
No. It must initially float and contain enough trapped air to respond to pressure changes.
Can the sachet hover in the middle?
Yes. Apply just enough steady pressure to balance it at the desired depth.
Can I use a glass bottle?
No. The method requires a flexible plastic bottle that can be squeezed.