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Woodwick Candles |
A candle wick is string, cord, or wooden object that holds the flame of a candle. A candle wick works by capillary action, drawing ("wicking") the fuel to the flame. When the liquid fuel, typically melted candle wax, reaches the flame it then vaporizes and combusts. The candle wick influences how the candle burns. Important characteristics of the wick include diameter, stiffness, fire-resistance, and tethering.
Large diameter wicks typically result in a larger flame, a larger pool of melted wax, and the candle burning faster. Candle wicks are normally made out of braided cotton, and may contain a stiff core. This core was traditionally made of lead, however lead wick cores have been banned in the U.S. for several years by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, due to concerns aboutlead poisoning. Zinc is often used as a safer replacement for lead in this application. (The two may be differentiated by the way they write on paper - lead will, zinc won't.) Other core stiffeners, such as paper and synthetic fibers, may also be used.