Candle wick

When the liquid fuel, typically melted candle wax, reaches the flame it then vaporizes and combusts.

Wicks are sometimes braided flat, so that as they burn they also curl back into the flame, thus making them self-consuming.

Wicks can be made of material other than string or cord, such as wood and (historically) even asbestos, although they are rare.

Wicked candles were assumed to be made by waxes from available plants and animals in this time period.

[6] During this time, the Chinese were using rice paper to create wicks and made wax out of insects and seeds.

The ban against manufacturing, importing, or selling candles in the US with lead wicks became effective in October 2003.