Most people know what a candle is, but have you ever wondered exactly how a candle burns?  A candle is made of a solid block of fuel, usually wax, and an embedded wick.  A match or lighter is used to ignite the wick, which vaporizes a small amount of fuel.  Once vaporized, the fuel combines with oxygen in the air to form a flame.  The flame provides sufficient heat to keep the candle burning.  The heat of the flame melts the top of the mass of solid fuel, and the liquified fuel then moves upward through the wick via capillary action.  Then, the liquified fuel is then vaporized to burn within the candle’s flame.

As the solid fuel is melted and consumed, the candle grows shorter.  Portions of the wick that are not evaporating the liquid fuel are consumed in the flame.  This limits the exposed length of the wick and keeps the temperature and rate of fuel consumption even.  Some wicks must be manually trimmed for even burning.  Eventually, the wick will distinguish due to the lack of fuel.  The pillar candle shown above will burn for approximately 25 hours.