A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, that provides light, and in some cases, a fragrance. ...
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A candle can also provide heat or a method of keeping time.
A person who makes candles is traditionally known as a chandler. Various devices have been invented to hold candles.
For a candle to burn, a heat source (commonly a naked flame from a match or lighter) is used to light the candle´s wick, which melts and vaporizes a small amount of fuel (the wax). Once vaporized, the fuel combines with oxygen in the atmosphere to ignite and form a constant flame. This flame provides sufficient heat to keep the candle burning via a self-sustaining chain of events: the heat of the flame melts the top of the mass of solid fuel; the liquefied fuel then moves upward through the wick via capillary action; the liquefied fuel finally vaporizes to burn within the candle´s flame.
