ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Wick product

Okay kiddo, have you ever seen a candle before? Great! So, you know how when you light a candle, there's a little string that sticks out of the wax? That string is called a wick!

Now, some people make wicks all by themselves. They take a long string made of cotton and they soak it in liquid wax. Then, they let it dry for a long time until it's hard and stiff. After that, they can tie the wick to the bottom of a metal clip and stick it into a candle mold.

Other people buy wicks that are already made. These wicks are usually made of cotton that's been braided together. They can come in different sizes too, depending on how big the candle is going to be.

So, why do we even need wicks for candles? Well, a wick is really important because it helps the candle burn properly. When you light the wick, the heat from the flame melts the wax around it. The liquid wax gets absorbed into the wick and the heat from the flame causes it to evaporate. This creates a little pool of hot wax around the wick that keeps the flame going.

If a wick is too thin or too short, the candle might not burn very well. But if the wick is too thick or too long, the candle might burn too fast or get too hot. That's why it's important to choose the right size wick for the candle you're making!

Overall, wicks are pretty cool things that help us make candles. Thanks for asking, kiddo!