Candles have been made since the earliest times and they are still commonly made by methods requiring only simple equipment. This book describes how a candle works, and specifies the materials needed for candle-making. Two common production methods are explained and illustrated with helpful diagrams. A candle in its simplest form is made up of a central string (known as the wick) surrounded by wax. When the wick is lit the heat of the flame melts the surrounding wax into a pool of liquid which is absorbed by the wick. The heat causes the liquid wax to produce a vapour which feeds the flame.