Q. How do cotton wicks work?

Answer

The part of an oil lamp or candle that is responsible for holding the flame is called the wick, and it is often made of cotton that has been braided. Capillary action is what makes a wick operate, and it does this by "wicking" the fuel toward the flame. When the liquid fuel, which is normally candle wax that has been melted, reaches the flame, it first begins to evaporate and then begins to burn.