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> Todays candles have been optimized for millenia not to flicker.

Where can I learn more about that? My google fu is failing me.

The self-trimming wick is the trick. Before that was invented, people had to use special scissors to trim the wick and avoid uncontrollable large (and flickering) candle flames.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_candle_making#Indus...

Not just flickering; smoking badly as the underheated, unburnt parts roasted outside the flame.

Weirdly, the trick wasn't in changing the wick material to burn better, but changing their shape so they curled over (and remained marginally in the flame until burnt) instead of just sticking straight out: rectangular instead of circular braided string.

Inventions like those fall into my weird mental category of "I should investigate and appreciate these just in case I ever get stranded back in time."

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