When you put your hand near a candle, you feel heat directly over the flame but cool on the sides of the flame. Why does this difference occur?

Question

When you put your hand near a candle, you feel heat directly over the flame but cool on the sides of the flame. Why does this difference occur?
I think because of convection the warmer air rises and the cooler air sinks.

DrBob222 · Accepted Answer

The flame is hot, the warm rises, it draws air in from the sides so the heat directly above the flame is hotter than the cooler air being swept in from the sides.