My wool is real wool, not synthetic. I really dislike that synthetic stuff. I make my own felt... just take wool fabric and wash it in the washer.... hot water, agitation.... does what your mom told you not to do. It felts. I've even spun some wool yarn and knitted it up to make wool slippers, then wash and keep washing till they are the right size for my feet. I check by putting the wet slippers in the bath tub to try them on. When they're the right size, I just rinse them, squeeze out as much water as I can, and hang them to dry. I love those warm wool slippers. And it's great to know that I haven't done anything awful by using my own wool felt for those oil wicks.