I had heard about flameless candles before, but I'd never bothered to wonder what they were or how they worked. I was looking for something unique to give my friend as a wedding gift when I stumbled on these, sold by The Sharper Image
. And now I'm thinking I'm going to give them to everyone.
Flameless candles look just like the real thing. I thought they might be those cheesy plastic things with the "flame-shaped" lightbulb at the top, but these are much more advanced than that. They're actually made of real wax, and have the indentation at the top, complete with a wick, just like a burned candle. But inside is a tiny little LED bulb that flickers like firelight.
I ended up buying a few of these and including them in my friend's "honeymoon basket" present, which also included things like bubble bath, wine, and fancy cheeses. I thought that in a hotel on their honeymoon, my friend and her new husband might not be allowed to burn real candles, so this would help them create ambiance. They can also use them later on their outdoor deck, since these things last for years.
So, yeah, I'm now a flameless candle convert. I'm going to give some to my mom as a unique Mother's Day gift, because she is one of those people who won't burn candles because she's afraid she'll fall asleep with the flame going. She also has pets who might interfere with a real flame, and that could get dangerous. These are a great all-purpose gift.
Set of Three Flameless Wax Hurricane Candles (4", 5" and 6") (NI513)