Flameless Wax Candles with a Moving LED Flame

A flameless wax candle is a real wax candle with an LED inside instead of a wick. The newer ones have a small flame-shaped piece that swings on a hinge, so the light moves the way a real flame does. They run on batteries, give no heat and no smoke, and can stand anywhere a real candle cannot.

What is a movable LED flame?

Early LED candles had a fixed light that dimmed up and down to imitate a flicker. It never quite worked, because a real flame moves as well as changes brightness.

A movable flame is a thin flame-shaped piece mounted on a pivot with a small magnet. It swings slightly, and the LED behind it lights it from below. Seen from two metres away, in a dark room, the effect is close to a real candle.

Why real wax matters

A plastic candle looks like plastic in daylight. A candle cast in real wax has the same surface, the same slightly uneven top and the same weight in the hand.

Our flameless candles are made from real wax with the LED unit set into the top, so the body is a genuine candle even though the light is not.

Where flameless candles work and real candles do not

• Windowsills. Near curtains, where a real flame is a fire risk.
• Christmas trees and wreaths. Dry greenery and open flame is the classic December accident.
• Rooms with children or pets. Nothing to knock over that can burn.
• Bookshelves and enclosed spaces. No heat and no soot on the shelf above.
• Outdoors. Wind does not blow them out.
• Rooms you leave. A timer runs them while nobody is home.

How long do they last?

A real wax candle burns for a few hours and is gone. A flameless candle runs for hundreds of hours on a set of batteries, and the candle itself lasts for years.

Most have a timer that switches them on at the same time each evening and off after a set number of hours, so you do not need to remember them at all.

What to look for

• Real wax, not plastic. The difference shows in daylight.
• A moving flame rather than a flickering LED. This is what separates the newer candles from the older ones.
• A remote. Useful the moment you have more than two candles in a room.
• A timer. Six hours on, eighteen off, is the usual cycle.
• Several heights in a set. Candles of 10, 12,5 and 15 cm grouped together look better than three of the same height.

Frequently asked questions

Do flameless candles smell of anything?

No. They are unscented. If you want the scent, use a separate diffuser or a scented candle somewhere safe.

What batteries do they take?

Usually two AA or AAA per candle, depending on size. Batteries are not normally included.

Can they be used outdoors?

In a sheltered place, yes. They are not waterproof, so bring them in when it rains.

Do they get warm?

Barely. An LED gives off very little heat, which is why they are safe near fabric and greenery.

How do I store them?

Take the batteries out and keep the candles indoors in a dry place. Wax softens in heat, so avoid a loft in summer.