If you'd told me last week that this week I would be happily providing a home to three electric candles I'd have scoffed in your face in a very un-ladylike manner. Electric candles! What kind of a crazy mind thought that one up? They always look so rubbish, with their fake dripping wax and their wobbling light trapped in flame-shaped bulbs. Ludicrous. But back then I hadn't seen these Philips Imageo LED CandleLights. There's not a drip of fake wax in sight on these babies, plus the glass holders are designed to make it look like you've got little tea lights inside - so you don't get a glimpse of any fake flammage (unless you peer inside, that is).
The candles come on a little basestation, which is actually the biggest let down - silver plastic with a cheap feel. Charge the units for 12 hours and you'll get 24 hours of light, provided by an energy efficient, cool to the touch, LED bulb. Luckily, you don't have to keep them on the charger unit to use them, and because they're waterproof they'll be handy for outdoor parties. There's no power switch, you simply tip them upside down to turn them on and off.
Personally, I'm rather taken with them, and although they're not exactly as cheap as the real deal (£24.99 for three), they're not prohibitively expensive - and they'd make a great present. They'll be out in August in either white or coloured versions.
Philips Website (they're not up there yet, but they should be on sale in dept stores)
How much light do/did this these things give off? A half dozen real tea lights are enough to give decent light to a small room---do these things have any chance of doing the same?