Two obvious advantages of having something that looks like a candle but is battery operated, is that it is far safer, and less messy. Just charge using the base unit, lift out, tilt, and the flickering lights start up. Tilt again to turn off. The bubble gum pink then changes to an easier-on-the-eye dull orange. Close up, the five inch high units look rather like plastic beakers, but from a distance would pass as glass. I had mine in the window tonight - Halloween - providing quite strong, striking lights, and they will be great for Christmas, an atmospheric bath, night lights, and dinner parties. One small quibble, if the lights are intended to mimic candles, the pulse rate of the flickering is rather too quick. However, the third advantage of the Princess Candlelights for candle fans is that although the initial price is quite high, these will last and last. According to the manufacturer the batteries will re-charge 500 times, after which the capacity will gradually decline.