“There’s a total of 10 sensors inside of this thing, we’ve kind of over-engineered it in a positive way,” said the 44-year-old founder of LuDela, Jamie Bianchini of Nevada. Some of the sensors are used for safety purposes, he said. The candle can apparently detect when it’s rolling over and extinguish itself by switching on a tiny fan near the wick. The pillar candle is electric, so there’s no gas involved, Bianchini says. It also uses wax fillers that feed upwards, keeping the flame at the top. There are also multiple moods and settings that you can choose from, for instance, if you want to create a candlelight dinner or romantic bedroom lighting, you can choose accordingly. Addressing safety and aesthetic concerns that candle burners have faced for centuries, Bianchini said, “There’s nothing quite like the glow, smell, and ambience of candles, but with it comes the fire risk, wax mess, hassles with wicks, and the time it takes to light and extinguish multiple candles. LuDela addresses these issues with a smart candle that delivers the convenience and increased safety benefits of LED candles, but with the magic and fascination of a real flame. Combined with our social mission, LuDela delivers better light and better lives around the world.” So, how does the smart candle works: Each battery-powered purchase comes with a shell-like wax base and a smaller 30-hour candle that you stick inside. Simply tap your smartphone’s touchscreen to burn or reduce the candle’s flame, and when the wax core finally melts, top-up the base with a fresh one. The LuDela candle is priced at $99 for pre-orders and after that, it is expected to retail for $149. Shipments are expected to start in 2017. If you’re interested, you can check out LuDela’s website for more details.
