There are different schemes and ways how to connect the LED to 220 V without a transformer, but the essence of them is one. It is necessary to limit the current flowing through the LED when connecting 220 V. The most common approach is to apply a current-limiting resistor. However, this option is not suitable if you connect a powerful LED, since the dimensions of the resistor will be impressive due to the required high power dissipation. Therefore, a quenching capacitor is used. But at the moment of switching on the voltage of 220 V, the resistance of the discharged capacitor is almost zero, as a result of which there is a strong current surge which can easily disable the LED. To eliminate such a throw an inductor is used, which slows the growth of the current when it is turned on, so the capacitor has time to charge.