Cire Trudon has upheld the art of traditional wax making since 1643. This royal manufacturer has stood the test of time by preserving its artisanal production and using the purest material. We visited its Le Perche factory to see exactly how its famous candles are made.
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A Rainbow of Delicate Colors
Cire Trudon offers candles a range of rainbow colors, dubbed by the brand as “Madeleine”.. Unscented, they are made with the finest quality wax that doesn’t drip and burns slowly. From bright pink to azure blue and burgundy plum, “Madeleines” are artisanally produced in over 20 different colors.
The Finest Quality
At the Trudon factory, while machines are now used for many tasks, the most important are still done by hand and largely by women. They are responsible for the final steps in the candle’s journey, including the all-important personalization. Each candle is cleaned with a soft cloth and stickers bearing the brand’s emblem are applied by hand. While Cire Trudon is known for its signature green glass, the brand also offers limited-edition candles in blue or red votives.
A Regal History
The Cire Trudon story began over 350 years ago. In the 17th century, Claude Trudon owned a boutique on Paris’s rue Saint-Honore, where he worked as a grocer and candlemaker. In 1714, Trudon introduced beeswax into its candle formula, an ingredient they discovered turned a beautiful white color when exposed to the sun. This inspired the brand’s motto “Deo Regique laborant”, meaning “They work for God and King”. This credo still exists today and is printed on the coat of arms which adorn the candles. The Cire Trudon shield is inspired by a stone carving located on the brand’s former manufacturing site in Antony, south of Paris. Today, it is a convent.
Meticulously Manufactured
At the production site close to Mortagne-au-Perche, Cire Trudon continues its long-standing tradition of using quality materials, artisanal expertise, and meticulous care to create exceptional candles.
Made in Italy, the brand’s distinctive glass containers were inspired by the shape of a champagne bucket. Vegetable wax, pure cotton wicks and subtle scents created in Grasse are the key Trudon signatures. In their candles, excellence equals elegance.
An exacting process lies behind each Cire Trudon candle:
1- Wax is melted in metal tanks and each perfume is mixed in at the last minute in order to conserve its properties. Scents are created by renowned French perfumers.
2- The glasses are lined up in a single file, where the wicks are centered and secured to the bottom. Wax is hand-poured into the votives.
3- Vegetable wax is used for the candles. It is prioritized for its optimum scent and hardly leaves any smears on the glass.
4- A fine layer of wax is added to fill any holes. The wicks are straightened and trimmed to ensure a perfect first burn.
5- Cire Trudon’s gold coat of arms is applied by hand. It features a beehive, in homage to the bees that make the wax.
6- Once each candle has cooled, it’s inspected, cleaned and hand-conditioned.
78 rue de Seine
75006 Paris
+33 (0) 1 43 26 46 50
11 rue Sainte Croix de la Bretonnerie
75004 Paris
+33 (0) 1 42 77 90 88
This article was originally published in the March/April 2019 issue of My French Country Home.
Photography & Text by Sharon Santoni