CIR: “The candle is a living heritage!”

LUXE HOME - 2023/09/18

Already more than 3 centuries of history for the candlemaker CIR, known for its brands Trudon and Carrière Frères, which manufactures private label candles for major luxury houses, hotels, and restaurants. A joint interview with Anne-Céline Andreola, Corporate & Private Labels Sales Manager, and Julien Pruvost, Creative Director.

Your company is one of the oldest in candle manufacturing…

Julien Pruvost: Indeed, we are part of a continuous tradition of candle-making expertise, inherited from over 300 years of history, dating back to 1643 precisely when a certain Claude Trudon established his small candle workshop on Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris.

Anne-Céline Andreola: Being a living heritage company today isn’t just about age and tradition; it also means that we’ve successfully preserved and evolved our craftsmanship, adapting to changing consumer habits, all while adhering to strict health and environmental standards.

 

 

 

 

Indeed, can we still innovate with such a classic product as candles?

J.P.: Certainly, we innovate “in a small space,” but that’s the case for many old industries. We are constantly working on formulations to improve burn quality and scent diffusion while reducing environmental impact. Quality control is a constantly evolving science for us.

A-C.A.: The quality of the wax is indeed a top priority, especially since we work with blended or 100% vegetable waxes, based on organic rapeseed oil, which are more environmentally friendly than paraffin waxes but require a certain level of expertise in manufacturing. For this reason, our facility includes a laboratory that continually conducts research and development.

 

What, in your opinion, is your added value in this market?

A-C.A.: In line with its luxury and premium positioning, CIR offers a “tailored” service to adapt to the diverse needs of its clients: this ranges from simple wax filling to the design, manufacturing, decoration, and delivery of a finished product in its packaging. Regarding fragrance, when the client doesn’t come with their own olfactory signature, we connect them with our renowned perfume partners.

J.P.: Our “Made in France” guarantee ensures that the factory, personnel management, and products adhere to strict French and European standards in terms of quality and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility): major clients are particularly sensitive to this.

Furthermore, there aren’t that many candle manufacturers of high-quality with such a strong production capacity in Europe! In fact, we have undertaken expansion work for our factory, which will increase from 2,400 m2 to 4,400 m2 starting in 2024. This will allow us to further improve working conditions and increase our production capacity.

 

 

Find CIR at booth DG44 – LUXE Home Space.