It all began in 1643, at the dawn of Louis XIV's reign. On one of the streets that would become, many years later, the epicenter of French refinement, the merchant Claude Trudon acquired a shop where he developed a business as a grocer and candlemaker. At the beginning of the 1th century, the establishment, which until then had borne its owner's name and whose products were aimed at parishes and wealthy households, became the Royal Wax Factory. At its helm, Jérôme Trudon, heir to the business, innovated and perfected the manufacture of beeswax candles, which became immaculate white. This expertise would eventually reach the imperial court of Napoleon I.

Over the centuries, products have constantly evolved to adapt to changing needs. In 1989, the company was acquired by the Blondeau family, who experimented with creating various lines of scented candles for the domestic and decorative markets. However, it was in the 2000s that the company pushed the boundaries of its expertise by venturing into perfumery, launching five signature fragrances and home fragrances in 2017. Its ambition is to " become a key player in the perfume industry ," notes the company's current creative director.

Combining craftsmanship and reducing environmental impact

“ We are always developing new products (and new categories) that pay tribute to our exceptional history and expertise ,” emphasizes Julien Pruvost. And it is precisely this passion for craftsmanship and French history that inspired Maison Trudon to reinvent cameo busts and candles depicting historical symbols or faces, in partnership with the Réunion des Musées Nationaux (RMN). This prestigious collaboration is far from the only one, as the company has also designed candles for fashion houses such as Giambattista Valli, Valentino, and Balmain.

Now recognized as a Living Heritage Company , the candlemaker continues to bridge the gap between its expertise and contemporary concerns. With the aim of reducing its environmental impact, Trudon is now giving its empty bottles and candle glasses a second life. Collected exclusively at one of its four Parisian stores, they are recycled and exchanged. For each candle glass, customers receive a 10% discount on any immediate purchase of a new candle of the same size. In 2018, the company re-evaluated the model that had made its candles famous. It ended the use of beeswax in favor of a vegetable wax, sourced from Europe and primarily organic. This strong commitment is accompanied by financial support to protect the European dark bee, which is now severely threatened by intensive agriculture and industrial beekeeping. A partnership rich in meaning when one knows that since 1643, the motto of the House is: “ Deo regique laborant ” which means “ they (the bees) work for God and the King ”.