Looking for Gifts Luxury Candles from Provence

Discovering local artisanal brands is among the many reasons to visit Provence. Over the last few years, we have had the pleasure of meeting several founders of these businesses. While these companies sell different products – lavender, perfumes, accessories, candles, linens – they all have the desire to share the best of Provence with their customers.

Provencal Fragrances

Launched in 2012, Rose et Marius is a luxury perfume house and home décor brand based in Aix-en-Provence. The company’s name pays tribute to founder Magali Fleurquin-Bonnard’s grandmother Rose. Fleurquin-Bonnard’s inspiration for the exquisitely designed product line originates from childhood memories at the family’s country home (bastide) in Puget sur Argens in the Var and her grandmother’s perfume. After completing studies in commerce and an MBA in luxury marketing, Fleurquin-Bonnard worked with high-end fashion brands, including Piaget, Kenzo and Christian Lacroix.

Leveraging her luxury brand experience Fleurquin-Bonnard curates evocative perfumes that capture the essence of Provence and uses those fragrances in the Rose et Marius product line. She works directly with a top-quality perfume maker in Grasse, who turns her fragrance concept into reality. Rose et Marius’ fragrances, such as “a midsummer’s night under the fig tree” and “siesta in a sunlit home”, take you on an olfactory journey through the region.

Those fragrances form the base notes for exclusive perfumes, which infuse the scented candles, hand soaps, shower gels, diffusers and more. The entire Rose et Marius product line is 100% made-in-France by a carefully selected group of artisans. In addition, Fleurquin-Bonnard chooses partners for their exceptional craftsmanship and unwavering quality.

Luxury Candles

In 2020, President Macron and his team held the inaugural Grande Exposition du Fabriqué en France in Paris. Over two days, nearly 10,000 people visited L’Élysée Palace to see the products representing every department and French territory. To meet the criteria, a company must develop and manufacture its products in France. There were 1750 applications for the inaugural event. A selection committee reviewed applications narrowing the list to approximately 100 finalists.

The event was such a success and tribute to France’s entrepreneurs that President Macron called for a second edition. The short-listed companies will display their products in the cours d’honneur à L’Elysée Palace on July 3rd and 4th. Among the Grande Exposition du Fabriqué en France goals are to raise awareness for supporting local activity while reducing the environmental footprint of consumption. In 2021, there were 2300 applications, and the selection team chose one emblematic product per department and overseas communities for 106 products. Rose et Marius represented Provence (Bouches du Rhône) with two of its exquisite refillable candles.

©Rose et Marius

Handcrafted Limoges porcelain surrounds these refillable candles, making great gifts for others or your home.

See the porcelain production process here.

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).