Presenting the Maître Tseng x Trudon collaboration, a collection of three scented candles that celebrate the world of tea and its thousands of years of history.
Maître Tseng, or Yu Hui Tseng, is a master of tea. From a long line of tea makers, she is also a descendant of the first disciple of Confucius. Maître Tseng is one of only ten Gongfu tea masters recognised across the globe – the only one operating outside of China, and the only female tea master in the world.
Maître Tseng is the founder of La Maison des Trois Thés (The House of Three Teas) in Paris, a sanctuary for connoisseurs and professionals alike. It is home to over 1000 varieties of tea, 500 at a time maturing in the world’s largest tea cellar.
The founding idea behind the Maître Tseng × Trudon collection came from imagining the flow of water from the sky, enriched by elements of the earth. Reflecting this idea, this range of scented candles is expressed in three stages representing the journey of water… essentially, what happens before it ends up in the teapot!
Each candle’s vessel in this collection has been adorned with golden calligraphy in the shape of the Trudon royal seal, and an embossed gold interior that is illuminated by the flame once lit.
L’ESPRIT DE L’EAU – THE SPIRIT OF WATER
The first stage in water’s journey, where it exists between its vapour and liquid states – it has not yet made its choice. In its barely embodied purity, water remains with the grey-green shades of mountain clouds.
Created by Benoist Lapouza, L’Esprit de L’Eau combines a mineral accord, that of clear water gliding over mountain rocks, with woody notes of cedar and cypress, as well as spicy notes of pepper and juniper berry. L’Esprit de L’Eau takes inspiration from the ascetics of the Song Dynasty, who sought lives of solitude in nature in order to achieve spiritual elevation.
NOTES
Top: Somali Incense, Madagascan Black Pepper, Juniper
Middle: Clear Jasmine Accord, Mineral Accord, Jasmine
Base: White Orris Accord, Texan Cedarwood, French Cypress
BURN TIME
The 270g candles burn for approximately 55-60 hours. Please follow the instructions enclosed with your candle to get the most out of it.
HOW IT SMELLS
When lit, this candle actually reveals its heart notes first – the aquatic mineral accord is softened by the slight sweetness of jasmine. Then, after having burnt for a while, the earthy sharpness of the juniper and incense reveal themselves. The orris adds cleanliness to the scent, which is grounded by the woody base notes.
LORE LOVES
This candle evokes a feeling of absolute tranquillity, upon lighting it you are transported to one of China’s beautiful mountainous regions, with mists curling around the trees, and clouds woven around the mountaintops. You sip your tea and allow yourself to absorb the natural wonders that surround you.
ABOUT THE BRAND
Founded in 1643, Cire Trudon is the oldest wax manufacturer in the world.
In 1640s Paris, Claude Trudon, a convenience store owner, began to make tapered candles with a new methodology he had developed, utilising a special blend of beeswax and vegetable wax. His high-quality candles rapidly gained popularity, as they didn’t warp, smoke or splutter, and therefore didn’t cause fires!
In 1702, Trudon opened a factory so that their highly sought-after candles could be manufactured on a larger scale. Before long, their secret wax formula (still used today!) attracted the attention of the Crown. The house of Trudon became the candle provider to the Royal Court of Louis XIV, as well as many of the great churches of France. Louis XIV was so impressed with the candles that he issued his seal of approval with the official family crest. This crest can now be seen affixed to every Trudon product, with the addition of the motto “Deo regique laborant”, which means: “they (the bees) work for God and the King”, a nod to the creature that made their successful formula possible!
By the mid 17th century, Trudon had become the largest wax manufacturer in France. As candle makers for the Royal Court, Trudon were commissioned to make candles for many French icons – from Louis XIV to Marie Antoinette to Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon actually commissioned Trudon to make a candle for the birth of his son – rumoured to be the only gift he ever gave him – a black candle decorated with his likeness in gold.
Fast forward to 2007 when the house took the name Cire Trudon and became the leading specialist in manufacturing perfumed candles. All their candles are still hand-made, using traditional production methods akin to those Claude Trudon would have used in the 1600s. In their Normandy factory, each candle is hand-poured into hand-blown vessels from Tuscany. Today, Cire Trudon has extended their savoir-fare to a line of genderless perfumes as well as a variety of options to luxuriously scent your space.
