About French Candlemaker Apis Cera

Fall is (almost) in the air, and the fabulous hand-crafted beeswax candles and skincare made in Provence by Apis Cera are now in the shop!

We recently had the chance to interview Charles van Valkenburg, founder of Apis Cera.
Read on to learn what makes this artisan candlemaker and his candles so special…

Honeycomb Beeswax Taper Candles Gift Set with Apis Cera’s signature packaging

How did your journey in candle making start? When did you decide to turn it into a business?

I was a web designer in Paris 10 years ago. One day I bought some beeswax candles on a market for a gift. Immediately the scent reminded me of a candles my mom used to have on her desk when I was a kid. I kept one of the candles and told myself I wasn’t going to let go of that scent ever again. A few weeks later I bought some beeswax and roll of cotton wick and start making tests. I knew nothing about beeswax and even less about bees.

Photos courtesy of Apis Cera

One thing led to another; my little hobby started to take more and more space in my mind and in my apartment.

I kept on working as a web designer for years and ended up at Louis Vuitton. I needed to make a decision because Apis Cera grew too much and my day job was blocking my growth (lack of time and soaked too much of my energy).

Two years ago I decided to leave for Provence (aka heaven on earth) and work full time on my small brand. Next year I’ll celebrate the 10th anniversary of Apis Cera.

It’s way more difficult to run a small brand like mine than to have a regular desk job with a safe monthly salary, but I wouldn’t trade it because I’m much more motivated every morning working for my dream one day at a time.

What makes Apis Cera stand out from other beeswax candles?

I never look at other candle brands. What I’m most inspired by are bees themselves and nature in general (plants, flowers, animals). I never studied in a business school or in design school; I taught myself everything that I know.

If I had to say why or how my brand stands out, I would say that Apis Cera is really an extension of myself. I get to dream about a product and actually make it. That’s so cool and fun, but certainly not easy! I’m not looking for trendy products or fancy this or that, but products that make sense and complement each other.

This might be a hard question, like asking a parent to choose their favorite child, but which of your creations has been your favorite to bring to life?

Oh that’s easy, the first product of course, Lucienne taper candles! My canvas was blank and I needed to imagine everything from the ground up: how to make it, learn about beeswax, about wicks, why the name, how to package it…
It was the guideline for the products that followed. It was also the beginning of my fascination for bees - the “beeginning” of a long journey.

In June you launched Jean-Paul, Apis Cera’s very own bandana! What’s next.. any new projects in mind?

It all started with a single beeswax candle prototype in 2012 and now I’m dreaming of expanding my lineup to iconic products like the Jean-Paul bandana.

At first, I’m thinking of products I use on a daily basis and seeing if I can make them better or at least add my own twist. I love to work a ton of time, for months, in the background. When the day finally arrives for the release of a new product, it all makes sense, and it’s immediately part of the Apis Cera family. I remember when the Hortense tea light came out, the first order came 2 minutes after launching!

“Sometimes, all it takes to start a fire, is the simplest act of kindness, a gesture — just a tiny bit of love.”

— Charles, Apis Cera founder

To learn more about Apis Cera, visit their website or follow on instagram.
Happy fall!

XOXO,
The Fleurettes

P.S. We are thrilled to also carry Apis Cera skincare products at Les Fleurs! Like their candles, the soaps and lip balms are made with pure organic ingredients sourced in the Provence region.