Atelier Virginie stands out for its unique creations that combine authenticity, refinement, and personal inspiration. Using the quality of the raw materials selected at Terre de Bougies, Virginie creates handcrafted candles that bear her signature scent and highlight Luxembourg's heritage.
A German magazine as a spark
"I worked for the European Communities for almost 20 years. I decided to resign from a very comfortable job to take care of my children. Being keen on DIY Christmas decorations, I was leafing through a German magazine and came across an article explaining the napkin technique. A napkin is made up of three layers, only the first is printed. Patterns were simply cut out and glued onto zinc pots.
Obviously, as I'm a DIY enthusiast and curious, I wanted to try this technique on another medium. I wanted to create a decor and put a small tea light inside to create something warm. A passion was born..."
A brilliant idea for using tea lights and tendonitis...
"Hence the glass! I had fun looking for a solution to make my designs stick to the glass without leaving any glue. Three months after resigning, I held my first Christmas market at home, surrounded by my friends. A year later, and after having perfected the glass decorations during an exhibition, a shop asked me to supply them with tealight holders. I had fun changing the designs according to the seasons.
For 15 years, I cut, painted, and improved my technique. The repetition of scissor movements and the weight of the containers took their toll on my hands. An unfortunate problem of acute tendonitis required an operation. It was inevitable! I am very proud of the development of my tealight holders, which are still current, but at a slower pace today. They can be found in a few restaurants in Luxembourg and a few hotels in Paris to bring a unique decorative touch."
A new decade for a new life
"After two years of rest following my operation, I began to get bored. I've always been very attracted to smells. For my 50th birthday, my friends said they would offer me a perfume training course in Grasse. I didn't want to stop there. I immediately followed up with an aromatherapy course and, using this olfactory background, I completed a candle-making course."
But Virginie didn't want to make the standard candle found everywhere on the market. She needed to stand out. Her first idea was to create an olfactory signature unique to Luxembourg.
The second idea comes from the realm of indulgence, that is, combining flavor with creativity. For example, his Luxembourg collection truly highlights aspects of heritage.
"I had made a Lemon Bergamot jam in small Weck jars and I had the idea of adding the candle with the same scent to a gift box. People loved it, they sold like hotcakes. For perfumes, for example, I order my raw material and then I mix it myself. This allows me to have unique olfactory results and my perfume signature is thus created."
Convey positive emotions
"I continue to make the regulatory packaging and safety labels one by one. I always accompany my candles with a small piece of paper where I give some explanations on the use and maintenance of the candle.
In fact, I changed my career path not once, but twice, somewhere. It just goes to show that you can completely change your trajectory even with young children. I found a lot of information in magazines even though I didn't even speak German. So, when you have passion, nothing can stop you! You just have to be resourceful and bring added value that others don't have.
You have to see your project through to the end, otherwise you'll have regrets. The turning point came at 51. Fortunately, in candle making, as in sculpture or painting, we don't judge age, but we judge an entire art. Creating requires constant renewal and questioning."
Conclusion
Virginie's journey reflects an atypical path, marked by courageous choices and constantly renewed creativity, like the creator of Dreams Tell candles. Her way of combining craftsmanship, scents and heritage demonstrates that it is always possible to transform a passion into a unique project, no matter what point in life you decide to start.
To discover more inspiring stories, check out all of our interviews with handmade candle makers.
