Our Story
When Carol Symons children had flown the nest, in 1989 she followed her dream and opened a small London boutique with a collection of gifts and three scented candles. It was always the candles people were drawn to…
"I remember being nervous watching a customer’s first reaction whenever they’d lean in to smell the candles, thinking about their smiles, wondering where the scent was taking them…”
HAND POURED
Hand-poured, with 100% natural wax and her favourite scent (Parks Original), brands like Harrods quickly recognised the unique quality, fine fragrance and attention to detail. Orders grew and it soon became impossible to meet the demand.
NATURAL: NOT EASY
Back then, established candle manufacturers had not yet come around to the benefits of eco-friendly products - they were all committed to paraffin in the 80’s. Carol’s commitment to 100% natural wax, a super-clean burn and sustainable sourcing went way beyond the capabilities of these larger volume manufacturers.
CUTTING EDGE
With no tried and tested processes for larger production quantities that would meet Carol’s specifications, her husband, Sidney, was recruited to the cause. With such high standards, and no one able to meet them, he had no choice but to learn through trial and error. He found himself at the cutting edge - developing not only the intricate techniques and expertise, but also the very equipment needed.
It was a natural progression to add other fragranced products for the home and for gifting; and by the year 2000, Sidney was producing significant quantities of diffusers, alcohol-free room-sprays and 100% natural wax candles, all to the most demanding values: his wife’s.
VALUES
These values - never taking the easy option, always striving to improve and innovate - have driven continual investment in every aspect of the way we work. From Research & Development, the production team and infrastructure, through to reducing the carbon footprint for every product.
The teams working in our laboratories thrive on developing processes like Coreless Cleanburn® Technology and unique wax formulas. From commissioning the finest machinery around the world to designing and building it ourselves - everything is obsessively geared towards making the worlds’ finest fragranced products for your home, or to give as a cherished gift.
PASSION
Parks is still a family run business, with a 33,000sqft production facility in the heart of England, showroom in London’s West End and customers on five continents - but we’ve never forgotten the values which brought us here. As Carol says: “I don’t think anyone in our team could do what we do without being passionate about it.”
Every hour of every day, someone, somewhere is smiling because they’ve just lit or been given one of our candles
That’s why we love what we do.
