About Us
Pompadour was launched in 2009, borne of a great passion to create unique, luxurious offerings, while being mindful of of the impact our choices make on the environment.
When a stylish French woman appeared to me in a dream in 2005, she spoke of destiny and candles. She said that she simply loved luxury, aesthetics and indulgence, because the please her soul in the same way that art, literature and music did. A friend well versed in French history later identified her as Madame de Pompadour, and this soon evolved into the Pompadour Philosophy.
An insatiable desire to immerse myself in the origins and craft of candle making followed, as well the powerful realisation that the experience of indulgence and luxury does not have to be enjoyed at the expense of health and environment.
I quickly discovered that the majority of candles sold in Australia are made with paraffin and palm oil. While candles burn and their ingredients are released into the air we breathe, there are few regulations governing the manufacture and sale of candles in Australia. I learned that 100% soy wax is natural and nenewable, and therefore better for the environment and health. Paraffin is a non-renewable energy source and waste product of petroleum refineries, derived from crude oil. When burnt it emits a toxic black soot, similar to burning diesel fuel. Research has shown that burning paraffin wax emits human carcinogens. I was amazed that the waste from petrol refineries continues to be moulded, wicked and fragranced for sale to consumers to burn in their homes.
For the first time, I confronted the impact of palm oil being sold worldwide in food, cosmetics, candles and soaps. Eighty percent of the world's palm oil production is in Indonesia and Malaysia where irreplaceable rain forests are rapidly disappearing as a result of the high demand for palm oil. These rain forests are home to a myriad of wildlife , including the Sumatran tiger, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Asian Elephant Clouded Leopard and Borneo Orangutans. Currently an area of forest equal to 300 soccer fields is being destroyed in Indonesia every hour as a result of demand for palm oil. Orangutans are within 20 years of extinction in the wild, as they are killed daily in palm oil plantations.
This journey inspired me to create handmade Australian made products with both earth and beauty in mind. Our earth friendly range of handmade bath, body and home fragrance products are the ultimate experience for those who like to be both stylish and sustainable.
Thank you for choosing Pompadour!
Nicole Tomazic - Spanger
Pompadour Founder
