While negotiating the narrow mud road at Kuyilapalayam in Auroville, pleasant fragrance wafting in the air leads you to Maroma, the manufacturer and exporter of a range of aromatic products which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in Auroville’s golden jubilee year.
Once inside this quiet aromatic world on Aspiration Street in Kuyilapalayam, the aesthetic appeal of huge candles in varied hues, shapes and sizes is something that one cannot help marvel at.
Initial hiccups
When several unused candles that failed quality test and candle mould spillovers piled up in his studio, Paul Pinthon, a Frenchman trained in pharmacy, began to sculpt the recycled wax into various shapes and sizes. His labour of love is the 70 scented candles weighing between 30 kg and 60 kg showcased at Maroma Candle Exhibition at Vernissage in Auroville.
Paul Pinthon, Chief Executive Officer of Maroma, bringing the elements of industrial design mixed wax with nuts and bolts to design a candle.
Sculptural candles
Calling it a marriage between soft wax and hard nuts and bolts, he says it was his first experiment in making sculptural candles from recycled wax in 1995.
The shapes and sizes of candles changed with change in his inspiration. In the year 2000, his strolls on the streets of Kyoto and Tokyo in Japan inspired him to make 25 models of candles with granite and wax. All of which is displayed on the first floor.
On the ground floor, Laura Reddy, another CEO of Maroma, shows the candles that reflected his inspirations from different artists and even geological layers.
“These candles were made in the last six months,” says Mr. Pinthon, who says that he can do nothing with recycled wax for three to four years at a stretch but when inspired he can bring out four to five models of candles at one go.
“I have not only used recycled wax but also pure wax to shape candles,” he adds.
Open to public
From 'Batti company' with just 20 employees, Maroma has now grown into a manufacturer and exporter of varied aromatic products, including incense, candles, perfumed sachets, body products, joss sticks and many more.
Celebrating 40 years in Auroville, it has opened its manufacturing unit for the public to visit, watch and experience its aromatic products being prepared.
Responding to public demand, Maroma has extended the candle exhibition and open house till Saturday.
