Our Story
In 1968, Torc Candles was founded as a small family run business in the charming and picturesque village of Borris, Co Carlow. A granite village full of character and heritage nestling in the fertile valley of the River Barrow at the foothills of Mount Leinster.
In the mid 1990’s, Torc transitioned to manufacturing premium home-fragranced candles, a transition that would see Torc emerge as Ireland’s largest and most successful candle manufacturer. Today, Torc is a streamlined and highly automated manufacturing facility producing over 120 million candles annually which are lit on five continents across the globe. Our commitment to excellence and safety in 2024 is as it was in 1968, a commitment matched only by the dedication and loyalty of our staff. Inspired by the breathtaking beauty of our surrounding lush green countryside and sheltering in the shadow of a 19th century limestone viaduct, the next chapter in our story was easy.
This chapter would see us on a journey switching from fossil fuels to using green clean energy, continuing to drop our carbon footprint emissions and work with sustainable and natural raw materials such as soy wax, rape seed wax, 100% sustainable cotton wicks and working with natural essential oils. As we look forward to celebrating 56 years in business, the next chapter in our story will see us launch new exciting products and fragrances.
Supported by a local community for over half a century, Torc are proud to continue its commitment to “give-back” by supporting local and national charities, local sporting clubs and initiatives.
Our Heritage
Our heritage is significant at Torc. It was easy to find inspiration for our company in a country as beautiful as Ireland, steeped in culture and heritage. Even our name, Torc, has a deeper meaning, which goes back in our history. The name comes from the Torc necklace, which was worn around the necks of Celtic warriors in battle. The necklace was a sign of wealth and status in Celtic culture, and by wearing one, you displayed your high rank to others.
The Torc also plays a part in Irish mythology and, in particular, the story of Morann the Arbiter, who wore a Torc around his neck to ensure his honesty and was seen as a symbol of purity, or ‘light’. The Torc is a major part of Irish history, culture, and heritage, so we could think of nothing more perfect than it to represent us.
As part of our heritage, each of our candles aims to evoke feelings of home and happiness. Putting that into a candle is no easy task, but we’re up for the challenge— just like our Celtic ancestors who wore a Torc necklace into battle.
Our Process
While the exact formula is a well-kept secret, all the ingredients are environmentally friendly. Over many years of research and development, we created a blend of natural waxes that make the most perfect candle possible. Our candles are all made of food-grade wax, which means they’re vegan-friendly.
We melt our secret blend of natural wax to begin the candle-making process.
When the temperature is right, we carefully add our fragrance to the wax.
We then ensure the cotton wick is centred to allow the candle to burn correctly.
The scented wax is now poured into the container and allowed to slowly cool. The candle will be checked numerous times during this process.
The candle will now be gift packed and sent to our warehouse for distribution
Add a finishing touch to your purchase with a choice between a gift box or bag.
Our Candles
Combining our history and heritage to create the perfect candle every time.
We use only the finest blend of fragrances to entice your senses and uplift any room, giving it an ambience that suits your mood. Our fragrances are carefully researched, tested, and quality checked before they are put in your hands and we are proud of each and every one of the unique fragrances we carry.
Safety is at the forefront of our process, and we are part of the Irish and British candle making association which has strict guidelines on how to safely use a candle within a home. We abide by those guidelines to ensure the safety of all who purchase a Torc candle.
As of 2022, we have reduced the amount of plastic used in Torc by 40%. To do this, we have changed our labels from plastic to paper, and instead of using bubble wrap, we have made the switch to recyclable shredded paper.
Our People
Our people are at the heart of everything we do, as there is so much that goes into creating a candle; it takes a team effort to get our candles into your hands. The different departments in Torc come together as seamlessly as our fragrances.
Our design team is tasked with creating the beautiful designs you see on our containers and packaging.
From ordering raw materials, and test burning to quality control and formula confirmation, the production team are always hard at work, ensuring you receive only the best.
Once your candle is ready for shipment, it will go to our warehouse team, which ensures it is packed securely and ready for shipping. Our products are then shipped to multiple places, and we have a sales team on hand to help you with any queries you may have or if you need advice on a product, all are experts in everything Torc and are happy to share their knowledge.