Our history - a history of passion

Even though our company was officially founded in 1992, its history began much earlier.

"It was the late 1980s, there was a shortage of literally everything on the market. Candles were a rationed article, to get them you had to stand in queues, and they would only sell one per customer” – recalls Małgorzata Bryłkowska, co-founder of Bartek Candles.

As Christmas approached, the Bryłkowskis would start collecting materials for decorative wreaths crafted with passion and aesthetic sense by Małgorzata for her family. They did not buy any of the materials. Instead, they collected pinecones and sticks in nearby forests, and sourced fresh green spruce twigs from their home garden. Everything was 100% handmade. Despite the modest materials, the wreaths were beautiful - they were admired by family and neighbours.

During a Christmas shopping trip to Wrocław, in one of the large department stores - with mostly empty shelves as it was common in the 1980s crisis - Małgorzata spotted a colourful flicker - a Christmas wreath. Although it was impressive, no one was interested in it. The price! It cost 65,000 zloty - way too expensive, even considering the inflation back then. - I looked at it carefully and found that making similar ones would be very easy, says Małgorzata. - All you need is a base, a few pinecones, spruce branches, bows and tiny thin candles. We have all these things, except the candles, at home, don’t we! Home production begun. They were able to copy all parts of the wreath. Except for candles... Małgorzata was pleased with the result, but she was still missing one thing: the flicker of light responsible for the secret of the Christmas magic. This is where technology handed down from her beekeeper dad came to the rescue. He taught Małgorzata how to melt candle stubs and mix them with wax. The decision was made: we would make wreath candles ourselves.

The family workshop was growing. Małgorzata was coming up with new shapes, Janusz took on the technical side and distribution. They started making candles of various sizes and colours. More and more people were involved in the growing and increasingly professional process.

Times were changing, access to different materials was improving - and interest in their products continued to grow. Over time, the family's extra work turned into their main source of income, and Mr and Mrs Bryłkowski focussed on production and sale of candles. Slowly, home workshop was no longer enough: - We then decided to set up a company that would have access to professional materials: paraffin, wicks, containers. This is how the 'Bartek' candle and lantern factory was created. We named it after our son who was born in 1985.

Over the years, the company has undergone successive stages of development:

• 1992 - Małgorzata and Janusz Bryłkowski transform the family workshop into a professional Zakład Produkcji Świec i Zniczy [Candle and Lantern Factory]. The company quickly becomes one of the leading manufacturers in its sector.
• 1995 - The founders expand their range to include handmade table and wreath candles. They are among the first in Poland to start making scented candles.
• 1998 - The company grows rapidly and is split into two independent companies:
  • Zakład Produkcji Świec i Zniczy [Candle and Lantern Factory] and Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno Handlowe Bartek [Bartek Production and Trade] responsible for production and sale of decorative candles.
• 2005 - Decision is made to focus on the production of decorative candles. Expansion of the plant and modernisation of machinery.
• 2006 - The company is renamed "Bartek Candles" and is transformed into a general partnership. Under the brand name 'Bartek Candles', the company continues to operate and develop to this day.
• 2023 - In response to the growing interest in aromatherapy and interior atmosphere, the brand is expanding its portfolio to include a line of elegant fragrance diffusers. This is another step towards building a holistic sensory experience.