Today we’d like to introduce you to Céline Maquelin.
Hi Céline, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always loved creating beautiful things, so starting a candle company felt like a natural fit. Today, I run Peonies, a Swiss brand that handcrafts scented candles and home fragrances designed to make a home feel warm, elegant and inviting.
Building a handcrafted Swiss-made brand has been both exciting and challenging. Producing locally means higher costs, finding the right people, and growing more slowly than if everything were outsourced. But supporting local craftsmanship and maintaining the quality of our products has always been a priority, and I wouldn’t do it any other way.
Like many entrepreneurs, my journey hasn’t been linear. I launched my first products in 2019, experienced both successes and setbacks, and had to reinvent parts of the business along the way. Those challenges taught me resilience, creativity, and the importance of constantly adapting.
I’m also a solo mom and a multi-entrepreneur, so every day is a balancing act between family life, product development, marketing, content creation, and working alongside our small team. I genuinely enjoy wearing different hats because I’m naturally curious and I love learning new things. I’m always looking for new ideas and new ways to improve what we do.
One of the things I’m most proud of is seeing how Peonies has grown over the years. We’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with wonderful businesses, and today our products are carried by around fifty retailers across Switzerland. Knowing that a small artisan brand can find its place alongside established names is incredibly rewarding.
What motivates me most is hearing from customers who tell us that our candles have become part of their daily rituals—whether it’s unwinding after a long day, welcoming friends into a beautifully scented home, or simply enjoying a quiet moment for themselves. Those little everyday moments are exactly why we do what we do, and they continue to inspire me every day.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think that’s true for most entrepreneurs.
One of the biggest challenges has been choosing to manufacture everything in Switzerland. While I’m incredibly proud to support local craftsmanship, it also means higher production costs and a very different pace of growth compared to brands that outsource everything abroad. Every decision has to be carefully considered.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a solo mom and a multi-entrepreneur, so my personal and professional life are very much intertwined. Every day is a balance between raising my daughter and managing multiple businesses, which requires a lot of organization. It can be challenging, but I genuinely enjoy wearing different hats. I love that no two days are the same, and I think that’s what keeps my creativity alive.
I’m passionate about branding, design, and creating products that people genuinely fall in love with. One of my favorite parts of the process is developing new candle collections—testing dozens of fragrance samples, imagining poetic names, designing the labels, and thinking about every little detail that makes the final product feel special.
Quality has always been at the heart of Peonies. We work with fragrances created by master perfumers in Grasse, France—the world capital of perfume—which gives our candles the rich, long-lasting scents that our customers have come to recognize and love.
What I’m probably most proud of is the journey itself. I started with nothing but an idea and a lot of determination. Within just a few years, I built a six-figure business, developed a network of around fifty retailers across Switzerland, had the opportunity to collaborate with wonderful partners, and even saw our brand featured on national television.
For me, entrepreneurship is the perfect combination of creativity, craftsmanship, and continuous learning. There is always something new to explore, and that’s exactly what I love most about it.
What matters most to you? Why?
Without a doubt, my family comes first.
As a solo mom, spending quality time with my daughter is what matters most to me. Building a business has never been about working around the clock—it has always been about creating a life that gives us more freedom to enjoy everyday moments together.
I also love sharing little parts of my work with her. She sometimes comes to the workshop, smells new fragrances with me, and enjoys decorating candles in her own creative way. Watching her curiosity and imagination reminds me why I started building something of my own in the first place.
Of course, I’m passionate about growing my business, but success only has meaning to me if it allows me to be present for the people I love. At the end of the day, the memories we create together are far more valuable than anything else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.peoniesnaturalcare.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peoniesnaturalcare/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peoniesnaturalcare/
