Les Provencales Ambiences, Inc. is the US subsidiary of DEVINEAU SAS, a French company originally established in 1803. Devineau is one of the oldest French companies of high end candles and home fragrances. This Company was acquired by Jules Devineau in 1890.


In 1952, Jules’ grandson, Pierre Devineau, joined the family business, and by 1962 the company was among the first to manufacture and market decorative and perfumed candles. In 1989, the Company acquired BOUGIES LA FRANCAISE, one of the leading manufacturers of candles in France, and began focusing on the high-end market.


The present-day management of the U.S. subsidiary, Les Provencales Ambiences, Inc., is well-versed in the home fragrance diffusers market, having been the first to successfully introduce the catalytic fragrance lamps to the U.S. market in 1983.


Catalytic fragrance lamps have their history starting at the end of 19th century, when a French pharmacist, Maurice Berger, developed a unique system to clean, purify and disinfect the air through the process of catalytic combustion.


Originally, the lamps were just functional and used in hospitals to get rid of offensive odors and kill germs and air born bacteria. They were sold in the hardware stores to general public to clean the air in their homes.


Later, catalytic lamps became a necessary home accessory in almost every French home to remove cooking odors, pet’s odors, mildew, tobacco smoke, etc. The scented product which is present in the lamp fuel (some people call it "lamp oil", "isopropyl alcohol" or "refill") will diffuse fragrances into the air. It will create a pleasant atmosphere of Les Provencales Ambiences in your home.


While the scented candles, room sprays and other air refresheners just mask an existing house odor, our lamps first clean the air through catalytic combustion and then fragrance the room.
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The process of catalytic combustion


The fuel is brought through the wick to the ceramic catalytic burner which is made of porous material. In order to be activated the stone needs to be lit. The flame has to stay on for three minutes and once the flame is blown out the process of purifying the air begins.


It is called a process of catalytic combustion. The burner (catalytic converter) works like an exhaust pipe of a car. It destroys all the molecules that carry odors and the scented product will fragrance the room. Due to convection of the air around the hot burner the air will be cleaned within 10-15 min and if there is an open space in the house the air will be refreshed and fragranced in the entire space.


When the air is cleaned of all offensive odors such as fish, cabbage, tobacco smoke, pet odors, mildew etc., the lamp should be closed with the solid top to shut the access of oxygen to the burner . The process of catalytic combustion and perfuming the room will stop. But the fragrance will remain for several hours.