SCENTED CANDLES

ZUNGZA handcrafted scented candles

ZUNGZA pours its candles by hand in Van Phuc craft village, Ha Dong, Hanoi. Each run is a small batch, small enough that whoever pours can still look at every jar before it is boxed. Soy wax blended by zungza, cotton wicks, fragrance blended by zungza, and vessels of either glass or a whole piece of cinnamon bark.

We name our scents after places rather than after ingredients, because a scent usually brings back where you once stood more than the names of the things that made it. RUNG GIA, NUI NON, THONG REO, BAVI, TAM DAO, CUC PHUONG, CAT BA — each name is a part of Vietnam that ZUNGZA has walked through.

Soy wax and the way a candle burns

Soy wax gives a natural surface, slightly ivory, and after a few burns it often shows small pits. That is the familiar look of plant wax, and we keep it rather than forcing the surface to stay glossy for ever.

Soy wax releases its scent slowly. Once the melt pool has widened, usually after about fifteen minutes, the scent begins to travel through the room and then stays. On the first burn, let the candle run until the wax melts out to the side of the jar, so that later burns remember the path and melt evenly.

The wick is cotton, with no metal core. Trimming it short before each burn keeps the flame still, melts the wax evenly and keeps the jar clean for longer.

The four candle families of ZUNGZA

Everyday candles are the familiar glass jars for a desk, a bedroom or a living room. Handcrafted candles including cinnamon bark candles poured into a whole piece of bark, each one a shape of its own. Gift candles are jars wrapped for one particular person. Seasonal candles appear when the weather turns: warmer in the cold months, clearer in the hot ones.

Choosing a candle for the space you live in

A small closed room usually needs only a small jar; the scent will be enough without taking over. A larger room, or one with several open windows, holds the scent longer with a bigger jar. At a desk, clear dry scents like a pine hill keep the head light. In a bedroom, warm soft scents such as dry wood or cinnamon bark make it easier to fall asleep.

If you would like to know why ZUNGZA chose each scent region, read more about scent inspiration và cinnamon cup.

Quick questions about ZUNGZA candles

What wax are ZUNGZA candles made of?

ZUNGZA candles use soy wax blended by zungza, with no added colouring. The colour of the wax is therefore the natural colour of the material, slightly ivory and varying from batch to batch.

How long does a ZUNGZA candle last?

Three years from the date of production, kept somewhere dry, with the lid on if there is one, and away from direct sun on the surface of the wax.

What kind of wick does ZUNGZA use?

A cotton wick, no metal core. Trimming the wick short before each burn keeps the flame steady and the wax melting evenly.

The wax looks slightly ivory with tiny holes on top, is that normal?

This is normal for candles made from soy wax. Plant wax contracts with room temperature, so the surface changes after each burn, while the scent and the way it burns stay the same.

Which ZUNGZA candles come with a lid?

The cinnamon bark line comes with a lid. The other jars are open, and you can place a small dish on top when you want to keep dust off.

Does ZUNGZA offer gift wrapping and a handwritten note?

Yes. ZUNGZA has wooden boxes, paper boxes, silk scarves, canvas, jute and linen for wrapping, along with a handwritten note service. This part is charged separately and ZUNGZA will go through it with you in a message.

Where does ZUNGZA ship to?

ZUNGZA ships throughout Vietnam, usually two to five days depending on distance, and can ship internationally. ZUNGZA products have also reached the US, the EU and Australia through partner sellers there.

Where can I buy ZUNGZA candles in person?

You are welcome to visit no. 31, DM6, Van Phuc craft village, Ha Dong, Hanoi, to smell the scents and choose in person.