We noticed a small thing at the gift-wrapping counter. When a buyer can hold three or four cinnamon bark candle jars at once, they usually turn each one over to look at the grain, then choose the one whose curve pleases the eye most for the person they love. That happens almost every day.
Cinnamon bark candles suit gifting for two very simple reasons. First, each cup is the bark of one particular tree that has lived through some fifteen seasons, so no two are alike and every gift is the only one of its kind. Second, the scent of cinnamon is familiar to almost every Vietnamese person, so the person receiving it rarely finds it strange.
For older relatives
For grandparents and parents, we usually suggest the cinnamon bark range first. Cinnamon already sits in the kitchen and in the rhythm of their daily life, so this is a gift that needs no long explanation. The cup can also be used again once the wax is gone, and that suits the habit of looking after things that a thrifty generation grew up with.
For someone who has just moved house
A new home usually smells of paint, of engineered wood and of cardboard boxes. A jar of cinnamon candle lit on the first evening warms the space again very quickly. We often add a small note about how to light it the first time, so the person receiving it has a level wax surface right from the start.
For friends far away
Many customers order cinnamon bark candles to send to family abroad, partly because it is compact, partly because it carries something very Vietnamese that still sits easily in anyone's home. We send parcels anywhere in Vietnam in about two to five days depending on distance, and we can send them abroad as well.
Wrapping a gift
ZUNGZA keeps wooden boxes, paper boxes, silk cloth, canvas, jute and linen for wrapping. You can also ask us to write a letter by hand to sit beside the candle jar. This part is a separate service; message us so we can choose the material and the way of tying together, to suit the person receiving it.
A few questions you often send us
Can I choose the grain of bark I like
If you come to no. 31, DM6, Van Phuc craft village you can choose in person. When ordering from afar, tell us what you have in mind and we will send photographs of a few cups so you can point to the one you like.
Can I order many jars as end-of-year gifts
Yes, and this is work our hands know well at the end of the year. Send us word ahead about the quantity and when you need it, so the workshop can schedule the cups in time, because every cup needs its own stretch of time.
How long does a candle keep
Three years from the date of production. Keep the jar somewhere cool, out of direct sun, and put the lid on when it is not in use.
You can look at the VO QUE LAM candle, read more about cinnamon bark candles, or have a look at the way we wrap a gift.