A length of cinnamon bark arriving at the workshop cannot be used straight away. That is the first thing we say to people who come by and ask why a candle jar takes twenty-four hours to finish.
Our cinnamon bark comes from handcraft workshops in Tra Mi and Tra Bong, Quang Ngai, under purchase contracts and framework agreements. That land has long been tied to the cinnamon tree, and the people working there have hands used to stripping, sun-drying and then sorting each length of bark. We choose bark from trees about fifteen years old, because at that age the bark is thick and holds a wide curl, enough to become a cup.
The first task at the workshop is selecting. The craftsman looks at the thickness, the curve, and above all how sound the inner face is, because this face will be in contact with hot wax for many dozens of hours. Lengths that are thick and widely curled go into the cinnamon bark cup candle range, while thinner lengths are kept for other work in the workshop.
Most of the twenty-four hours is waiting
After forming, the bark needs time to settle its shape, and then the lining layer needs time to dry. Those two stretches of waiting take up most of a working day, and we have not yet found a way to shorten them and still have the cup we want.
When the time comes to pour, the soy wax we blend ourselves is warmed just enough and then poured in small rounds, while the cotton wick is held straight in the middle of the cup. The wax has to cool slowly for a smooth surface. Pour fast or move the cup early and the wax surface sinks around the wick, so this whole stage goes at a very slow rhythm.
Why no two jars are alike
The grain of cinnamon bark differs from tree to tree and from section to section, and that grain stays exactly as it is on the wall of the cup. Stand two jars side by side and you see at once two completely different runs of line. We still call each jar its own edition, in that very simple sense.
When the candle burns, you receive two layers of scent. The first comes from the cinnamon bark itself, spiced, warm and sweet, there from the moment you open the lid. The second comes from the essential oils we compose, releasing with the heat of the melt pool after about fifteen minutes.
A few questions you often send us
Why choose a fifteen-year-old cinnamon tree
Because at that age the bark is thick and holds a wide curl, suitable for building into a cup that holds wax.
Does the cinnamon bark cup get hot while burning
The outer wall warms gradually, so stand the jar on a coaster and on a heat-resistant surface, avoiding setting it directly on fabric.
What is the cup used for once the wax is gone
The cup holds the scent of cinnamon for many months. Many of our customers keep it in the wardrobe, the bookcase, or on the desk.
You can see the particular candle jar on the RUNG GIA scented candle, read more about ZUNGZA, or visit showroom in Van Phuc craft village to hold one yourself.