Scented Candles
Zetas Garden introduces its first scent collection, handcrafted candles held in ceramic vessels designed by Pontus Skoglund. Made in Sweden with care and craftsmanship, infused with scents from the garden.
“The form is simple with a softly curved rim, created to frame the burning flame, and later, when the candle has burned down, to highlight the beauty of the plant that takes its place.”
THE SCENT – LEMON VERBENA
Lemon Verbena, Aloysia citrodora carries a clear tone of green leaves. Fresh lemon is balanced by soft herbal notes. This aromatic herb, native to Argentina and Chile, has enchanted gardeners and scent lovers for centuries.It is cherished for its uplifting aroma and its gentle insect-repelling qualities. Lemon Verbena grows in our garden every year, and a light touch releases its pure, vibrant fragrance.
THE FORM
The vessel for our candle is inspired by our 'Gro' pot series, but in a smaller format. The form carries the same timeless expression where craftsmanship and history meet. Once the candle has burned down, the vessel gains new life as a small pot for herbs, cuttings, or miniature plants.For this version, the interior is glazed with a transparent glaze that protects the clay and prevents wax from adhering or seeping through. When the candle burns, the flame reflects softly against the glossy surface, creating a warm, gentle glow. The exterior remains unglazed in classic terracotta, a hallmark of the traditional garden pot.
“Visiting Nittsjö Keramik and witnessing the process was a humbling and inspiring experience, a reminder of the value of time, knowledge, and true craftsmanship.”
THE CRAFT – NITTSJÖ KERAMIK
The vessel is produced by Nittsjö Keramik, one of Sweden’s oldest and most renowned ceramics manufacturers, founded in 1843 in Dalarna. Here, the tradition of craftsmanship lives on, with every piece shaped by hand and finished with care.
THE PROCESS
Creating a vessel like this is both time-consuming and demands remarkable skill. At Nittsjö Keramik, only one craftsman today masters the technique behind this specific plaster mold, the foundation of every candle vessel.
From our original sketches, a plaster mold is made with millimeter precision. Once the clay reaches the perfect consistency, it is placed into a casting press, a rotating machine that uses centrifugal force to press the soft clay evenly along the mold’s walls, forming its exact thickness and shape.
When removed from the mold, the vessel is trimmed on a pottery wheel to refine its surface and remove seams or imperfections. Our classic Zetas logo is then gently stamped on the front before each piece is left to dry.
The first firing, the bisque firing, slowly heats the clay to about 950°C (1740°F) over roughly 30 hours, hardening it while keeping it porous.Next, the interior is glazed by hand with a transparent glaze that seals and adds a soft sheen. Any excess glaze on the exterior is carefully wiped away with a sponge.
Finally, the glaze firing takes place, reaching about 1040°C (1900°F) over another 30 hours. The glaze fuses with the clay, creating a durable, beautiful surface with a gentle luster inside. The result is a unique vessel with a glossy interior and an unglazed terracotta exterior, ready to be filled with hand-poured candle wax.
