Ajoupa Candle Vessel (10 ounce)
Ajoupa Candle Vessel (10 ounce)
Wild Trinidad clay · Local beeswax · Coconut wax
Ajoupa brings earth and flame into one enduring form.
The name comes from ajoupa, a Kalinago word associated with the traditional Indigenous dwellings of Trinidad. Built from materials gathered close to the land, the ajoupa speaks to shelter in its most elemental sense. We chose the name for the relationship held within the piece: a vessel shaped from Trinidad earth to shelter flame.
Each vessel is formed by hand in Studio Nadi Sangama from locally foraged wild clay, then pit fired so the movement of smoke, heat, and mineral becomes part of its surface.
Once the vessel is complete, it is hand-poured in the studio with a blend of local beeswax and coconut wax and finished with a natural-fiber wick.
Ajoupa is fragrance free. Its only scent is the quiet, naturally sweet aroma of beeswax as it warms.
No two vessels emerge exactly alike.
The flame passes. The vessel remains.
10 oz / 283 g
Approx. dimensions: [H × W]
Approx. burn time: [after testing]
Made in Trinidad & Tobago
FORAGED WILD CLAY
Gathered in Trinidad
HAND FORMED
Made in Studio Nadi Sangama
PIT FIRED
Marked by smoke and flame
100% NATURAL WAX BLEND
Local beeswax + coconut wax
NO ADDED FRAGRANCE
Only the natural aroma of beeswax
PARAFFIN FREE
No synthetic fragrance, dyes, or preservatives
Material & Making
Ajoupa begins with wild clay gathered locally in Trinidad.
The clay is processed in small batches in Studio Nadi Sangama, then formed individually by hand. Its natural grit, mineral variation, and irregularities remain visible in the finished piece rather than being refined away.
Each vessel is pit fired, allowing flame, smoke, ash, and atmosphere to leave their own marks across the surface. These tonal shifts and smoke patterns emerge through the firing itself and cannot be precisely repeated.
Only once the earthen form is complete is it prepared as a candle and hand-poured in the studio.
Wax & Flame
Ajoupa is poured with a blend of local beeswax and coconut wax, finished with a natural-fiber wick.
Beeswax gives the candle its warmth and subtle natural sweetness, while coconut wax forms the softer plant-based element of the blend.
Nothing is added for fragrance or colour. There is no paraffin, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dye, or preservative.
When Ajoupa burns, what remains is simply the character of the materials themselves.
Variation & Care
No two Ajoupa vessels are identical.
Wild clay, hand forming, and pit firing create natural differences in tone, texture, edge, proportion, and smoke marking. One vessel may emerge darker, another warmer, another with more visible mineral character.
These differences are not added for effect. They are part of the material and the process.
Treat Ajoupa as handmade pit-fired earthenware. Clean gently and avoid prolonged soaking, harsh detergents, dishwashers, microwaves, and sudden changes in temperature.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, the vessel should not be considered food-safe or watertight.
Burning Ajoupa
Trim the wick to approximately 6 mm / ¼ inch before each burn.
Allow the first burn sufficient time for the wax to melt evenly across the surface.
Place Ajoupa on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from drafts and combustible materials. Never leave a burning candle unattended, and keep away from children and pets.
Do not move the vessel while the wax is liquid or the clay is hot. Allow it to cool completely before handling.
Discontinue burning when approximately 13 mm / ½ inch of wax remains.
After the Flame
Ajoupa was made to continue beyond the life of the candle.
Once the vessel has cooled completely, remaining wax and wick material can be removed gently.
What remains is a hand-formed, pit-fired object from Studio Nadi Sangama, able to continue in the home as an incense holder, a vessel for small dry objects, or simply as an object in its own right.
The flame passes. The vessel remains.
