About Us
Hello, my name is Asela Dahana and I am the owner of Cinnamon Vogue. I started Cinnamon Vogue in 2012 with a simple goal: to bring authentic Ceylon Cinnamon from Sri Lanka to the United States.
The funny thing is that growing up in Sri Lanka, I never paid much attention to cinnamon. Our family left Sri Lanka over 40 years ago, and like many people, I simply took it for granted. It was everywhere.
Then one day in 2010, I went to dinner at my parents’ house and noticed the most wonderful aroma you could imagine. It was warm, exotic, and unlike anything I had ever experienced before. When I asked my mother what it was, she showed me a bottle of Cinnamon Oil she had brought back from Sri Lanka. That moment changed everything.
Asela Dahana
Founder, Cinnamon Vogue
The beginning
After my mothers introduction I became fascinated with cinnamon and wanted to learn more. I contacted my cousin’s husband in Sri Lanka and asked him to help me source Cinnamon Oil. Surprisingly, even he had never paid much attention to cinnamon oil. Finding quality suppliers proved extremely difficult. Many suppliers would not even return our calls. It took nearly a year of searching before we found people willing to work with us.
Eventually we sourced our first oils and started a company in the United States. Looking back, it was far more difficult than I imagined. The first oils we purchased were acceptable, but after spending countless hours reading research papers and learning about cinnamon production, I realized that much higher quality oils were available. We asked our suppliers whether they could produce something better. Their answer was simple: yes, but it would take longer and cost more. We told them we wanted the best and were willing to wait.
Over time we developed relationships with suppliers who shared our commitment to quality. We went one step further and began testing every batch of oil. It is expensive and time consuming, but we believe quality should never be left to chance. While we trust our suppliers, we also believe in verifying quality through independent testing.
That philosophy still guides Cinnamon Vogue today.
THE FACES OF CINNAMON VOGUE
This is my dog Obi, a mischievous little Shih Tzu who is the love of my life. He became the Cinnamon Vogue Brand Ambassador entirely by accident because, strangely enough, he loves chewing on Ceylon Cinnamon sticks. Yes, Ceylon Cinnamon is safe for dogs. Obi has developed quite a following of his own, and he certainly seems to think he runs the company. Please follow his adventures on YouTube and Instagram.
Discovering the differences
As I continued my research, I discovered something that shocked me.
Most of the cinnamon sold in stores is not true Ceylon Cinnamon. It is Cassia Cinnamon, a different variety that is cheaper and more commonly available. Ceylon Cinnamon is softer, milder, sweeter, and more fragrant. It has been part of Sri Lankan cooking for centuries and is often referred to as “True Cinnamon.”
I was amazed that the country of my birth was the original source of Ceylon Cinnamon and remains the world's primary producer of it. Somehow I had grown up surrounded by it without ever realizing its importance.
The more I learned, the more passionate I became about introducing authentic Ceylon Cinnamon to American consumers.
Today our product line includes premium Ceylon Cinnamon, Cinnamon Oils, Cinnamon Tea, Cinnamon Candles, and our famous Cinnamon Toothpicks. Every product starts with the same principle: if it is not the best quality we can find, we are not interested.
One product I am particularly proud of is our Cinnamon Tea. Working with a major Sri Lankan tea company, we developed a tea to my own specifications. Unlike many cinnamon teas on the market, ours contains real Ceylon Cinnamon Bark Oil rather than artificial flavoring. The result is a tea with an aroma and flavor that speaks for itself.