Cinnamon and clove, the two spices of mulled wine and gingerbread, give these incense sticks their scent. They are hand-rolled in India, and the colourful box also holds a separate piece of tiger's eye.
Gingerbread spices in the smoke
The scent is warm and spicy, with sweet cinnamon and sharper clove. If you like baking gingerbread in December, it will feel familiar. Tradition links cinnamon with abundance, so many people light it at the end of the year, before the holidays. It is also nice to light before guests arrive, while the mulled wine is still warming.
Bands of light in the stone
Tiger's eye is quartz banded in gold and brown. Turn it in the light and the bands seem to ripple, the way light moves in a cat's eye. That is where the name comes from.
It is said to be a stone of courage and self-confidence. Many people slip it into a pocket or bag on the morning of an important day. Once the sticks are used up, the stone stays with you. It is a hard stone that will not easily get damaged in a pocket.
The colourful box also makes a nice gift, under the Christmas tree or in an Advent parcel.
In a heat-resistant holder, in sight
You will need a heat-resistant incense holder on a stable, non-flammable surface. Light the end of the stick, blow out the flame and let it smoke. Never leave it unattended, and do not forget about it while you are busy cooking or baking.
Air the room afterwards and keep the smoke away from children and pets. To put it out early, press the glowing end into sand. A half-burned stick can be relit later.