Guggal, also spelled guggul, is the resin of an Indian shrub. Inside this box you will find 15 reddish-brown incense bricks and a terracotta holder. The slim 7.5 × 14.5 cm box is made in India and shows amber lumps of resin on the lid.
An Indian relative of myrrh
Commiphora wightii, the shrub that gives guggal, belongs to the same plant genus as the myrrh tree. In India its resin has long been burned in temples and at home rituals. There it is often sprinkled on glowing charcoal, while these bricks are lit directly and need no charcoal.
Its scent is distinctive, warm and resinous with a slightly woody note. It is a rich scent that lingers in the room for a long time. If you already know frankincense and want something just as resinous but different, try this one.
Reddish-brown and firm, the bricks are pressed from incense paste with no wooden stick inside.
One brick in the holder
In the middle of the holder is a hole for one brick. Light the top, blow out the flame after a few seconds and the brick begins to smoulder. Because the scent lasts, one brick is enough for a smaller room.
While it burns and after
Place the holder on a heat-resistant surface, away from anything flammable. Burn it somewhere well ventilated, do not leave it unattended and do not breathe in the smoke directly. Keep it out of reach of children and pets.
Once it has cooled, tip the ash out of the holder. Keep the rest of the bricks in their box somewhere dry, with the holder at the end of the tray, ready for next time.