Cinnamon-scented HEM incense sticks in an orange hexagonal box. The box is about 25 cm long, the sticks are made in India, and the scent is warm and spicy.
From autumn to Advent
We know cinnamon from the kitchen: apple pie, baked apples, mulled wine. Many people light cinnamon incense between October and Christmas, when it gets dark early and a warm scent feels right at home. You can of course burn it in summer too.
An orange box like this fits nicely into an Advent gift parcel, next to a candle or an incense holder.
A scent of plenty
Cinnamon is the bark of a tropical tree, and true cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka. In ancient Rome it was one of the most costly spices. Folk tradition still links it with plenty and prosperity.
That makes it a good choice for the last days of the year and New Year, when thoughts turn to the year ahead.
Near pine branches and the Advent wreath
Push the stick into an incense holder, light the tip and blow it out after a few seconds of flame. The glow then creeps slowly down the stick, giving off the cinnamon scent.
December brings dry pine branches, candles and ribbons into the home. Keep the incense holder well away from them, on a heat-proof surface, and stay in the room while it burns. Air the room afterwards.
If you keep a canary or a parrot, don't light it in the same room, as birds are especially sensitive to smoke. To put it out, press the glowing end into sand and check a few minutes later that it has gone out.