This hexagonal box holds frankincense and myrrh HEM incense sticks from the Ritual Botanica series. The light, golden box reads “Frank Myrrh” in English and “Incienso y Mirra” in Spanish. It is made in India, and one order brings you one box.
Two resins of church incense
Frankincense and myrrh are both tree resins from north-east Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and they have been burned together for thousands of years. Catholic churches still use incense today, and Psalm 141 likens a rising prayer to the smoke of incense.
Its scent is warm and resinous. Frankincense adds a fresher note, myrrh a more bitter one. One of the ancient homes of the frankincense tree is in Oman, where the “Land of Frankincense” has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
For prayer and quiet moments
Frankincense is traditionally the scent of prayer and meditation, burned in Buddhist and Hindu shrines as well as in Christian churches. Many people light a stick on a Sunday morning, during Advent or on the eve of a holiday. If you love the smell of a church, this lets you bring it home.
Before you leave the room
While it burns, keep the stick in a heat-resistant holder and stay nearby. Put the ember out before you leave the room or go to bed. Keep children and pets away from the burning stick, and air the room afterwards.
During Advent, keep the holder away from the Advent wreath and fir branches, as a falling ember can set dry needles alight.