You get one hexagonal box of sandalwood HEM incense sticks from the Ritual Botanica series. The light box is decorated with brown floral drawings and reads “Sandal”. Made in India.
The scent of Indian temples
In India sandalwood has been part of rituals for centuries. In temples, worshippers’ foreheads are marked with sandalwood paste, and it is one of the oldest incense scents. It smells warm, creamy and woody, slightly sweet but not floral. The sandalwood tree grows slowly, and its wood takes decades to become fragrant.
There is also a sandalwood version in the Palo Santo Masala series, where sandalwood is blended with palo santo. In this box sandalwood stands alone, so if you want pure sandalwood, choose this one.
For prayer and meditation
Traditionally, sandalwood smoke goes with prayer and meditation. Some people light a stick in the morning to start the day, others in the evening while reading. All you need is a holder and a quiet corner, such as a chest of drawers beside a candle or a statue.
If you like to alternate, the patchouli version of the series is earthier and the frankincense and myrrh more resinous. Sandalwood is also a base note in many perfumes, so it may feel familiar even if you rarely burn incense.
Burning and putting it out
Use a heat-resistant holder and keep it away from curtains. Do not leave it burning unattended. To put it out early, press the ember into sand and check that it has stopped smoking. Air the room afterwards, and keep an opened box somewhere dry.