HEM’s Woody Collection gift box measures 26 × 18 × 3 cm, with the cracked cross-section of a tree trunk on the lid. Inside are six hexagonal boxes of incense sticks in six different woody scents, and a long, green-painted wooden holder. The incense is made in India.
Sandalwood and its companions
Of the six scents, sandalwood is the best known. Its fragrant oil collects in the heart of the tree. In India it has been burned in temples for centuries, and its wood is also ground into a paste for ceremonies. Worshippers use this pale yellow paste to paint a mark on their foreheads. The other five boxes are woody scents too, with their names in English on each box.
If you like woody, earthy scents
If you prefer woody scents to floral ones, this set gives you six of them in one box. It is also a good present for someone who is just getting to know incense and hasn’t found a favourite yet. The gift box can be handed over without wrapping, for Christmas, a name day or a housewarming.
Burning it on the holder
There is a small hole at the end of the wooden holder for the bare end of the stick. Light the tip, then blow out the flame. The stick leans over the board, so the ash falls onto the wood rather than the table.
Put the holder on a heat-resistant surface, away from curtains and paper. Don’t leave it unattended, and open a window. Before you go out or fall asleep, put out the ember in sand or a heat-resistant bowl. Keep children, pets and birds away from the smoke.