Cones

Incense cones, also known as dhoop or dhoop cones, in which an incense paste is moulded around in to a cone, is one of the main forms of incense in India. Cones burn themselves out and leave ashes only. Whereas the sticks leave a woody fragrance at times, the cones only let out fragrance of herbal extracts divinising the atmosphere around. Ikshvaku cones are 2 inches in height and last 20 minutes. Sandalwood is a kind wood growing in Asia and East India. In Hindi it is pronounced as “chandana ki lakdi”. Sandalwood has a very sturdy fragrance of its own. It has also been used in Doha written by Sant Kabir Das, a very popular poet who wrote brilliantly using metaphors. And sandalwood was one of those due to its strong fragrance. Sandalwood oil is also obtained from sandalwood trees. These woods are bulky, yellow and fine. It is used for preparing incense sticks and cones, sandal soaps for bathing, sandal powder, sandal oil for medicinal purpose, it is also used for ceremonial and spiritual purposes like for the decoration of deities and even the priests or the devotees apply sandal (chandana) or sandal to cover their forehead and neck, it is put to multitude of other uses as well.