Many people light sandalwood about twenty minutes before guests arrive, so the room is ready when they walk in. Sandalwood from Mysore, in southern India, has scented homes and perfumes across the region for thousands of years.
This page covers what sandalwood is, the sticks we carry and how to burn them.
What Sandalwood Is
Sandalwood is the fragrant heartwood of the Santalum album tree, which grows in southern India. Ground into powder and rolled onto a stick, it gives a soft, woody aroma as it burns.
Red sandalwood is a different tree, Pterocarpus santalinus. It shares the name but not the wood.
Our Own Royal Sandalwood
Royal Sandalwood is made for us in Karnataka, the region of Mysore. Each stick is rolled by hand with halmaddi gum, a little honey and a sandalwood core. It is the easiest place to start if you are new to incense.
The Other Sandalwood Sticks
- Golden Sandalwood
- Ananta Sandalwood
- Sandalwood Stupa sticks, made by hand in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, in a box of 40 or a tube of 15
- Red Sandalwood, from the Pterocarpus santalinus tree
How to Burn a Stick
- Hold a flame to the tip until it catches.
- Let it burn for a few seconds, then blow out the flame. The tip glows and the aroma rises.
- Stand the stick in a holder, on a heatproof surface.
No charcoal is needed. Keep the room ventilated, and never leave a lit stick unattended.
Sandalwood at Maison Éthérique
At Warehouse 23, Alserkal Avenue, the team can light any of the sticks for you to compare. We are open daily, 9 am to 9 pm.
