INCENSE INFORMATION

Soft dhoop logs can resemble poop!

Dhoop incense is an Indian incense consisting of the finest Indian aromatics expertly blended in accordance with centuries-old traditions and family secrets. Dhoop Incense is extremely fragrant when compared to many other types of incense. Some have compared it to walking through a wildflower garden at the height of bloom.

Dhoop incense is in the masala category of Indian incense. Indian incense can be divided into two categories: masala and charcoal. Masala incenses are made of dry ingredients, while charcoal incenses are made by dipping an unscented “blank” into a mixture of perfumes and/or essential oils.

Dhoop means “paste” and dhoop incense is made by mashing incense material into a paste and extruding it or rolling it into a stick shape. Dhoop sticks are made of solid incense material and do not have an inner bamboo core. They are also much thicker than a regular incense stick and resemble a log more than a stick. These dhoop logs are typically about 2 ½” – 3 ½” long.

Dhoop incense can be sold in cone form.

There are two types of Dhoop incense: a dry inflexible type and a moist soft type. If the dhoop is hard and inflexible, it can be burned upright in a dhoop burner or in a bowl of sand, salt, or ash. If the dhoop is soft and flexible, it can be molded into different shapes. Since logs of this type of dhoop can burn for several hours, a common practice is to break off a piece about an inch long, roll it between the fingers, shape it gradually into a cone, and then burn it like any other incense cone. Dhoop incense can also be purchased already in cone form. A dhoop incense cone will burn for about 20 - 30 minutes.

Dhoop incense sticks usually come in small matchbox like boxes that can double as a burner.

Dhoop incense usually comes in packages of 5 or 6 sticks that are connected in a row, side by side. These sticks need to be separated before they can be burned and sometimes they will break in the wrong place. If they break in the wrong place, they can still be easily burned in a bowl of sand, salt, or ash.

The packaging that dhoop usually comes in is a little cardboard box not much bigger than a matchbox and, therefore, can be easily carried around providing incense on-the-go. To add to the convenience and make dhoop incense even more portable, these little cardboard boxes usually have a metal “eyelet” holder in the top so that the box can be used as a burner. Since the box is made of cardboard and is flammable, however, it is not recommended to use the box as a burner and instead use a proper burner. Also, dhoop incense will sometimes come with a lightweight aluminum burner, which can get very hot and should not be used on any wooden surface. Again it is recommended that a proper heavy incense burner is used.