Germany has a wonderful tradition of wooden incense cone burners in the shape of various characters, such as farmers, gardeners, snowmen, etc. I think they are mainly used during the Christmas period. I bought a vintage one off eBay a few years ago, and it is my favourite incense burner, though a bit battered now.
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| My vintage German "smoker" |
Knox are the main brand for these burners. They are a German firm who were founded around 1882 in a disused gunpowder mill. The range of fragrances available are quite traditional, and Christmas orientated, which suits me. I had been meaning for some time to get some Knox cones, but just hadn't got round to it.
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| Knox are not the only producers of cones or Räucherkerzen, there are three main producers: Knox, Crottendorfer and Huss |
Wandering around Winchester Christmas Market in December I found a stall selling German smokers and Knox incense, so I bought a cute mushroom burner and two boxes of Knox incense. This is the Weihrauch-Myrrhe. Myrrh is one of my favourite incense aromas , so I had to grab those. The cones are somewhat crudely made - they are quite small and burn much more quickly than I am used to. My main cones are Satya, and they last between 20 and 30 minutes each. These cones last between 5 and 10 minutes. There is a clear ridge on the side which indicates they are made in a mould rather than formed by hand. And, curiously, many of them have a lop-sided sort of curling tip. Ha! Quite cute.
It is a light scent, and while myrrh is present there is also the sharp tang of coal, so it sometimes smells like an old coal fire. I don't mind that, as I grew up in the age of coal fires and steam trains, so I find the smell of burning coal quite attractive and evocative, but if people are looking for a purer myrrh scent, then they might be disappointed. I have myrrh resin which I burn on charcoal discs, and I love that, but it is a bit fiddly, so I find incense quicker, easier and safer.
Anyway. I am pleased to have tried these Knox cones, and I will be curious to try more, and to try the cones from the other German companies, but I am just a tad disappointed at the overall quality.
Date: Feb 2017 Score: 30
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| Knox incence |
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| Myrrh |
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