Heera Vedic Havan Incense Cones

 

A Havan or Homa is a fire ritual in the main religions of India. Which seems an appropriate name for an Indian incense cone. These are masala cones - a form of dhoop, in which the scent comes from dried ingredients rather than a scent or fragrant oil. An incense cone can be made from wood or charcoal paste dipped in a scent, or from  the same sort of fragrant paste that is used for dhoop incense or joss sticks. The cone form was developed by the Japanese, and introduced to the world at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. It has become a popular and convenient way of burning blended incense (blended as opposed to pure incense in the form of resin burned on charcoal or other heat source).  Cones have always been a little more expensive than joss sticks - Meena sell 15 sticks for 85p, while 12 cones cost £1.  

The scent on the cone is quite mineral, and this carries across to the burn. It's a little woody. It kind of reminds me of some benzoin I've burned. There's herby, grassy notes, hinting at patchouli. It's a cleansing, pleasant scent. Very good, though not heavenly or transcendental. I find it likeable rather than delicious. It's  a solid, decent sort of incense which I am rather surprised to find unheralded and cheap in my local Indian corner shop (and it'll likely be in a local Indian corner shop in your town if you're British). It's a bit smoky and earthy, like Tibetan incense, but very cleansing.  Not really my sort of incense, but decent stuff. 


Date: Feb 2023   Score: 29

Heera (P&B Foods Ltd)