Knox Gebrannte Mandeln Räucherkerzen (Almond incense cones)

Second review - scroll down for earlier

I've learned a little bit about German incense cones this year, and have explored a bit beyond Knox. I love the history and traditions of German cones, which dates back to the 11th century, when German mineworkers would anoint themselves with the smoke from home made frankincense cones to protect them from harm in the mines.   

Knox are the best known and best selling of the German incense cone companies, but they are not necessarily the best, or the most interesting. I have explored  Huss and  Carl Jager recently, and find them both more inventive, more fun, and with better quality cones. Even Crottendorfer, who are fairly commercial and more aligned with Knox in term of quality and attitude, and are the second largest company, make better cones than Knox. One of my main complaints about Knox is that the cones burn out very quickly. 

There is a pleasant, though somewhat over sweet, perfume on the cone. It's quite edible - marzipan and cinnamon with a twist of orange peel. Very commercial - an instant attraction.  The scent on the burn is a little muddled. Yes, there's the marzipan again, but now it is clouded by smouldering wood smoke. The wood smoke scent comes in quite early, so there's little time to really enjoy the perfume. Bitter almonds develops toward the end. Hmm.  

Date: Nov 2025    Score: 23

First review

I bought a set of eight different Knox scents from Amazon to replenish our room-freshener cones for the toilet. I had had some before so I wasn't expecting much, but I am now confirmed in the opinion that Knox cones are knackered. 

There's a nutmeg spice on the cone, and some dry floral touches. Not sure I could be convinced that there's any almond here. On the burn it splutters away feebly unnoticed in the background, and when anyone remembers it's there, it's already fizzled out like the damp squib it is, leaving a scorched earth policy of burned paper and charred almonds. Sigh. Knox cones are small in every regard. They so lack ambition and passion. Miserable little dry turds. 

Date: Jan 2025    Score: 21

***

Knox incense