This is the last of my batch of Crottendorfer cones. It's been fun burning them, and learning a bit more about Rauhnacht, a pagan/Celtic tradition of a transition period in winter where the spiritual world is opened up and spirits walk the Earth, so families burn incense to keep the evil spirits away. And also learn more about the Räuchermann tradition which is thought to have started in the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge) in the 1800s. It is interesting that the German incense culture is both so strong and interesting, and has such a long history.
Sadly the Crottendorfer cones are so mild, so quickly gone, and have such simple scents that they don't hold my interest. The history, the culture, and the paraphernalia surrounding the cones are so much more fascinating than the cones themselves.
As the cones are made with the fragrance folded into the paste rather than added externally (as in perfume-dipped), there is little scent on the cone. The cones lock in and hold the fragrance, so Crottendorfer say that as long as they are stored in a dry place they will last indefinitely. The scent is only released when burned. The scent is mild - so mild, over so quickly, and with little retention, that I wave the smoke toward me to get some idea of the fragrance. This is not to be encouraged, as it is harmful to the health, and does bring with it the off-notes of the burning of the combustible material. And, anyway, is not worthwhile as the scent is not great because the sandalwood fragrance does get blurred with and somewhat dominated by the scorched wood and coal dust smell of the combustible material. If I am patient I may get a drift of sandalwood fragrance. But mostly I don't. Ho hum.
Sadly the Crottendorfer cones are so mild, so quickly gone, and have such simple scents that they don't hold my interest. The history, the culture, and the paraphernalia surrounding the cones are so much more fascinating than the cones themselves.
As the cones are made with the fragrance folded into the paste rather than added externally (as in perfume-dipped), there is little scent on the cone. The cones lock in and hold the fragrance, so Crottendorfer say that as long as they are stored in a dry place they will last indefinitely. The scent is only released when burned. The scent is mild - so mild, over so quickly, and with little retention, that I wave the smoke toward me to get some idea of the fragrance. This is not to be encouraged, as it is harmful to the health, and does bring with it the off-notes of the burning of the combustible material. And, anyway, is not worthwhile as the scent is not great because the sandalwood fragrance does get blurred with and somewhat dominated by the scorched wood and coal dust smell of the combustible material. If I am patient I may get a drift of sandalwood fragrance. But mostly I don't. Ho hum.
Sold in boxes of 24 cones for €1.95, and available direct from Crottendorfer. Cones burn for approx 10 minutes with a faint scent that doesn't linger for long.
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