Himalayan Herbal Incense Sticks are handmade in Kathmandu, Nepal, following a traditional Tibetan incense-making method, using herbs the supplier describes as gathered from the high altitudes of Tibet and the plains of Nepal - a genuinely different production background from the Indian masala and dhoop sticks that make up most of our range.
The named ingredients are a natural binding glue called lac, sandalwood, red sandalwood, artemisia, and a blend of spices including cloves and nutmeg. One ingredient is worth flagging honestly: the supplier's list also includes "ambergris," and we can't tell from what's provided whether that means genuine whale-derived ambergris - a rare and valuable substance in traditional perfumery - or a synthetic or plant-based amber-style note, which is common practice in incense-making today. We're reporting the label as written rather than assuming either way.
Artemisia is a real botanical genus that includes mugwort and wormwood, long burned in various Asian incense traditions for its bitter, herbal character - a distinctly different note from a sweet floral or resinous stick, worth knowing if you're expecting something closer to sandalwood or rose.
At 9 inches per stick, these run noticeably longer than a standard masala stick, and 40 sticks per package is a substantial quantity for someone who already knows they'll burn incense regularly. More single-scent sticks at different lengths sit in our Incense Sticks collection.
Lac, the natural glue named in the ingredient list, is itself a resin secreted by the lac insect and has been used as a binder in incense-making and other crafts across South Asia for a very long time - a real, verifiable material, distinct from a synthetic adhesive.
Light the tip, let the flame settle for a few seconds, then gently blow it out, and place the stick in a heat-safe holder in a well-ventilated room. Browse the wider incense range, including other handmade and hand-rolled styles, in our Incense collection.