Golden Sandalwood Incense Sticks

Same species and same workshop as the Royal grade, drawn from a different sub-grade of heartwood - slightly younger trees, slightly lighter oil concentration, slightly faster burn. The golden character refers to the warmer, more honeyed cast of the wood at this maturity. The stick is the same construction: hand-rolled, no bamboo core, traditional binders.

1. Hold the tip to a flame until it catches (5–10 seconds).
2. Blow the flame out so the stick smoulders.
3. Place in an incense holder on a heat-safe surface.
4. The first three minutes carry a creamy-woody opening; the burn deepens into resinous warmth.
5. Allow ash to cool fully before clearing.

Burns for approximately 30–40 minutes per stick. Ventilate the room as the burn progresses.

• Botanical: Santalum album
• Grade: Golden - warm-toned heartwood
• Origin: Mysore region, Karnataka, India
• Source name: candana (Sanskrit) · srigandha (Kannada)
• Form: Hand-rolled stick · no bamboo core · ~10cm
• Quantity: 35
• Burn time: ~30–40 minutes per stick
• Dominant compound: α-santalol · β-santalol
• Storage: Cool, dry, away from light

Sandalwood essential oil is one of the few aromatic materials whose value increases over decades rather than years. Properly stored Santalum album oil deepens and matures slowly; a well-stored bottle from the Mysore oil factory's early decades sells today at many multiples of its original price. The wood in this stick will mature in the same way as it sits in storage - closed pack, cool drawer, no direct sunlight.