What the gift box contains
The incense stick and pill gift box is the burnable counterpart to the bead range. A standard box holds a bundle of sandalwood-led sticks, a small jar or paper pack of incense pills, a holder that catches the ash, and a card with burn instructions. A burner, usually ceramic or brass, can be added for programs aimed at gifting. Some buyers choose a stick-only box; others add a bracelet from the bead bracelet hub so one gift covers wearing and burning. The box is assembled in partner workshops and packers, and the desk consolidates the parts before inspection.
Standard formula
| Ingredient | Share | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Sandalwood powder | About 60% | Core scent, creamy and warm |
| Agarwood powder | About 10% | Depth; CITES documents per lot |
| Nanmu binder | About 25% | Natural binder that shapes the stick |
| Botanical accents | About 5% | Dried herbs or flowers for a light top note |
No synthetic fragrance oil and no industrial glue are in the standard specification, confirmed in writing per order. A burnable product needs slightly more care in density than a bead, because a stick that is too dense smolders and one that is too loose burns fast. Sandalwood origin is stated per lot; see the sandalwood guide.
Bamboo-core versus coreless sticks
Yongchun in Fujian is the home of bamboo-core sticks, called mie xiang, a craft that received national geographical indication protection in 2006 and whose making technique was listed as national intangible heritage in 2021. A thin bamboo splint is rolled in incense dough and dried. Coreless sticks are extruded or rolled dough all the way through, with no bamboo.
| Feature | Bamboo-core | Coreless |
|---|---|---|
| Strength in transit | High; the core resists snapping | Lower; needs firmer inserts |
| Burn character | Even and steady, slight bamboo note at the end | Pure wood and resin to the end |
| Typical use | Daily and temple use, mass retail | Premium gifting, tea rooms |
| Cost position | Lower | Higher |
Both are valid; the choice follows the brand story and shipping method. The industry clusters page gives the reported scale of the Yongchun industry.
Incense pills
Incense pills, or he xiang wan, are balls of blended powder bound with nanmu and a little honey, rolled by hand and aged in sealed jars so the scent settles. They are not worn; they are warmed on a mica plate over a small heater or burned on charcoal by experienced users. Pills are the format closest to the ancient formulas discussed in ancient incense formulas, and an aged pill smells rounder than a fresh one. Sizes are commonly 8 to 12 mm.
Holder, burner and box
- Holder. Ceramic, wood or brass; includes an ash catcher for sticks.
- Burner. Optional; ceramic or brass, with a lid for pills.
- Inner pack. Paper wraps or a tube to protect the sticks, with a moisture barrier.
- Outer box. Kraft, rigid or wooden box with insert and printed sleeve.
- Instruction card. Safe burn steps in the market language; no health statements.
Specifications for boxes and inserts are in packaging and gift boxes.
Sizes and box formats
Stick length is usually 20 cm for the standard box, with shorter 14 cm sticks for travel packs and longer 21 cm sticks for ceremonial use. Diameter is typically 1.3 to 2.0 mm for bamboo-core and slightly thicker for coreless. Box formats fall into three groups: a slim tube holding one bundle, a flat box with holder and pills, and a larger gift box with burner and extra tools from the comb and tools line. Choose by shelf position. A tube works in a counter display, a flat box works in an online mailer, and a larger box suits gifting. Weight per box is held to a tolerance agreed on the sample.
Burning and storage notes
Burn on a stable, non-flammable holder, away from curtains and children, in a ventilated room, and never leave it unattended. Keep boxes sealed and dry; a damp stick will not burn evenly. Sticks keep their scent for years with proper storage in a closed pack away from sun.
Inspection and ordering
The desk checks stick length and diameter, straightness, surface cracks or mold, burn time against the retained sample, scent comparison, pill size and aging record, and box assembly. See testing and inspection. Gift boxes typically start from about 200-500 boxes per design; samples take 5-10 working days for stock and 15-25 days for a new blend. These are reference ranges, confirmed in writing per program. Send requests through the quote form.