How dhoop and cones are made
Dhoop is incense without a bamboo core. The paste is thicker and wetter than agarbatti paste and is pressed through a die into long sticks, or into a mould for cones, then cut and dried. With nothing inside to hold it together, the piece depends entirely on its binder and on slow, even drying. Dried too fast, it cracks; dried too little, it grows mould in the box.
A backflow cone has a hollow channel drilled or moulded up from the base. Lit at the tip and set on a backflow burner, the smoke is drawn down the channel and pours out of the base, so it flows downward over the burner. The effect only works if the channel is open, centred and the right size, and if the cone is dense enough to burn down to it.
Sambrani cups and some traditional dhoop are made with cow dung. If your product contains it, or any other animal-derived material, ask the supplier for a full ingredient declaration so that your importer can check the destination's import rules before you order.
What we check on dhoop and cones
| Check | How it is checked | What fails |
|---|---|---|
| Shape and size | Cone height and base diameter, or dhoop stick length and thickness, with a caliper | Out of tolerance, lopsided cones, flattened sticks |
| Base flatness | Cones stood on a flat plate and a burner | Cones that rock or tip over |
| Tips and edges | Visual, on the sample and in the pack | Broken tips, chipped bases, crumbs in the box |
| Backflow channel | Several cones cut in half lengthways; channel depth and position seen and measured | Channel blocked, off-centre, too short or breaking through the side |
| Backflow effect | Cones burned on a backflow burner in still air | Smoke rises instead of falling, or stops flowing before the end |
| Burn completeness | Pieces burned to the end and timed | Pieces go out half-way, leave a large unburned stub, or burn far faster than agreed |
| Hardness and crumbling | Pieces pressed between fingers; a packed inner box shaken | Pieces crumble or leave heavy powder in the pack |
| Moisture and mould | Pieces broken open and smelled; surface and inside packs checked | Damp centre, musty smell, visible growth |
| Count and fragrance | Pieces counted per pack; smelled against the master | Short count; wrong or weak fragrance |
Common dhoop, incense cone and backflow cone defects and how they are classed
| Defect | Typical cause | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Mould inside or on pieces | Thick pieces packed before the centre dried | Critical |
| Cones that tip over while lit | Uneven base, mould flash at the bottom | Critical |
| Backflow channel blocked or off-centre | Worn or misaligned mould pin, paste collapsing into the hole | Major |
| Pieces going out early | Too dense, too much resin, damp centre | Major |
| Broken pieces above the agreed rate | Weak binder, loose packing | Major |
| Cracks across dhoop sticks | Dried too fast in the sun | Major or minor by depth |
| Light surface crumbs in the pack | Normal for bambooless incense | Minor within the agreed limit |
Your defect list decides the final class. Because some powder is normal, agree how much loose material in a pack is acceptable.
Rules and burners
- Safety. In the EU, cones and dhoop are covered by the GPSR: they must be safe in normal use, which includes not tipping or dropping hot pieces, and carry the warnings needed to use them safely.
- Hazard labels. CLP labels or allergen statements apply only if the product is classified. Your formulator and compliance adviser decide; we check that the label on the goods matches the approved artwork and data sheet.
- California. Some buyers ask for a Proposition 65 assessment.
- Burners in the set. A ceramic or terracotta backflow burner sold with the cones is checked as its own item: stability, glaze, chips, and that the cones fit the seat. See terracotta and earthenware inspection. Metal burners and holders follow the candle holder checks for heat and stability.
Packing, transit and your purchase order
Bambooless incense breaks under weight and vibration. Cones travel best upright in a moulded tray or a snug box; dhoop sticks need a rigid inner box, not a loose sleeve. The inspector drops one packed inner box from a short height agreed in the plan, then opens it to count broken pieces, and checks that master cartons are not over-stacked in storage.
- Type: dhoop stick, solid cone, backflow cone or cup; size and tolerance.
- For backflow cones: channel depth and the burner it is designed for.
- Burn time range and how far a piece must burn before going out.
- Full ingredient list, including any animal-derived material.
- Pieces per pack, breakage allowance and tray or box type.
- Drying time before packing and moisture limit.
Buying sticks too? See incense stick inspection.