Panchavati dhoop sticks from Bic (Bharat Industrial Corporation), a Bangalore company with over forty years behind it. The name comes from Panchavati, the site near Nashik linked to the Ramayana and one of the four rotating locations for Kumbh Mela.

These are traditional dhoop sticks — fine wood powder and charcoal bound with fragrant material rather than rolled on a bamboo core — so they burn slowly and evenly. A sandalwood base carries rose, jasmine and lotus top notes; the smoke is soft rather than smoky, and settles into a room gently. Each box has a small metal-edged hole to stand the sticks upright.

A long-running, well-regarded line among dhoop enthusiasts — unfussy, consistent, and good value.