Whenever Mr Shakthi Mogan burned a dhoop cone, or “sambrani” in Tamil, during his daily prayers at home, disappointment would sink in.Used during prayers and as an offering to the gods, dhoop cones are used by Hindus to purify the air and create a more ceremonial atmosphere.
After finding that the dhoop cones sold in Singapore weren’t up to the mark, Mr Shakthi scouted Malaysia for better versions of the product – but that too proved in vain.“Purely natural dhoop cones are made from tree sap and are broken down easily, unlike the instant ones. The dhoop cones found in stores are mass-produced and packaged using binding ingredients like resins, which are highly hazardous.
“Sandalwood is actually a popular ingredient used during prayer rituals at temples. So I gave it a try. Sandalwood sticks, together with crushed milk dhoop cone, turned out to be the perfect recipe. Calling his creations Shakthi Sambrani, he introduced his product on his Facebook page, handing out free samples to those who supported his efforts.