Bakhoor

Arabic bakhoor blends and oud chips, from everyday incense to premium gift collections.

62 products

Bakhoor and Arabic incense

Bakhoor is scented wood, usually agarwood chips soaked in fragrant oils and resins, burned to perfume a home. A small piece is enough to scent several rooms, and the smoke is traditionally passed through clothing and hair as well, which is why bakhoor is so closely associated with welcoming guests, Jumuah and Eid mornings.

The range at Cii Stores runs from everyday blends to premium collections, alongside oud chips, charcoal and the burners needed to use them. If you are new to it, starting with a modest blend and a simple burner is the sensible route, since bakhoor varies widely in strength and the same piece can go a long way further than expected.

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Questions and answers

What is bakhoor?
Bakhoor is Arabic incense made from wood chips, usually agarwood, soaked in fragrant oils, resins and sometimes musk or amber. It is burned in small pieces to scent a home rather than worn on the skin.
How is bakhoor different from oud?
Oud is the fragrant agarwood itself, while bakhoor is a prepared blend that usually has oud as its base along with oils and resins. Put simply, oud is the raw material and bakhoor is the finished product.
How much bakhoor should I burn at a time?
A piece roughly the size of a fingernail is usually enough for a room or two, and it is easy to use far more than you need. Start small, since the scent continues to build for several minutes after the smoke appears.
How long does the scent last?
A few minutes of burning typically scents a room for several hours, and soft furnishings hold it longer. Strength varies considerably between blends, which is why the amount you burn matters more than the burning time.
Do I need charcoal to burn bakhoor?
Only if you are using a traditional burner, where a lit charcoal disc provides the heat. An electric burner warms the bakhoor directly on a plate, so no charcoal is needed at all.
Is bakhoor alcohol free?
Bakhoor is a burned wood and oil preparation rather than a sprayed fragrance, so it is not an alcohol based product in the way a perfume is. Ingredients are listed per product where the supplier provides them.
What does bakhoor smell like?
Most blends sit in a warm, woody, slightly sweet range built around oud, with rose, musk, amber or floral notes layered over it. Individual scent notes are described on each product page, since the differences between blends are considerable.
Which bakhoor should I start with?
A mid range blend in a small quantity is the usual starting point, paired with a simple burner, before committing to a larger or premium tin. Gift sets are built around this logic and are an easy way to try a burner and a blend together.
Can I smell the bakhoor in store?
Yes, and it is worth doing, because bakhoor is difficult to judge from a description alone. Cii Stores is a physical shop in Ormonde, Johannesburg, and you can also order online for delivery across South Africa.
How should I store bakhoor?
Keep it sealed in its tin or container, out of direct sunlight and away from heat, which stops the oils drying out. Stored properly it keeps its strength for a long time.
Is bakhoor a good gift?
It is one of the most common gifts for Eid, a nikah or a new home, and premium blends in presentation tins are made for exactly that. Pairing a blend with a burner makes it usable straight away for someone who does not already own one.
How much is delivery and how long does it take?
Standard shipping is R160 and orders are delivered within 3 to 5 business days. Delivery is free on orders over R1500.
Can I return bakhoor?
Bakhoor is a consumable fragrance product, so it can only be returned unopened and in its original sealed packaging, within 7 days. Please note that sale items are non refundable.