{"title":"Sandalwood Sticks","description":"\u003cp\u003eA solid piece of heartwood and a wet grinding stone is still how chandan paste is made in most Indian homes and temples. Rub the stick in slow circles and the paste comes up fresh, fragrant, and exactly as thick as you want it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eChoosing a size\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSticks are sold by weight, from 40 g to 1 kg. A 40–50 g piece suits a household shrine and daily tilak. Temples, ceremonies and antim sanskar generally need 250 g upward. Because these are natural pieces cut from whole heartwood, each one differs slightly in shape and grain.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhite or red\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pure-sandalwood-stick-chandan\"\u003ewhite chandan stick\u003c\/a\u003e is the fragrant one — for pooja, meditation and cooling skin paste. The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sandalwood-stick-lal-chandan\"\u003ered lal chandan stick\u003c\/a\u003e has little scent but a deep natural colour, used for red tilak and traditional face preparations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeep the stick dry between uses and store it away from perfume and strong-smelling household items — sandalwood absorbs odours readily. Wipe the grinding stone clean so old paste does not dry onto it.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"pure-sandalwood-stick-chandan","title":"Pure Sandalwood Stick (Chandan)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA solid piece of white sandalwood heartwood — safed chandan — for grinding fresh tilak paste on a stone. Never blended, dyed or artificially scented. Rub it on a wet stone and the paste comes up pale, smooth and fragrant in about a minute.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat you are buying\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSolid white sandalwood heartwood, sold by weight\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNatural oil content — the aroma deepens as you rub, and the piece keeps its scent for years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo blending, no dye, no synthetic fragrance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvery batch third-party lab-tested\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eChoosing a weight\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSticks are sold by weight rather than length, so shape varies. As a rough guide:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e40–50 g\u003c\/strong\u003e — daily tilak at a home shrine. Lasts a household several months\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e90–150 g\u003c\/strong\u003e — regular home pooja, or a small temple\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e190–250 g\u003c\/strong\u003e — temple use, havan and festivals\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e440 g and above\u003c\/strong\u003e — ceremonies, antim sanskar, Ayurvedic preparation, resale\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to grind chandan paste\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSprinkle a little water on a flat grinding stone. Hold the stick at a shallow angle and rub in slow, steady circles — slowly is the key, since speed gives you a rough paste. After a minute or two a smooth pale paste gathers at the edge of the stone. Scrape it up with a small spoon and use it fresh.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eUsed for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDaily pooja, aarti and home temple ritual\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTilak — cooling on the forehead\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJapa and meditation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHavan and religious ceremonies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAntim sanskar and last rites\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChandan face paste, ubtan and traditional Ayurvedic preparation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eNatural characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is natural heartwood, so colour ranges from pale cream to light yellow-brown and the grain differs from piece to piece. Small surface cracks and irregular shape are normal and do not affect the wood. If the aroma seems faint when it arrives, rub the stick between your palms — the scent lives in the oil and rises with friction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCare and storage\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeep it dry, wrapped, and away from perfume, soap and strongly scented household items — sandalwood absorbs surrounding odours readily. Wipe your grinding stone clean after each use so old paste does not dry onto it. Stored properly, a chandan stick holds its fragrance for many years.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long will a 50 g stick last?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor daily tilak in one household, several months. Each application uses only a little paste, and grinding removes very little wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need a special stone?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA flat, fine-grained stone (ghisa) is traditional and gives the smoothest paste, but any flat unglazed stone surface will work.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy does the shape vary?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSticks are cut from whole heartwood and sold by weight, so every piece differs. You are buying grams of sandalwood, not a fixed shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this the same as red sandalwood?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. This is white sandalwood, the fragrant one. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sandalwood-stick-lal-chandan\"\u003eRed sandalwood\u003c\/a\u003e has almost no scent and is used for its colour — see our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/journal\/white-sandalwood-vs-red-sandalwood\"\u003ecomparison guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use it on skin?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChandan paste is traditionally applied to cool and soothe the skin. These are traditional uses rather than medical claims — patch-test first if your skin is sensitive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eYou may also need\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrefer to skip the grinding stone? \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pure-sandalwood-powder-chandan\"\u003ePure sandalwood powder\u003c\/a\u003e gives you the same paste in seconds. For japa, see our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/sandalwood-mala\"\u003e108-bead chandan malas\u003c\/a\u003e. For aarti and diffusing, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pure-sandalwood-oil\"\u003epure sandalwood oil\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jai Gurudev Upkaran Bhandar","offers":[{"title":"40–50 g","offer_id":52474518077751,"sku":"SW-STK-50","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"90–100 g","offer_id":52474518110519,"sku":"SW-STK-100","price":2499.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"140–150 g","offer_id":52474518143287,"sku":"SW-STK-150","price":3750.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"190–200 g","offer_id":52474518176055,"sku":"SW-STK-200","price":4999.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"240–250 g","offer_id":52474518208823,"sku":"SW-STK-250","price":6250.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"440–450 g","offer_id":52474518241591,"sku":"SW-STK-450","price":11250.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"490–500 g","offer_id":52474518274359,"sku":"SW-STK-500","price":12499.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"740–750 g","offer_id":52474518307127,"sku":"SW-STK-750","price":18749.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1000 g","offer_id":52474518339895,"sku":"SW-STK-1000","price":24999.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0995\/7818\/3991\/files\/pure-sandalwood-stick-chandan-hero.jpg?v=1783362448"},{"product_id":"red-sandalwood-stick-lal-chandan","title":"Red Sandalwood Stick (Lal Chandan)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA solid piece of red sandalwood heartwood — lal chandan, raktachandan — carrying the deep natural maroon that has made it the traditional wood for red tilak. The colour is the wood's own. Nothing here is dyed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eRead this first: red sandalwood has almost no fragrance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the most common surprise for first-time buyers, so we would rather say it up front. Lal chandan is not a red version of white chandan — it is a different tree entirely, and it is chosen for its colour, not its scent. If fragrance is what you are after, you want the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pure-sandalwood-stick-chandan\"\u003ewhite chandan stick\u003c\/a\u003e instead. Our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/journal\/white-sandalwood-vs-red-sandalwood\"\u003ecomparison guide\u003c\/a\u003e sets the two side by side.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat you are buying\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSolid red sandalwood heartwood, hand-selected and sold by weight\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeep natural maroon — never dyed, never stained\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo blending with look-alike woods\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvery batch third-party lab-tested\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eChoosing a weight\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eBecause red sandalwood is used more heavily in skin preparations than white, buyers tend to need larger quantities.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e40–50 g\u003c\/strong\u003e — occasional tilak, or trying it for the first time\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e90–150 g\u003c\/strong\u003e — regular red tilak, or a household using face packs weekly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e190–250 g\u003c\/strong\u003e — temple use and festivals\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e440 g and above\u003c\/strong\u003e — ceremonies, last rites, Ayurvedic preparation, resale\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to grind red tilak paste\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWet a flat grinding stone and rub the stick in slow circles. Red sandalwood is a harder, denser wood than white and takes longer to give up its paste — expect a few minutes rather than one. The paste comes up a deep earthy red and thickens as you go. Use it fresh.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eUsed for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRed tilak — particularly in Vaishnav and Devi traditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDaily pooja, aarti and temple offering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHavan and religious ceremonies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAntim sanskar and last rites\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRaktachandan face paste — traditionally used on blemishes, marks and uneven tone\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUbtan and traditional Ayurvedic preparation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eNatural characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eColour varies from deep maroon to near-purple depending on the piece and its age, and it darkens over time. The grain is tight and the wood noticeably heavy for its size. Irregular shape and small surface cracks are normal in natural heartwood.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCare and storage\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeep dry and wrapped. Red sandalwood is far less delicate than white — it has little aroma to lose — but moisture will still mark the surface. Rinse your grinding stone after use, as dried red paste stains.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is red sandalwood cheaper than white?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt grows faster and is more widely available, and it lacks the aromatic oil that makes white sandalwood costly to produce. Lower price here is normal, not a sign of poor quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it stain my skin?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRed tilak paste washes off with water. Left on for a long period it can leave a faint tint on very fair skin, which fades within hours.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I know it isn't dyed?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMix a little of the ground paste into water. Dyed wood throws off a bright, artificial pink almost immediately. Genuine raktachandan releases a deep, earthy red slowly. Our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/journal\/how-to-identify-pure-sandalwood-5-simple-tests\"\u003efive tests guide\u003c\/a\u003e covers this in detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use it for havan and last rites?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. Both red and white sandalwood are used, depending on family and regional tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it safe on the face?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRaktachandan has been used in Ayurvedic skin preparations for centuries. These are traditional uses, not medical claims — patch-test first, and see a doctor for any skin condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eYou may also need\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor face packs and ubtan, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sandalwood-powder-lal-chandan\"\u003elal chandan powder\u003c\/a\u003e saves you the grinding. For japa, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sandalwood-mala-108-beads-lal-chandan\"\u003ered sandalwood mala\u003c\/a\u003e. Browse everything in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/red-sandalwood\"\u003ered sandalwood\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jai Gurudev Upkaran Bhandar","offers":[{"title":"40–50 g","offer_id":52474518995255,"sku":"RSW-STK-50","price":749.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"90–100 g","offer_id":52474519028023,"sku":"RSW-STK-100","price":1499.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"140–150 g","offer_id":52474519060791,"sku":"RSW-STK-150","price":2250.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"190–200 g","offer_id":52474519093559,"sku":"RSW-STK-200","price":2999.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"240–250 g","offer_id":52474519126327,"sku":"RSW-STK-250","price":3750.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"440–450 g","offer_id":52474519159095,"sku":"RSW-STK-450","price":6750.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"490–500 g","offer_id":52474519191863,"sku":"RSW-STK-500","price":7500.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"740–750 g","offer_id":52474519224631,"sku":"RSW-STK-750","price":11250.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1000 g","offer_id":52474519257399,"sku":"RSW-STK-1000","price":14999.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0995\/7818\/3991\/files\/lal-chandan-stick-red-sandalwood-hero.jpg?v=1783362621"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.jaigurudevupkaranbhandar.com\/collections\/sandalwood-sticks.oembed","provider":"Jai Gurudev Upkaran Bhandar ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}