Some form of wax or some burnable substance was used as the carrier in the cones. Some Indian tribes simply blow herbal smoke down into the ear canal through a cone shaped object, many times it was wrapped up newspaper. Many cultures considered coning a spiritual practice for clearing the mind and senses. They claimed it cleared the mind and body so you could meditate and open up your sensitivity. In current times many cultures such as the South American Mexican Indians and some American Indian tribes are using ear coning.
Materials vary from pottery cones to rolled up newspaper soaked in wax.
In the present time, due to health regulations we have to use disposable candles. Cones or candles are made from strips of unbleached cotton or linen dipped in beeswax and herbs. The spiral roll built into the candles during production creates the same effect as the pottery cones. In some cultures they have mixed herbs into the wax or placed herbs in the cone during the burning process. In Germany they teach ear candling as a remedy.