Bangalore Incense Store Jaygee Cinnamon Masala Backflow Cones

I love the idea of backflow cones - the waterfall of smoke looks beautiful. But the after smell of the unburned particles which flow downwards is like a dirty ashtray, and the downflowing smoke leaves a sticky mess that stains and is hard to clean. However, Jaygee of Bangalore Incense Store sent me these to review, and we are just running out of the cones which we use as room fresheners, so I'll light one up and go for it! 

Cinnamon, which is the tree bark of various related cinnamon trees, has an attractive fragrance, which can make for a delightful and satisfying incense.  The scent on the cone is warm, spicy, dark, oily, slight sweet, and quite inviting. It is an exotic fragrance, yet also quite dirty, which gives it a pleasing and compelling and quite sexy depth. 

The scent on the burn is fairly modest, which is a shame as the cold throw scent was quite promising. I think the nature of backflow cones is such that much of the scent is taken down by the descending smoke, and remains largely unburned, so the fragrance is not able to be fully displayed. Meanwhile, the smoke spreads out over whatever the cone stands on, and can stain and leave unpleasant smells. But it does burn well, and the smoke flows downwards very beautifully.

Available from Bangalore Incense at a box of 10 cones for £0.39. Bangalore Incense ships internationally. 

Date: Nov 2025   Score: 22/50

***

   

Jaygee's / Gurugee

Best cinnamon incense

Guggul - India's Myrrh

 

Gugal is the resin from commiphora wightii, a plant in the torchwood family which includes frankincense and myrrh. It is native to India, and has been used for over 3,000 years as a medicine and ritual incense.  The scent is regarded as similar to myrrh, though less bitter. 

Reviews

Vinason's (VNS) Gugul (M)
Nov 2025 - Score: 37/50

   

   

Stamford Gugal (PM)
May 2026 - Score: 25/50

Yadalam Vaastu Gugal Thick Dhoop (D)
Nov 2018: 20/50* (out of business) 

 

 Vaishnodevi Gugal Dhoop (WD)
 Apr 2014 -Score: 11/50*

   

Reviews: 4
High score: 37

Low score: 11
Average: 23

***

Incense Ingredients

Stamford Gugal

Gugal is the resin from commiphora wightii, a plant in the torchwood family which includes frankincense and myrrh. It is native to India, and has been used for over 3,000 years as a medicine and ritual incense. 

Stamford are a well established and leading importer of Indian incense into the UK; their own brand incenses have generally come from a number of major Indian incense houses, such as Satya. 

This is a standard machine-extruded masala paste on a pink stick (the box says "Hand-Rolled", but it is clear the paste has been machine extruded; perhaps the melnoova/masala powder was rolled onto the paste by hand). Scent is mild aldehydes, white musk, rubber bands, gentle pink florals, fresh daisies. I've had a couple of guggul incenses, though I'm not really familiar with the scent. There isn't really a sense of resin about the cold throw scent. 

The scent on the burn is gentle, and is fairly resinous. It's a little dry and simple for me, but it's an OK scent. A dry, mild, frankincense fragrance.  Quite acceptable, but not something I'm inclined to buy again.

Date: May 2026  Score: 25/50

***

Stamford London

   

Guggul - India's myrrh

Baykeri's Shri Chandan

Julian of The Incense Atelier sent me samples from a range of Baykeri incense he is selling. Shivranjani, the flagship brand of Baykeri, is a well known and auspicious incense in India; Julian told me that he had fond memories of it from his days out in India. He started selling it on ebay, and I have become aware that a few other places in the West also sell it. And now, through The Incense Atelier, Julian is bringing to the West more Baykeri incense; selling them in his own branded packaging, which is all biodegradable. It appears that, other than Shivranjani, The Incense Atelier is the only outlet for Baykeri's incense outside of India. 

Chandan is sandalwood - one of the great incenses, used for thousands of years as fragrance. It is at the heart of Indian and Asian incense (less so in Japan, where agarwood is more popular), though in India it is usually the essence of sandalwood fragrance rather than actual sandalwood that is used - sometimes via alternative natural oils, sometimes via aroma molecules, and often both. 

The scent profile on the stick is a little harsh - tickly tree bark at the back of the throat, generic soapy notes, with a general sense of woody sandalwood. This appears to be a blend of natural wood substitutes with aroma molecules. There is a pleasing freshness about the whole - a feel of walking over a bed of dried pine needles on a fresh morning.

The scent on the burn is softer and sweeter, and more fragrant than that on the stick. Some patchouli notes creep in - which is always going to please me, along with soft, sweet florals. Yes, this is an attractive room freshener. I wouldn't say the burn has a distinct sandalwood character, but it is quite acceptable.   

Available in India from ShivranjaniAgarbatti (Baykeri) at 100g for ₹840 (no international shipping on website). Available in the UK from TheIncenseAtelier starting at 10g for £2.65, or as part of a useful sample pack of two sticks each of seven fragrances for £4.45. International shipping available. 

Date: May 2026   Score:  29/50

***

Baykeri's of Mumbai

Sandalwood - Heart of Incense

Baykeri's Siddhi Vinayak

 

Julian of The Incense Atelier has sent me three samples from a range of Baykeri incense he is selling on his website. I reviewed Shivranjani, the flagship brand of Baykeri. It is a well known and auspicious incense in India, as it was launched by the Indian spiritual leader (or godman)  Satya Sai Baba (the same person used as a brand name by Shrinivas Sugandhalaya of Satya Nag Champa fame). Julian told me that he had fond memories of it from his days out in India. He started selling it on ebay, and I have become aware that a few other places in the West also sell it. And now, through The Incense Atelier, Julian is bringing to the West more Baykeri incense; selling them in his own branded packaging, which is all biodegradable.

The name, Siddhi Vinayak, is a reference to the elephant god Ganesha, who removes obstacles and brings good luck. There is a notable temple to him in Mumbai, the home of Baykeri. 

The scent on the stick is spicy, warm, floral, with notes of fresh leather, honey, and twiggy wood. The scent on the burn is a tad dry and woody and inclined to be a bit smoky (I got complaints, and more doors were opened while burning). The ambience aligns with South Indian tradition, particularly Pondicherry, than with the more Persian/Arabian tradition of North India, particularly Pune.  My own tastes are more to the sweet and delicious than the sombre and dry, so this is not to my taste. Though those who like incense such as the Mothers might enjoy it. 

Available in India from ShivranjaniAgarbatti (Baykeri) at 100g for ₹1460 (no international shipping on website). Available in the UK from TheIncenseAtelier starting at 10g for £3.20, or as part of a useful sample pack of two sticks each of seven fragrances for £4.45.  International shipping available. 

Date: May 2026   Score:  28/50

***

Baykeri's of Mumbai

Baykeri's of Mumbai

Baykeri's are a Mumbai incense house formed in 1970 with the launch of their flagship brand, Shivranjani; a well known and auspicious incense in India, as the company managed to get the Indian spiritual leader (or godman)  Satya Sai Baba (the same person used as a brand name by Shrinivas Sugandhalaya of Satya Nag Champa fame) to take part in the launch. 

A solid and traditional incense house mostly in the South Indian style, tending to dry and sombre rather like Pondicherry, though some fragrances have gentle floral notes which gives them an attractive lift. On the whole not my thing, as I tend to prefer richer, sweeter incense with Persian/Arabian influence, such as that from Pune, though the incense is decent and well made. 

Reviews

Baykeri's Shivranjani (M)
Sep 2025 - Score: 33

  

   

Baykeri's Vardaan (PM)
May 2026 - Score: 33

   

Baykeri's Shri Chandan (M)
May 2026 - Score: 29

  

Baykeri's Siddhi Vinayak (M)
May 2026 - Score: 28

Review: 4
High: 33

Low: 28

Average: 31

***

Incense in India

The Best Incense Makers

Baykeri's Vardaan

Julian of The Incense Atelier has sent me three samples from a range of Baykeri incense he is selling on his website. I've previously reviewed Shivranjani, the flagship brand of Baykeri, which they used to launch the company in 1970. It is a well known incense in India, and quite auspicious, as the company managed to get the Indian spiritual leader (or godman)  Satya Sai Baba (the same person used as a brand name by Shrinivas Sugandhalaya of Satya Nag Champa fame) to take part in the launch. Julian told me that he had fond memories of it from his days out in India. He started selling it on ebay, and I have become aware that a few other places in the West also sell it. And now, through The Incense Atelier, Julian is bringing to the West more Baykeri incense, and selling it in his own branded packaging, which is all biodegradable.

  

Stick is soft hand-rolled charcoal paste covered in dark red melnoorva/masala powder, and moist with fragrant oils - floral, mildly vibrant, touch of oudh, and some red fruit hinting at a mash up of strawberry and raspberry. Promising. Uplifting. Lively. 

Attractive floral aroma with some gentle spice on the burn. Attractive. Some twiggy wood notes and slightly acidic fruit as balance. This is a decent incense. Leaning a little too much to a feminine everyday floral body mist spray for my complete satisfaction, but decent and pleasant, and would be generally popular, especially for those who like floral incense.  

Available in India from ShivranjaniAgarbatti (Baykeri) at 100g for ₹400 (no international shipping on website). Available in the UK from TheIncenseAtelier starting at 10g for £2.45, or as part of a useful sample pack of two sticks each of seven fragrances for £4.45. 

Date: May 2026   Score:  33/50

***

Baykeri's of Mumbai

Jahagirdar First Choice Mahek Flora

Jahagirdar Mahek Flora is "crafted from rose, jasmine, mogra, lotus, cinnamon, camphor, jiget, honey, and an herbal binder. Their floral, warm aroma helps reduce stress, promote relaxation, and create a sacred environment." I note that the ingredients are "jasmine" and "mogra". I thought the two were the same, but it turns out that mogra refers to Arabian jasmine (Jasminum_sambac), while jasmine is likely to refer to the Common jasmine (Jasminum_officinale), which is lighter and sweeter and less waxy. Jigat, honey, and the herbal binder are not a significant part of the aroma. While honey can add a faint background warmth and sweetness, and soften some of the harsh tones of other ingredients, it is mainly used as a binder, and to aid kneading the dough.  Clearly from the ingredients this is going to be a floral fragrance with some gentle spicy warmth. 

  

As with other Jahagirdar incense (as least in the Flora range) this is a soft, moist, oil-rich stick. It is professionally made - an extruded paste lightly dusted with a dark red melnoorva/masala powder. In some respects the company's professional approach, which stands in contrast to their neighbour HMS, may put some Western buyers off because of a perceived old school hippy view that proper incense should be hand made, and so be messy and inconsistent. And there is an appeal in that romantic notion that each piece is unique, and something of the maker's soul has gone into the incense, so you can see the fingerprints and hear the singing. But the rolling out of the paste is the least artistically relevant part of the incense making process. The important parts are the recipe formulation, and the mixing of the paste. The rolling out of the paste is the unintelligent mechanical part. And yet if done poorly can prevent the incense stick working properly or consistently. It's equal to the packaging. Basic and mechanical movements which have no importance to the creation of the fragrance and the way it unfolds. But if the packaging is done poorly, the incense may go mouldy and be ruined. Utilising the benefits of human creativity to roll out the paste by machine so the incense burns evenly, revealing the beauty of the fragrance, is a mark of an intelligent and thoughtful professional. Jahagirdar's balance of old-world artistry with modern commercial intelligence is what makes them a rather special incense house. 

The scent on the stick is rounded and beautiful. Rich with florals, yet grounded by warm spice and hints of sandalwood and oudh. These base notes may come from a shared house paste. The charcoal and jigat paste is possibly produced in bulk with a core fragrance accord (such as sandalwood and oudh), onto which additional scents are layered for each individual release.

The scent on the burn is lightly resinous, with a feel of oudh, though the base leaning more towards tree bark than oil, and it's the balance with the top note florals that give it the Persian ambience of oudh. It is a soft, enveloping, velvety ambience. An elegant and pleasing incense with soft yet rich florals informed and kept light by the lotus. There's a purple awareness of violets with a delicate yet warm and uplifting spicy note. All in all, very pleasing. Gently perfumed with an attractive woody base.  

Only available in India. Direct from Jahagirdar.

Date: Apr 2026   Score:  37/50 

***

  

Jahagirdar First Choice

Flora, Fluxo, and Supreme

   

Jahagirdar First Choice Ruh Kasturi Flora

Ruh Kasturi Flora is "crafted from ambrette seed, basil and tulsi, vetiver root, camphor, frankincense resin, botanical gums, and natural honey. The aroma helps reduce stress, deepen focus, and foster a calm, sacred space." Ambrette is musk mallow, a widely used plant alternative for creating a musk fragrance. Kasturi is the Indian word for musk fragrance. I think the basil, tulsi, and vetiver are intended to create a fresh, earthy, outdoors feel to balance the musk. 

The stick is a machine-extruded charcoal paste coated in an orange-brown melnoorva/masala powder, and rich and moist with fragrance oils. There is an oil rich scent of woods, with the pencil shavings note of cedarwood - possibly from a combination of the herbs, vetiver, and camphor. There's shoe polish, floral notes gravitating toward rose, some caramel, and a general sense of sweet, outdoorsy wood and flowers. Very captivating. 

The burn is soft, resinous; with that familiar Indian masala incense feel of woods, resins, and florals. Well blended to create a harmonious whole. There is a sense of Arabian oudh combined with a hint of warm lamb's wool that I tend to associate with halmaddi. For me this is more woody than musky, and the green herbal element present on the stick is not as apparent on the burn. On the whole an attractive bold but gentle masala incense which presents as a blend between the Pune tradition and the Bangalore school. 

Only available in India. ₹160 for 100g, direct from Jahagirdar, or from GroovyFragrances.

Date: Apr 2026   Score: 33/50 

***

  

Jahagirdar First Choice

Flora, Fluxo, and Supreme

   

Musk

B.G Pooja Store Agarwood

Julian of TheIncenseAtelier has sent me an attractively presented box of B.G Pooja Store Agarwood. The story of the B.G Pooja Store is interesting. When Eugene of Bhagwan Incense was setting up his business, he went hunting in India and came upon the store in Tiruvannamalai, and sent me some samples when he got back. After I had positively reviewed the Nag Champa in March 2023, it  appeared on the Everest Trader store in America. And then Mike of ORS reviewed in Sept 2024 what Pat of Everest Trader had sent him, with the comment "I believe Pat of Everest Trader told me that these incenses were found in a Pooja store while he was over in India"; which must be a misunderstanding of Pat saying something like "these incenses were found in a Pooja store", and Mike assuming that Pat was talking about himself rather than Eugene who I had mentioned in my review when I said that this was the incense that "Eugene ... brought back from the B.G pooja store in Tiruvannamalai". 

The stick is dark and chunky and has a rich dark woody oudh scent. Quite earthy and realistic woody notes, rich with terpenes so it feels like walking though a pine forest on a fresh spring morning. It feels like a constructed scent rather than true agarwood, and the price (£2.45 for 10g / £8.45 for 50g) indicates that it is unlikely there would be much if any true agarwood here. However, that's the case for most agarwood joss sticks, and if someone is looking for true agarwood, they would - with some notable exceptions - be advised to be buying wood chips from a reputable dealer rather than joss sticks, be they Indian, Chinese, or Japanese. For those looking for a decent quality and very attractive dark wood scent based on agarwood, then something like this is ideal. A joss stick is a convenient and easy way of burning incense, and the price is very attractive.  

As expected from a thick, oil-rich stick, there is some black smoke on first lighting. The smoke is unburned particles as the flame burns too quickly too burn everything completely, especially when the stick is thick, and a lot of oils have been used which take time to burn. When the flame is blown out, the black smoke is replaced with an appealing ghostly grey smoke. From the size and dark colour, I was expecting the fragrance to be quite heady and smoky; however, this is quite relaxed and laid back. It has the dark woody tones of an Arabian oudh style incense, though is much lighter and more uplifting and refreshing. For those unfamiliar with oudh style incense, or who have experienced it and found it a bit heady or smoky for them, then this stick would be something to consider. 

Date: Apr 2026    Score:  33/50

***

B.G Pooja Store

Agarwood incense

B.G Pooja Store, Tiruvannamalai

Eugene of Bhagwan Incense, when setting up his Bhagwan business, visited a pooja store in Tiruvannamalai, near the impressive Raja Gopuram (gateway entrance) of Arunachalesvara Temple. The store, B.G, was opened in 2004, and sells its own B.G branded incense along with other common brands, such as Satya, Hari Om, and Vijayshree. He sent me three sticks, which I reviewed, including a Nag Champa that I gave a high score. He then wrote to me, pointing out that after I had said B.G Pooja Store's Nag Champa was "the best Nag Champa I have smelled since [Satya Nag Champa], I am putting this incense in my World Class category" that Everest Trader in America was selling the incense on their Etsy Store. The impression was that Everest Trader had read my review and was taking advantage of Eugene's discovery. However, ORS say in their review of B.G Nag Champa that "I believe Pat of Everest Trader told me that these incenses were found in a Pooja store while he was over in India." So either ORS misunderstood what they had been told (and it does happen), or there was an amazing coincidence that two Western incense traders were in India at the same time, and both ended up in the same unknown shop and bought the same incense. A curious case of parallel discovery.

Reviews

B.G Pooja Store Nag Champa (M)
Aug 2023 - Score: 48/50

   

B.G Pooja Store Agarwood (M)
Apr 2026 - Score: 33

B.G Pooja Store Sambrani (P)

Feb 2023 - Score: 33/50

   

B.G Pooja Store Natural (PM)
Jan 2023 - Score: 27/50

  

Reviews: 4
Top: 48
Bottom: 27
Average: 35

***

Incense in India

Jahagirdar First Choice Turkish Oudh

Jahagirdar of Pune say: "Turkish Oudh Incense Sticks are a luxurious blend of Turkish agarwood, frankincense, and musk." Turkish agarwood is not agarwood from Turkey, as the agarwood tree doesn't grow there. It is an attar style composed of an oudh scent (either imported agarwood, or blend of aroma compounds such as Iso E Super, Cashmeran, and Norlimbanol) combined with dark rose, and other ingredients such as spices, saffron, benzoin. 

 
The stick is chunky and generous, and saturated with heady fragrances. Smoky-sweet dark rose, rich damp woods, cherry, ether, band-aid, and little tinkles of something close to aldehydes. Quite layered and compelling. A complex of ancient and modern perfumes compressed into one Indian-Arabian incense stick. 

There's a fair degree of black smoke on lighting. Black smoke is caused by material that is not fully burned, so carbon particles are visible. Common causes are high levels of charcoal, or DPG, or oils. Or a combination of these. It is not a sign that the incense is poorly made - resins such as frankincense will produce black smoke if burned. But it may be a sign that this is not the incense for you if you like softer, quieter, pale sandalwood type incense. 

This is the most smoky and heady of the Jahagirdar incenses I've burned so far. It is perhaps a little intense even for me. And while I like the rose and oudh accord, I'd welcome some light to relieve the darkness. Some vocals, guitars, and percussion in the mix with the drum and bass. So its attractive stuff, but a little too much of the same stuff for too long. 

Only available in India. ₹300 for 100g, from Jahagirdar, or from GroovyFragrances.

Date: Apr 2026   Score:  31/50 

***

Jahagirdar First Choice

Oud explored