I was reviewing some Gonesh incense, and noted that the company was founded by Lithuanians who had moved to Chicago. I was curious as to if there was a tradition of incense making in Lithuania, as there is in Germany. I found some incense for sale on ForestHomes website which said "Created in Vilnius, Lithuania". Excited, I ordered some, and asked the website owner, Daniela Coelho-Rodriguez, some questions to which she responded, allowing me to quote:
"Lithuania doesn’t have a long, continuous incense-making tradition in the same way as Germany or parts of Asia, but it does have a deep heritage of herbal burning, ritual smoke, and plant-based scent use tied to Baltic pagan practices.
Historically, Lithuanian households burned dried herbs (juniper, sage, wormwood, birch, pine resin, etc.) for cleansing, protection, seasonal rituals, and healing, especially during midsummer (Joninės) and other folk celebrations. So while the format wasn’t always “incense sticks or cones,” the cultural use of fragrant smoke is very much embedded in Baltic tradition.
About the makers you mentioned, our incense is made by two Lithuanian creators, Vilius and Marius, working with a brand called Smells like Spells. Their work is essentially a modern reinterpretation of Baltic and Northern European ritual scent traditions, blending: traditional herbal knowledge + Nordic mythology symbolism + modern perfumery and incense craft
The incense (and all of our scent products) are handcrafted using natural plant-based ingredients and folk-inspired recipes, combining ancient ritual practices with contemporary design. These products also weave storytelling into each scent, drawing on mythological figures and archetypes, which gives the incense a strong narrative and ritual dimension (very much aligned with Baltic folk spirituality)."
I found that a helpful, detailed, and very exciting response.
The incense arrives in a sturdy glass tube with cork sealer. The Eir Healing Spell is the first I reach for. It is described on the Smells Like Spells website as a "natural juniper, myrrh and ambergris incense", and on the ForestHome website as "Created in Vilnius, Lithuania". Both of these are a big draw for me. I love exploring incense around the world, and discovering new places where it is created; and I am becoming more and more attracted to botanicals and natural ingredients. I have not lost my attraction for the olfactory pleasures and possibilities of perfumed incense, but I'd like to learn more about botanicals, especially as they are the true heart, soul, and core of incense.
Inside the glass tube is a detailed pamphlet with plenty of information about the history of incense, the ingredients, and the rituals to perform when burning incense. It also says: "Country of origin: Nepal", and "Ingredients: 100% natural plants, guar gum". I'm cool with the 100% natural plants, though I find it a little vague compared to the juniper, myrrh and ambergris description. I'm less cool with the Nepal detail. It looks at this point that the recipe is developed by Vilius and Marius in Lithuania, but made in Nepal - presumably because of the experience the incense makers there have with plant based incense. I write to Vilius and Marius, asking for clarity regarding the ingredients (especially the ambergris as it is rare and expensive), and the production set up. They respond promptly, saying: "there is real ambergris, just in a very small amount as it is definitely very expensive", and "some of the ingredients/raw materials are sourced from Nepal as some of the plants we use are not growing in Lithuania or cultivated in big quantities. But the production itself is held by us / done by ourselves."
So there we are.
The sticks are extruded dry dhoop. They look, feel, and smell the same as Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan incense. The similarities are astonishing. The scent on the stick is quite natural - earthy, herby, spicy - the scent combination somewhat pleasantly resembles mild curry powder. The scent on the burn is earthy, herbal, gently smoky, with some awareness of resin which varies and wanders. It feels natural and vibrant, and folks who like plant based incenses, such as those made in the Himalayas, are likely to feel at home with this Eir Healing Spell. The connection to Nepal incense is quite remarkable. That two cultures so far away from each other should share such a close connection to incense is fascinating.
I like these sticks. I like that they feel natural, that they are fairly mild (when burned in moderation - one third to one half a stick at a time, with plenty of ventilation, and a moderate distance from me), and that there is some sweetness and floral notes in the mix. It's woody and herbal and a little dry and rough, but not in an off-putting way. I've been burning a lot of Indian incense recently which has relied a little too much on modern aroma chemicals, so it is refreshing to have a break and explore something quite natural like this. I am more than a little disappointed that this Lithuanian incense presents exactly like Himalayan incense, such that I'm not finding anything new in the incense. However, the curious connection between Lithuanian incense and Himalayan incense is something interesting to learn. And, on the whole, I have modestly enjoyed it, not just as a break from regular incense, but also as a refreshing hit of something quite natural and naturally beautiful. Not an incense I'm likely to burn that often as plant incense is not really my thing - it's not a style of incense I find myself reaching for; however, I have found it pleasing and enjoyable and refreshing.
Available from Forest Home at £7 for a glass tube of approx five sticks; shipping extra; or from Smells Like Spells for €8, shipping extra.
