Satya (Original - pre 2014) Yoga Series Harmony

Satya Harmony is part of the "Yoga Series", which includes:

• Bliss - Orange and lemon
• Harmony - Amber and acacia
• Meditation - Sandalwood and cedar
• Serenity - Violet and mint
• Tranquility - Cinnamon and vetivert

and is made by the Shrinivas Sugandhalaya company of Bangalore, who also make Satya Nag Champa. The sticks are hand-rolled, and - like Satya Nag Champa - are quite powdery and furry with some incense dust coming off on the fingers. This gives them a very natural feel. The smoke is moderate to modest, with a mainly grey colour, though it shimmers and changes into blue, brown, and ochre, with flashes of silver and red.

The aroma is pleasantly woody, quite soft, almost light, with a base of dry sandalwood, a soft sweetish musky middle, and some hints of fruit in the high notes. Some sources report this incense as being a blend of amber and acacia; others say it is a blend of Nag Champa and cinnamon. Amber, which is dried tree resin, has been used since the days of Ancient China as a fragrance, and when burned has a subtle pinewood aroma. Ambergris, which is produced by whales, is also known as amber, and has been burned as an incense by Eyptians, producing a musky scent - it is usually this aroma that is associated with modern amber fragrance. As with a number of ancient and traditional incense sources, the costs of using the original source can be prohibitive and/or less effective than using a replacement. Today, labdanum, which is a resin produced by the gum rockrose plant, is used to create an amber aroma. Acacia is occasionally used as a fragrance source - most notability in the French perfume Cassie, which is considered to be warm with soft hints of fruit and herbaceous flowers.

Harmony produces an elusive, pleasant and very engaging scent, which lingers in a subtle manner, giving the room hints and undertones that are seductive and sensual.

Date: March 2013 Score: 36

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Satya (Shrinivas Sugandhalaya)