Aargee Ganesh Flora Masala Incense Sticks (discontinued)

Second review - scroll down for earlier

I like this incense. It is warm and sensual and pleasantly relaxing. It has a natural aroma, quite old fashioned, with a suggestion of halmaddi, a traditional ingredient used in some of the more expensive and "artisanal" incense aimed at the Western market. I like the aroma, but I have a poor physical reaction to it in large doses. This is either a moderate dose, or it doesn't contain any, as I have no negative reaction. So I get the damp lambs wool aroma, and the earthy tones, without my eyes burning or getting a splitting headache. It's a subtle aroma, and sometimes that's what is wanted. I'll buy some more of this.

Date: August 2015   Score: 32

[2023 comment: StamfordLondon are the continuation of the Aargee company's incense import business, and they sell a Ganesh Flora masala incense made for them by Satya]

First review

A jolly red box of 20 hand rolled sticks made in India for the British company, Aargee. At 85p from theasiancookshop, a decent buy. The sticks are hand rolled around a bamboo stick that has been dyed pink. They bulge slightly in the centre, and have the tracks and grooves that rolling leaves. The colour is pale sand, with a fine dry dust. The ingredients are listed as sandalwood, aromatic roots, natural oils, benzoin, patchouli and camphor.

Camphor is used for insect repellent and moth balls, and may have unpleasant associations - but it is a natural ingredient, coming from trees in the laurel family, including rosemary, and has been used as a flavouring in cooking and as a fragrance for hundreds of years. The name is derived from the phrase "kapur barus", meaning Barus chalk - Barus being the port in Sumatra island where it was mainly sold, and chalk for its white appearance. It has medicinal properties - acting both as an anesthetic and a stimulant, and in clearing the airways.The aroma is clean, medicinal, suggestive of menthol and cold marble. Other incense that contains camphor are Ashleys Workshop Dragon's Blood and HEM The Moon.

Benzoin is similar in character to camphor, though lighter, and leaning more toward cream and vanilla ice-cream, and with hints of frankincense. The resin comes from the dried bark of Styrax trees, and the name derives from luban jawī, an Arabic term meaning frankincense from Java.

Patchouli is a common and popular perfume and incense ingredient. It comes from a bushy herb in the mint family, and its musky aroma became very popular during the Sixties and Seventies - it was my favourite scent, and I used it extensively, developing my own blend of perfume using three parts musk, two parts patchouli and one part civit, based on a blend used by Aleister Crowley. Patchouli is sweet, heady, musk-like, and also a little earthy. I find it quite sensual. It blends well here with the cooler, cleaner tones of the camphor, and the musty qualities of the benzoin.

The Indian deity, Ganesha 

Ganesh (or Ganesha) is an Indian god depicted with an elephant head, and his image appears on the box. He is associated with removing obstacles, so is appropriate for a cleansing, awakening incense such as this.

This is a very attractive incense with natural ingredients, and no off-aromas. The scent is pleasant and invigorating, leaving a clean and inviting aroma in the room. Excellent value for money.


Date: April 2013   Score: 32

***

Vintage Incense
(Incense brand
not currently available)

Aargee