Ganesha incense cones

Attractive small box holds a plastic tray with a selection of six different scents. The cones are quite small, and formed in moulds which leave a little ridge down the side. Bought for £1.99 from my local shop. Can be bought online for between 70p and £1 (plus any postage). Ganesha is one of the most popular Hindu gods, and is easily recognised in his elephant head incarnation. The brand name is used by Cha Cha Dum Dum, an ethnic gifts company founded in Kensington in 1968, who import the cones from India. 

All the cones burn very quickly with a moderate amount of smoke, and low level aroma presence. 

Amber

 I love amber, and feel it is not used enough. I have some amber tree resin, and it is a wonderful scent. These cones are dyed black, and the scent on the cone is floral top notes, with the amber notes hidden deep in the base. When burned the aroma is vegetal, smoky, sandalwood and the amber. It feels quite natural, with no suggestion of chemicals,  and is a pleasant aroma. Seems a decent enough scent for the budget price - though the cones do burn quickly.

Score: 28

Jasmine

Green dyed cones with a scent of jasmine. When burned has a base aroma of sandalwood, and top notes of dusky jasmine. Jasmine is not a huge favourite of mine, but it works OK as an incense aroma, and this is a decent jasmine scent.

Score: 27

Musk

The selection of six scents in this pack appear to be geared to Western, indeed British, tastes. They are among the most commonly seen scents on incense sold in the UK. They certainly appeal to me - though not all, rose isn't a favourite of mine. Musk is though. The brown dyed cones have the scent of rose, and that does carry through a little into the aroma when burned. There is something synthetic about this scent, and it's my least favourite so far. The aroma is soft with no harsh or hot spots, but the overall scent is a little dull and murky. And there isn't enough musk. It's not offensive or bad, just not very good.

Score: 26

Patchouli

Patchouli oil was my favourite fragrance when I was a young hippy - indeed, I continued to wear it into my twenties.  I've not found it quite so effective as an incense fragrance. The cones, which are dyed yellow, do have a scent that reminds me of patchouli, though less sweet and heady. When burned, the scent is more rooted in sandalwood than patchouli, but does have an attractive musk quality, and an enjoyable sticky sweetness. Overall a decent enough incense.

Score: 29/50

Rose

The cones have been dyed a pleasant red colour. The cones have a soft rose scent, and this is repeated when burned. It is not a great scent, but is probably one of the better rose scented incenses I've encountered. Sandalwood base. OK.

Score 28/50

Sandal

Sandalwood is another favourite of mine. I think I do incline toward the wood based aromas. The colour is "natural" - which is to say it is undyed, and is a sandy colour. The scent on the cone is of sandalwood. When burned the aroma inclines a little too much toward burning plants - rather green plants at that - for my liking, though there is also the warm, sensual, sweet notes of sandalwood present. Overall I quite like it. It smells natural. And it smells nice - apart from the burning wet grass.

Score 29/50

Overall score: 28/50

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Incense cones

Cha Cha Dum Dum

Musk