Aargee Novelties was a British company based in Acton, London, and founded in 1978 to import incense and ethnic gifts. As well as importing incense such as Satya and Goloka, they sold masala incense under their own Aargee name, and perfumed-charcoal incense under their own Stamford brand. Around 2020 it appears that the company split, with Nimesh Radia taking the company's own label Stamford brand as Stamford London, while the incense and ethnic gifts section was taken over by Puckator. The Aargee brand, including the masala incense, appears to no longer exist.
Aargee claimed to be the "UK’s leading specialist importer and wholesale distributor of incense and ethnic giftware", with "450 types of incense, comprising of 15 brands and 119 different fragrances". They didn't directly make incense, but had it made for them in India by other manufacturers, including Goloka, Satya (Shrinivas Sugandhalaya), and Mysore Sugandhi. They introduced the Stamford brand in 1994. In 2011, Aargee developed 12 new fragrances with Shrinivas Sugandhalaya to be sold exclusively through the Stamford brand. The two companies have listed 24 fragrances they make together. Brands they owned: Aargee (now defunct); Stamford (defunct website) - StamfordLondon (new website); Imperial (now defunct); Chakra (now defunct). Many of my reviews are over five years old so may not be reliable both in terms of age, and in terms of my own knowledge and experience.
I liked Aargee. The masala incense was fairly consistently of a high standard, and some of the fragrances still stand as among the best I have experienced. The Aargee branded perfumed incense was lower end stuff. The Stamford branded perfumed incense, much of which continues as Stamford London, was always popular. It tended to be sweet and heady. I liked (and still like) much of it, and in particular liked the cones as something fun and fragrant to burn in the toilet.
Some of these fragrances have been continued by StamfordLondon, which trades under the Stamford brand name. Not just the scented incense, but some of the masala as well. It seems that it's the Satya and Goloka made masala that continues.
Reviews
* = Score over five years old, so may not be reliable
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| Oct 2023 - Score: 48↑↑ |
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| Aargee Imperial Kashmir Sandal Fragrance Dec 2023 - Score: 48↓↑ |
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| Aargee Imperial Maharaja Patchouli Fragrance (M) Dec 2023 - Score: 47 |
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| Aargee Joss Styx Chakra Manipura Solar Plexis Discontinued Dec 2023 - Score: 47 |
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| Nov 2023 - Score: 45=↑ |
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| Stamford Chakra Anahata Heart Feb 2023 - Score: 45 |
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| Aargee Imperial Maharani Heena Fragrance (M) Dec 2023 - Score: 41= |
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| Aargee Imperial Bharat Mata Bouquet Fragrance March 2017 - Score: 40↑* |
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| Stamford Mythical Black Dragon's Fire cones (P) May 2017 - Score: 40* |
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| Aargee Krishna Leela Agarbathi (M) Dec 2023 - Score: 39 |
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| Stamford Mythical Black Werewolf's Bite (P) May 2017 Score: 39* |
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| Stamford Magic Angel Feb 2015 - Score: 39* |
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| Aargee Laxmi Pooja May 2015 - Score: 38* |
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| Aargee Joss Styx Chakra Sahasrara Crown (M) Dec 2023 - Score: 38 |
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| Stamford Black Incense Unicorn's Grace Oct 2016 - Score: 36* |
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| Stamford Lavender (cones) April 2018 Score: 35* |
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| Stamford Mythical Black Vampire's Kiss (P) March 2017 Score: 34* |
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| Stamford Mythical Black Mermaid's Love (P) March 2017 Score: 33* |
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| Aargee Patchouli Discontinued March 2015 - Score: 33* |
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| Ganesh Flora by Aargee Discontinued August 2015 - Score: 32=* |
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| Satya/Stamford (Original - 2014) Knowledge (M) Nov 2019 Score: 32 |
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| Stamford Chakra Svadhistana Sacral Dec 2023 - Score: 32↑ |
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| Stamford Earth Angel (P) June 2014 Score: 32* |
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June 2023 - Score: 30 |
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| Stamford Midnight Calm (by Satya) July 2015 - Score: 30↓* |
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| Aargee Stamford Jasmine (cones) May 2019 - Score: 30 |
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| Stamford Dragon's Fire Sept 2016 - Score: 30* |
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| Stamford Mythical Black Angel's Touch (P) June 2019 Score: 29↓ |
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| Stamford Aloe Vera Incense Cones (P) June 2019 Score: 29 |
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| Stamford Midnight Collection 07 Cones Discontinued Date: July 2018 - Score: 28↓* |
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| Stamford Mythical Black Wizard's Spell (P) June 2019 Score: 28↓ |
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| Stamford Mythical Black Witches' Curse (P) Dec 2016 - Score: 28* |
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| Aargee Rose (tube series) Discontinued July 2018 Score: 28* |
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| Satya/Stamford (Original - 2014) Meditating Shiva (PM) Nov 2019 - Score: 27* |
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| Aargee Stamford Moods June 2015 - Overall score: 27* |
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| Aargee Musk Discontinued Dec 2015 - Score: 27* |
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| Aargee Lavender Discontinued Dec 2015 Score: 27* |
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| Stamford Mythical Black Pixie's Dance (P) June 2019 - Score: 26↓ |
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| Satya/Stamford (Original - 2014) Laxmi's Lotus (PM) Nov 2019 Score: 25 |
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| Satya/Stamford (Mumbai 2014) Intuition Feb 2024 - Score: 25 |
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May 2013 - Score: 25*
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| Stamford Guardian Angel Incense Sticks (P) May 2022 - Score: 25 |
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| Stamford Chakra Muladhara Root Cones Aug 2016 Score: 25* |
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| Stamford Aromatherapy Collection January 2014 - Average score: 24=* |
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| Stamford Exotic Collection June 2015 - Average score: 23* |
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| Stamford Red Rose Incense Cones Nov 2015 - Score: 23* |
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| Aargee Sandalwood (tube series) Discontinued Dec 2015 - Score: 22* |
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| Stamford Black Incense Fairy's Mist Aug 2019 - Score: 22↑ |
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| Stamford Mythical Black Goblin's Lair (P) Date: June 2019 Score: 22↓ |
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| Aargee Gold Statue Discontinued April 2014 - Score: 21* |
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| Aargee Namaste (P) Discontinued Jan 2015 - Score: 21* |
 Aargee Ayurveda Variety Pack Discontinued Feb 2017 - Score: 20* |
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| Satya/Stamford (Original - 2014) Freedom (PM) Nov 2019 - Score: 20 |
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| Stamford Natura Sandalwood July 2018 - Score: 20* |
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| Aargee Jasmine Discontinued Dec 2015 - Score: 20* |
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| Stamford Magic Angel Incense Cones (P) June 2019 - Score: 20 |
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| Stamford Moon Angel (P) May 2019 Score: 19 |
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| Aargee Stamford Cinnamon (cones) May 2019 - Score: 19 |
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| Stamford Black Incense Demon's Lust Oct 2016 Score: 19* |
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| Stamford Guardian Angel cones (P) June 2019 Score: 16 |
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| Stamford Satin Discontinued July 2015 - Score: 12* |
Scents reviewed: 62 (Reviews over five years old: 35)
Highest score: 48
Average top five: 45
Lowest score: 12
Average: 28
Overall score: 37
Conclusion: Aargee were a significant wholesale importer of incense into the UK, and commissioned some excellent masala incense and sweet, heady commercial scented incense. Though they continue as Stamford London, they now only sell the scented incense, so the excellent masala incense is no longer available under the Aargee name except in places where there is some old stock left.
Conclusion: Aargee were a significant wholesale importer of incense into the UK, and commissioned some excellent masala incense and sweet, heady commercial scented incense. Though they continue as Stamford London, they now only sell the scented incense, so the excellent masala incense is no longer available under the Aargee name except in places where there is some old stock left.
***
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| Own Brand / Private Label |
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| Vintage Incense (Incense not available from this brand for over a year) |