GR International Fengshui Metal

Square box of eight sticks - 50p from Greenwich Market. Fengshui is a popular incense series - GR International have five different aromas in the series. These are black hand-rolled blanks, with are then perfume dipped. Pleasant soapy camphor notes on the stick; the camphor notes come through on burning, blended with musk, sandalwood and patchouli producing a warm, relaxing scent. This is pleasant and flexible enough for any time of day, though would be more appropriate for the evening - either living room or bedroom. Nice.


Date: Dec 2013   Score: 32

***

GR International

GR International (Sandesh)

GR International were founded in 1970, and are based in Bangalore. The company have started and abandoned a few websites, but incense-sticks-supplier.com appears to be the most recent; they started a blog early in 2013, but didn't keep up with it.  I quite like the incense GR International make. It's not grand or fussy, and is  perfume-dipped, but it's done professionally and with care. Solid, everyday incense to create a pleasant scent in your home. These cones are moulded with what appears to be a mix of charcoal and wood paste, and there's a volatile perfume which has been applied at some point in the process - this is normally done afterwards, in what is known as perfume-dipping,  though essential oils or a chemical compound can be added to the paste when being mixed, and either rolled onto the stick or shaped into cones.

I note that the branding is now GR rather than GR International. And they have a new website GRIncense. Ah, and the similarity to SAC Sandesh, which I noted the other day, is made clearer, as they were both founded in 1970 by D.N.P. Guptha,  and they have the same address in Bangalore.

So GR International and SAC Sandesh are the same company selling the same sorts of incense in the same sorts of packaging - just different brand names.  I will merge GR and SAC into one page. 

Contact details: GR Incense contact

Reviews

 

* = Review over five years old so may not be reliable

GR International Jasmine cones (P)
April 2018* - Score: 40↑

GR International (Sandesh) Sandalo/Sandal (P)
Jan 2024 - Score: 38↓↓↑↑↓

GR International Opium Incense Cones (P)

May 2018* - Score: 36

GR International Fengshui Earth (P)
Jan 2014* - Score: 32

   

GR International Eucalyptus (P)
April 2014* Score: 32

GR International Fengshui Metal
Dec 2013* - Score: 32

GR International Lotus Incense Cones 

May 2019* - Score: 31

GR International Tangerine (P)
April 2014* - Score: 30

GR International Greenapple cones (P)
April 2014* - Score: 28

GR International Strawberry (P)
Jan 2014* - Score: 27↓

 GR International Chandan Incense Cones (P)
April 2018* - Score: 25

GR International Lavender cones (P)
March 2017* - Score: 24

GR Musk cones (P)
May 2018* - Score: 23

GR International Rose cones (P)
April 2013* - Score: 23

GR International Coconut cones (P)
April 2014* - Score: 22

GR International Coffee (P)
April 2014* - Score: 20

GR Rose Incense Cones (P)
May 2018* - Score: 19

GR Meditation Incense Cones (P)
June 2018* - Score: 19

GR International (Sandesh)
Frankincense Incense Cones 
Jan 2024 - Score: 18 

Incense tried: 19
Highest: 38
Lowest: 18
Average: 29

Conclusion: On the whole I quite like GR International. All the incense I have tried has been perfume-dipped, but the scents have been decently blended to make, on the whole, pleasant everyday scents. I have no major complaints about GR, and I have a certain affection for some of their scents, such as the Sandalo, so I am quite happy to continue buying and exploring. And the Sandalo is a regular purchase which deserves the Incense In The Wind  "Golden Cone".

Having spent a little more time with GR International (now branded as just GR) and expanded my experience, I'm finding that the perfume the cones are dipped in is quite attractive, and initially the scent given off is decent enough for everyday use, but as the cones burn down into the thicker end, so the heat increases and the volatile perfume is burnt off too quickly  and the base material makes itself felt. As the base material is inexpensive charcoal and wood dust, the scent at this point is fairly crude, and useful only for masking bad odours in the toilet.

***

The Best Incense Makers

SAC (Sandesh)

Ganesha Amber

Budget priced incense sticks imported by Cha Cha Dum Dum, an ethnic gifts company founded in Kensington in 1968. Cha Cha sell them wholesale for 20p a packet (30 sticks per packet), and they can be bought online from eBay or  incense-essentials  for around 60p a pack. The packs are flat, stiff paper, with rather crude but pleasant Indian designs. The packs are the same across the brand range, with the fragrance being identified by the shade of colour of the pack, and the name in a box near the bottom. The only writing is "Ganesha 30 Natural Incense Sticks" on the front and "Produced in India" on the back. The sticks are hand-rolled onto plain bamboo, and the incense paste is green. The stick has been perfumed dipped and smells soapy and faintly of amber, but in a soapy, artificial  sort of way. Not like real, gritty, exciting amber. 

It burns pleasantly. Soft, amber-toned perfume. It's a modest, moderate scent, quite relaxing and peaceful. There's a sense of the artificial about it, and as it's attempting to  imitate a basic natural scent, that seems rather silly. But it's a cheap incense, so one can't expect too much. Not an incense that I will be looking to buy again, but pleasant enough, and good value.

[2024 comment:] These old and originally very cheap, poor quality sticks are being sold on the RedBuddha website for £2.99 a packet. 


Date: Oct 2013   Score: 23

***

Cha Cha Dum Dum

Amber

Ambica Fine Aroma Green Incense: Gold & Nice Touch

These incense sticks are made by Fine Aromas of the Ambica Group. They challenge the notion of what is an incense stick. They are highly processed - the idea being to reduce the inconvenience of the ash remains of the burned incense. The sticks are made from a material that remains firm when burned, so they are easier to dispose of, and no ash has to be collected. The sticks look like strips of felt - they are neat and tidy, and have an attractive pattern printed on them. They almost look too good to be burned - and perhaps that's the way they should be kept - as display items, because, unfortunately, on burning the smell is not that attractive. It smells like burning - plastic, wool, something vague and worrying: "what's burning?" 

The man responsible for the Green Incense

sticks, with a Nice Touch stick

The Ambica Group was formed as an incense company  in 1945, and has since expanded into hotels, wind power and other areas. The company and its incense factory are based in Eluru.

The Nice Touch sticks are red, and the perfume on the stick is floral and fruity - underlined with leather, and smells like a chemical room or car freshener. On burning I suppose the predominant note is burning hair mingled with cheap, stale old ladies rose perfume and red berry fruit. It doesn't work.

The Gold sticks are brown. The aroma on the stick is licorice and clove and lemon and toilet cleaner. There are citric notes on burning, though an ashy note soon comes in and predominates. It's a highly chemical and corrosive aroma - rather unpleasant and off-putting.

The idea behind this is good, and the appearance is very attractive, but sadly the scents do not work for me. The scents are not completely offensive, but they are unpleasant enough for me not to want to use them.


Date: Oct 2013   Score: 10

***

 What's The Best Incense In The World?

Balarama Mystic Incense Baby Powder

Mystic Incense is a Cha Cha Dum Dum brand. The incense sticks are machine extruded with a bamboo stick core, and then wrapped in tin foil. Getting them out of the tin foil is awkward. I had to remove most of the foil, and untie some string before the sticks became loose. I wanted to keep the wrapper intact so I could identify what sticks they were, and retain as much of the foil as possible in order to re-wrap the sticks and keep them fresh. Foil wrapping doesn't appear to me to be a sensible way of packaging incense sticks.

The sticks are highly scented, with volatile perfumes, indicating they have been dipped or soaked in perfume. However, the core paste appears to be more than simply charcoal, which suggests some masala ingredients. On burning there are volatile perfume notes, and an underlying burning herb note - but faint. The dominant aroma is perfume. It's an OK perfume - quite light, pleasant, base notes of sandalwood, rising through bergamont to a soft ladies perfume, like Shalimar.

The woody, musky, sensual aroma is suited to the bedroom or bathroom, or for romantic evenings. It's not appropriate for kitchens or dining rooms, as the perfume notes would intrude with the food aromas. 

Overall quite pleasant, and a decent perfumed incense. 

[Added 2024]: These sticks are made by Balarama of Thailand, who are quite possibly also the source for Kuumba incense.


Date: Sept 2013   Score: 30

***

Cha Cha Dum Dum

 All  Incense Ratings

Foil wrapped incense

Stamford Aromatherapy Collection (Tulasi)

Second review - scroll down for earlier

An intensely perfumed pack - these do smell interesting and pleasant on the stick, even if the mood doesn't generally relate to the one stated on the box; however, on burning, they tend to smell old, oily, smoky, rubbery, and generally not as pleasant as the stick. The best two are Relaxing and Refreshing; the worse two are Sensuality and Meditation.

Date: January 2014   Score: 24

First review

A set (or "gift pack") of six different incense sticks by Stamford - the quality brand for the UK distribution company Aargee. These  were picked up very cheaply as part of a double special offer from buyallmeans shop on Amazon.The sticks are hand-rolled with some masala ingredients, and are also dipped in perfume. They are made by Tulasi  -  (Sarathi International). I bought four of these sets -  the others are Floral, Moods and Exotic. All the packs are intensely perfumed - I have to keep them in the plastic bag they arrived in because the sweet, slightly cloying perfume dominates the room if they are left out. Even though I bought them a little while ago, rummaging in the plastic bag is still an intense experience.

Relaxing
A blend of cardamom, cedarwood and patchouli, intended to soothe away cares, and create a restful home. Quite a lively spicy aroma on the stick - the cardamom coming through clearly. Not sure how relaxing this is. Indeed, not sure how much the aromas relate to the descriptions! The aroma on burning is cedarwood and cardamom, and is pretty decent, creating an awakening mood. Best of the set.
Score: 27

Refreshing
These sticks have a blend of mint, sage and clove aromas, and are designed to revitalize and refresh. The clove aroma is very present on the stick, and that is quite promising. When lit there are notes of burning herbs, licorice, and the clove - though nothing minty. I assume the mint and sage are part of the masala ingredients, and are responsible for the burning herbs notes. It's pleasant enough, and is fairly cleansing, though doesn't gain much attention. Useful to clear a space of negative aromas or as a morning freshener.
Score: 26

Stress Relief
A blend of lavender, orange blossom and thyme, intended to be a restful fragrance and to give the home an instant lift. There's a volatile and tangy perfume on the stick which is underpinned by lavender and thyme. On burning it's mildly smoky with notes of burning herbs and rubber and benzoin. It's a damp, slightly musty, slightly chalky, slightly old smell. Not offensive, and not as unpleasant as it sounds, but it's not much use in the living room or kitchen, and is best used in the dark, unpleasant places of the house.
Score: 22

Energising
A blend of lemon, lime and grapefruit, intended to wake up the mind and ready the body for another day. A bright, lively, lemon aroma on the stick. Oily, smoky aroma on burning. All these sticks have the same message - decent aroma on the stick, which correlates to the stated  ingredients (if not to the aromatherapy intention), but moderately unpleasant when burned. Score: 22

Meditation
A blend of camomile, vanilla and sandalwood, intended to help unwind and open the mind. Pleasant floral aroma on stick - hint of violets and vanilla. On burning smells damp and indifferent. Some vanilla. Not good. Score: 22

Sensuality
A blend of ylang ylang, patchouli, and spicy nutmeg, intended to be relaxing and indulgent. There's some cleansing notes on this - hints of pine, lemon soap, and clove. The aroma on burning is not as clean and inviting - indeed, it's a bit smoky and rubberish, and smells a bit old and stale. Not impressive.
Score: 21


Date: Sept 2013   Average score: 24 

***

Other ratings of incense by Aargee

More Tulasi reviews

Best perfume-dipped incense

Though obvious to me now, it has taken me a few months to discern the major difference between quality incense and lesser incense sticks. Quality incense sticks are rolled from fresh masala ingredients - this is discernible by the powdery finish on the sticks. Standard and cheap incense sticks are hand-rolled or machine dipped charcoal paste onto bamboo sticks (dyed or undyed), which are bought by an incense company who then dip or coat the sticks in a scent which tends to contain synthetic ingredients. Sometimes an incense company may take charge of the whole process from making the sticks to dipping the perfume, but usually the companies who perfume dip, tend to buy in ready made, unscented sticks. 

At their very best - if fresh, top quality and natural ingredients are used, perfumed dipped can be very pleasant, but in general they are not going to make your toes curl, change your mood, or give you a thrill, unlike the top quality masala sticks, which are fresher and more exciting, with both a more subtle and a more exciting and throbbing range of aromas which can truly alter and intensify mood. 

Perfumed dipped sticks are like aerosol room fresheners - they can smell quite nice, but they also smell synthetic and uninspired (and uninspiring). They'll do for covering up bad smells, but not for creating moods. 

Best of the perfume-dipped incense sticks

Sage Spirit Blue Corn Flower: 41/50

Betco Hanuman: 35

HEM Frankincense-Myrrh: 35 

SAC (Sandesh) FrankIncense Myrrh: 33

Sugandha Shringar: 31
Darshan Kanishka: 31
Krishan Dark Chocolate: 30
Betco Saraswathi: 30
Krishan Drakkar Noir: 30
Krishnan Chandan: 30
Aargee Jasmine: 30 
Tree of Life - Shalimar: 30
Mystic Incense Baby Powder: 30

 Incense Ratings - Top of the Dhoops!

The Mother's India Fragrances

The Mother's Fragrances are a brand of incense imported into the UK by Greater Goods, a British company founded in the year 2000, with current headquarters in Midsomer Norton. There are two people involved in the Greater Goods company, which has a turnover of around £1/2 million a year, showing a profit of over £130K (including salaries).

The Mother's Fragrances brand is made by the Mother's Commerce Company in Pondicherry, India, which was established in August 1975 in order to sell incense from the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.  There are several people who are members, as shown in this report from Economic Times, India.  I once wrote that Mere Cie Dieux import and distribute Mothers in USA, Greater Goods do it in UK, Exotic Designers do it in Australia and Japan, Mira do it in Holland, and Fritz do it in Austria. Though I am uncertain today as to where I got that information. 

The ashram's leader, Mirra Alfassa, The Mother, set up incense making in 1949. The aim was for this to be a modest low cost product for their own use. Surplus was sold to visitors, and by 1973 was being exported. The ashram now sell under the Cottage Industries brand name, though originally and for a while it was under the name of the ashram, Sri Aurobindo, and had a shop in Pondicherry. However, when it became a charity, it was not allowed to get directly involved in a commercial enterprise, so set up a separate trust, Sri Aurobindo Ashram Central Sales Organisation, to deal with incense and other sales through their online shop: Sacso-online.com. The Mother's Commerce Company is a Fair  Trade company employing nearly 300 people (mostly women) on above average wages to make high quality incense sticks by hand with 100% natural ingredients.  They also make tapestries under the Mere Cie Deux trade name. 

Other outlets for the incense made in the ashram in Pondicherry and the community in Auroville
are Auroshika, One Aromatics, and Meadows. Though these outlets have sales offices in different places (Auroshika in America, and Greater Goods in the UK, Cottage Industries brand in Pondicherry, etc), the incense is all made in Pondicherry or Auroville. 

The ORS are keen on The Mother's incense. I've been slow to get into this incense because for a while I had a negative reaction to halmaddi, and I was also put off by the price. The combination of a higher than average price, and stinging eyes, did not make me warm to the company.  But my allergic reaction to halmaddi seems to have calmed down, and I'm now starting to engage with The Mother's, and will be reviewing more soon.  Though I am not that enthusiastic regarding the other outlets: Cottage, Auroshika, One Aromatics, and Meadows, so my expectations are not high. 

Reviews

The Mother's India Fragrances Rishi 
Nov 2021 - Score: 39

Shanti Nag Champa
May 2015 - Score: 32*

Sattva
Aug 2017 - Score: 32*

  

The Mother's India Fragrances Oudh

Jan 2024 - Score: 28 

Incense reviewed: 4 
Highest score: 39

Lowest score: 32

Average: 33

***

Own brand distributors

Halmaddi

Pallava Images

Hex pack of 20 perfumed dipped sticks bought from Indiabazaar for 47p.

Standard cheap incense sticks. Blank hand-rolled charcoal paste onto undyed bamboo sticks, bought by an incense company - in this case one called Pallava Agarbathi Products of Bangalore - who then dip the sticks into a scent. This scent is pleasant enough, and certainly cheap enough.

To be fair, perfumed dipped incense sticks are in a different class to masala incense sticks. At their very best, perfumed dipped can be very pleasant, but they are not going to make your toes curl, change your mood, or give you a thrill. The top quality incense sticks are masala sticks. They are fresher and more exciting, with both a more subtle and a more exciting and throbbing range of aromas which can truly alter and intensify mood.

Perfumed dipped sticks are like aerosol room fresheners - they can smell quite nice, but they also smell synthetic and uninspired (and uninspiring). They'll do for covering up bad smells, but not for creating moods.

Score: 25

***

Top Ten 
Perfume-Dipped Incense

 Top Of The Dhoops