Stamford Exotic Collection

Bought as part of a double special offer from buyallmeans shop on Amazon, where Stamford incense gift packs were reduced, and if four were bought together there was a further reduction, so I managed to get 24 different small boxes of between six and eight incense sticks for £10, including postage - that's around 170 sticks for £10. Bargain.

Stamford is the quality brand for the UK distribution company Aargee, who tend to use the Goloka and Shrinivas Sugandhalaya (Satya) incense companies, and have used Tulasi  -  (Sarathi International), for their Aromatherapy Collection; though there's no indication which incense company made these. The sticks are hand rolled. The incense paste is black on a dyed red bamboo stick. 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.


Aloe Vera
The aroma on the stick is sweet, deep dark berry jam and cheap after-shave. Pleasant aroma on burning, with suggestions of ginger, and unisex perfume. Lingers pleasantly in the background, creating a calming and mildly sensual atmosphere. Good.

Score: 30


Sandalwood
The scent on taking out of the box is fruity sweet, like kids sweets, but also with aromas of black tea, bergamont and dried roses. When burned the scent doesn't feel natural - it has a synthetic tang to it, and doesn't remind me of sandalwood. It is hot, slightly harsh, with little of the aromas on the stick. It is fairly mild, and while it is a bit harsh, it's not an offensive aroma at all - it's quite neutral.

Score: 25


Frankincense & Myrrh
The aroma on the stick is perfumed, sweet, jammy, and very pleasant, though nothing like either frankincense or myrrh. When burned the scent is soapy, dry, and a little harsh, though does have more than a hint of both frankincense and myrrh. It's not an offensive aroma, but is a little weak, and not top quality.

Score: 23


Patchouli
There is a hint of patchouli on the stick - also sandalwood, lemon, and polish. There is a mild and modest perfume on burning, with hints of rose petal, strawberry jam, and lawn grass. It's OK, but doesn't really make an impression.

Score: 22


Amber
Heady perfume on the stick. Sweet, floral, citric. Mild scent on burning - slightly soapy with notes of vanilla and sherbet.

Score: 21


Lavender
Intensely perfumed on the stick - floral, sweet, jammy, citric, slightly herbal. A fairly lazy scent on burning. It makes little impression. A little bergamont, some slight lemony floral notes, and a bit of burning. Not offensive, but barely there.

Score: 20


There's not a significant difference between these aromas, nor, really, between this pack and the Aromatherapy Collection. There is a tendency in all of them to be highly perfumed on the stick, with sweet jammy notes, but to make little impression when burned. Best aroma, Aloe Vera; least effective, Lavender.

Date: June 2015  Average score for the collection: 23

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