Incense in The Wind: April 2015

Flowers are a popular source for perfume and incense, and rose, with its rich, heady scent, is a very common choice. Gulab is the name in Persian and Hindi for rose. Rose scent, such as rose petals in water, and rose scented sweets, such as Turkish delight, have long been popular in countries associated with the Persian Empire. Most rose scents are based on the damask rose, which is the main rose distilled for attars and essential oils. An area of Bulgaria, known as the "Valley of Roses", produces rose oil known as "Bulgarian rose". Some incense houses have a "Belgian Rose" incense; this may refer to a song "My Belgian Rose", though it may also be a misheard reference to "Bulgarian rose". A rose absolute (obtained by solvent extraction) is generally regarded as being closer to the fragrance of rose than rose essential oil (obtained by steam distillation). Both synthetic and natural rose scents combine several ingredients in order to replicate the complex fragrance of the damask rose. Geranium is sometimes used to create a rose scent as it is cheaper, though also when a more masculine scent is wanted.

Natural roses vary in their fragrance, though are generally sweet, heady, and floral, sometimes with musky undertones. The damask rose tends to exemplify the sweet, heady, and floral fragrance - sometimes with fresh, green, and spicy notes, and sometimes with the musky undertone, and sometimes with both.

Reviews

* = Review over 5 years old

Raucher Stabchen Natur Pur
Weihrauch Rose (Frankincense & Rose) (M)
May 2025 - Score: 50

Happy Hari Kings of Incense
Queen of Roses (M)
Feb 2022 - Score: 46

Vinasons (VNS) Kesar Gulab (PM)
Sept 2025 - Score: 44↑

(Wonder Incense) New Moon Black Rose (PM)

Oct 2024 - Score: 41↑

Oriental Golden Petals (PM)
Oct 2025 - Score: 40

Goloka Nature's Rose (M)
April 2023 - Score: 39↑↓

Sital Ratnamala (P)
March 2017 - Score: 37↑*

Aasha Aromatics Rose Musk (P)

Oct 2018 - Score: 36*

Moksh Swarna Gulab (Gold Rose) (P)
Nov 2018 - Score:35↑*

Tulasi Nag Champa & Rose Incense Sticks (PM)

Jan 2022 - Score: 35

Moksh Swarna RajaniGandha (Tuberose) (P)

Dec 2018 - Score: 33*

Shroff Amber Rose (PM)
July 2024 - Score: 33

Satya (BNG) Rose Dhoop Cones (P)
Mar 2025 - Score: 33

Ranga Rao Cycle Brand
Rose Perfumed Dhoop Sticks (D)

Feb 2022 - Score: 32↑

Nikhil's Nature's Blessings Rose (P)
Mar 2024 - Score: 32

Koya's Eva For Ever! Rose Premium Incense (P)
Dec 2024 - Score: 30↑=↓[Average 31]

Hari Om Divine Incense Gulab
July 2018 - Score: 31↑*

Gokula Gaura Rose Supreme (M)

July 2017 - Score: 30*

SAC (Sandesh) Rose (P)
June 2017 - Score: 30↑*

Betco Rose (P)
Aug 2014 - Score: 30*

Temple of Incense Indian Rose (PM)
Oct 2023 - Score: 29

Satya Nag Champa Fresh Rose Cones
Dec 2020 - Score: 40↑↑ [Average: 29]*

Gamta It Smells Like Saffron Rose (PM)
May 2024 - Score: 28

Temple of Incense Rose Absolute (M)

Oct 2023 - Score: 28

Sai Handicrafts Rose (PM)
Jun 2025 - Score: 28

Thurga's SunRayn Parrot Incense Sticks (P)
April 2025 - Score: 28↓

Mysore Sugandhi Three Roses (P)
Aug 2025 - Score: 28

Veer Belgian Rose (P)

Dec 2018 - Score: 28*

Goloka Blessings Incense Love (Rose)

Nov 2018 - Score: 28*

Help Us Green Rose (PM)
May 2025 - Score: 27

Aromatika Ace Scents Rose (PW)
Dec 2024 - Score: 20↓ [Average: 27]

Haria Rose Dhoop Sticks (P)
Feb 2025 - Score: 26

Padma Store Happy Hari Queen of Roses

Sept 2023 - Score: 25

Nandita Organic/Original Rose (PM)
Jan 2025 - Score: 25

Oriental Indus (PM)
Oct 2025 - Score: 25

Aromatika Rose Incense Cones (P)
Feb 2021 - Score: 24

Balaji Rose Incense Sticks (P)
Mar 2024 - Score: 24

Cottage Industries Heritage No. 15 Rose
Jun 2025 - Score: 24↑

Joie White Rose (P)
March 2015 - Score: 24*

Stamford Red Rose (P)
Aug 2025 - Score: 24

HEM Red Rose (P)
Mar 2025 - Score: 23

Stamford Red Rose Incense Cones
Nov 2015 - Score: 23*

GR International Rose
April 2013 - Score: 23*

Heera 4 in 1 Rose Incense Cones (P)
Feb 2023 - Score: 23

Mahendra Gulabi Collection Rose (P)
July 2018 - Score: 23*

Mahendra Gulabi (P)
June 2018 - Score: 23↑*

HEM Love (P)
May 2024 - Score: 22

Darshan Love in Life Incense Sticks Rose (P)
May 2015 - Score: 22*

Hari Darshan Red Rose Incense Cones (P)
April 2023 - Score: 22

Amrutha Shahi Gulab (P)
Feb 2024 - Score: 22↓

HEM Precious Rose (P)

Nov 2024 - Score: 22

Giri Namo Rose (P)

Sep 2025 - Score: 22

Padmini Yellow Rose (P)
Aug 2023 - Score: 21

SAC Arcangel Samuel/Chamuel
(Rose & Honey - 7 Arcangels) (P)
April 2021 - Score: 21

Aromandise Haute Tradition Rose
Mar 2025 - Score: 21

Oscar & Bromley
Aromacolour Sensual Rose (P)
March 2015 - Score: 21*

Phool Luxury Incense Cones Indian Rose
Sept 2023 - Score: 20

Jaycia Passion Rose (P)
Sept 2023 - Score: 20

HEM Precious Rose Incense Cones (P)
Feb 2019 - Score: 20*

Tulasi White Rose Floral Incense Sticks (P)

Jan 2024 - Score: 20

Dawn of Time Of Persian Roses (P)
June 2013 - Score: 20*

Om Brand Trishala Gulab Incense Sticks (P)
Feb 2024 - Score: 20

SAC (Sandesh) Rose incense cones
March 2017 - Score: 19*

GR Rose Incense Cones
May 2018 - Score: 19*

Balaji Passon Natural Incense Sticks Rose (P)
Oct 2021 - Score: 19

Patanjali Aastha Agarbatti Rose (P)

March 2022 - Score: 17

Aravinda's Rose (P)

March 2024 - Score: 17↓

Pal-Ji Rose (P)
Nov 2021 - Score: 15↑

Elements Black Rose Twilight Blush (P)
Dec 2024 - Score: 12

The Candle Company Tea Rose (P)

Feb 2017 - Score: 12*

Reviews: 72

Top score: 50

Bottom score: 12

Average: 27

Conclusion: I'm not a fan of single scents, nor of floral scents, and while I like the scent of a fresh, natural rose, it's not my favourite scent. I like it in moderation - catching the fragrance in passing, but after a while I find it too cloying. For me there is a lack of depth and contrast in a rose accord - there is a lack of interesting things to discover. And if the scent is not fresh and natural, and caught outdoors, then it has too many poor associations for me. It's a scent I very much associate with older women - grannies mostly. And it comes with a scent association of granny pee. I find it an old fashioned scent. And too often, a smothering scent, rather than a lively, uplifting experience, which some florals can have. My favourite rose incense is Queen of Roses, first known to me via the Happy Hari brand, and continued via Absolute Bliss Queen Of Roses - which I liked though felt it a little softer and less interesting than Paul's (Happy Hari) version, and then Padma Store Happy Hari Queen of Roses, which didn't work for us, though that may be due to a poor sample. Queen of Roses is notable to me as not being very rose like. It is more varied and interesting. The New Moon Black Rose, which I have reviewed recently, I thoroughly enjoyed as, while having some rose notes, is actually quite complex with lots of wood. It is uncertain who makes New Moon incense, with Haria, Nandita, and Fair Trade, all being suggested and possible. Goloka Nature's Rose is another one I liked, and - as with the others - contains more woody and herbal scent notes than rose.

Discontinued