Nandita Dehn Al Oudh

 

Second review - scroll down for earlier 

It's been nearly ten years since I first (and last) reviewed this incense. There's minor differences in the packaging and the appearance of the stick. And I should imagine there would be some changes, minor or otherwise, in the formulation of the incense. 

Ooh, decent scent on the stick. There's some shoe conditioner volatility that's rather off-putting, but is becoming very common with most mainstream Indian incenses; however, there's also a good wallop of earthiness that is quite healthy and exciting - woody, but also quite marine. Samphire, oil, pine, tobacco, old Persian carpets, seaweed, leather handbag, all compressed in a tight space. Absolutely fascinating. I'd welcome some relief - some top notes, or at least something brighter or zazzy. But there's also something dark and compelling about this fairly tightly focused ride of doom. 

The burn is more compelling than the stick. The volatility notes have burned off, and the warmth of the burn has opened up the dark scents so they expand - there's less of a compressed feel of riding in a cramped ghost train at the fair. The scents here - while still moody - are lighter and more rounded - I feel more out in the open. There's a woodland feel, but not a lover's wood - this is something older and decaying, with rich, plump scents of rotting woods and mushrooms and marsh gas. Middle and top notes come into focus now with vague florals and some almond. There's an array of scents just out of reach. Tantalising. Taunting. This is a wicked little incense. Great fun. I'm having a way different experience to last time. Is is a different me, a different formulation, a fresher stick. Who knows. I often find variance in incense experience, same as with other sensory experiences - drinking wine, or beer, or eating food. The Friday night fish & chips, even though coming from the same shop, tastes different each time. It is still recognisable as our favourite shop - it tastes even more different from other shops, but there is always a variance. It may be the age of the potatoes, how freshly the chips have been fried, the exact amount of salt and vinegar they put in, the temperature of the room, our moods, what we last ate, etc. There is so much stuff that can impact on a sensory experience, that it is almost inevitable there will some subtle differences.  But this is a big difference. Huge, This is awesome. What I had previously appears to have been somewhat less than average. 

I love this. 

Date: Dec 2024   Score: 45

First review

Nandita make my favourite incense, Nandita Wood Spice, so I am favourably disposed toward them. This is a small sample box, similar to their Nag Champa sample box I reviewed in May.
Agarwood (or oud) is a traditional fragrance made from tree resin. As far as agarwood goes, I have had Gaura Aguru - an artisanal incense, and a generic, unbranded Agarwood, that came free with an incense burning box I purchased. I loved the unbranded Agarwood, and would buy that again in copious quantity. It was an unpretentious, everyday cheap perfume-dipped incense, yet with a sweet and delicious fragrance. This fragrance, by Nandita, is more sandalwood than agarwood. It's pleasant enough, but doesn't call attention to itself, and burns away unremarkably  in the background. It's made from a masala paste lightly rolled onto a bamboo, and then coated in a scented powder. It's OK, and I'm enjoying it, but I'm not sure that it's special enough,  having tried the sample, to seek out and buy a full box.


Date: Nov 2015  Score: 28

***

The best agarwood incense

Nandita Fragrances of Mumbai