Sage Spirit Totem Spirit Wolf Teaching

When I started buying incense I got a couple of American Sage Spirit incenses to try them out. I really liked them. They are perfume dipped, so the scent comes from essential oils rather than a dried masala mix. Some folks look down upon incense that comes from essential oils or volatile scents, believing that only dried masala incense can smell nice. The belief comes from the success of Satya's Nag Champa, possibly the world's most popular and famous incense. As that incense uses dried masala ingredients, some feel that all nice smelling incense should do the same. Meanwhile, some interesting incense makers have been working with essential oils to produce some fascinating modern scents - such as Cha Cha Dum Dum who commission Mystic Incense Pink Sugar and Tree of Life Shalimar,  and Aromatika Ace of Scents who make Dragon's Blood and Opium. Added to that group are the Apache Indian tribe on a reservation in New Mexico who make Sage Spirit incenses which are a little different, and are more modern than most manufacturers in India. 

The scent on this Wolf Teaching  is gentle, and that is my main issue with all Sage Spirit products - the scent is not strong enough to make much of an impression. The scent on the stick is the volatiles, which are reminiscent of toilet cleaner, and a little off-putting, but there's also some pine and cedar along with some deeper notes. The scent is not making much of an impression, even though I have three fired up together to great more of a mood in the room, and I'm disappointed. The main impression if of the base sandalwood - whatever additional scents they've put on have been lost. This is a new pack just opened, so I'm not impressed. I have a few more Sage Spirit to burn, and I'm still favourably disposed toward them, but this incense is not doing anything for me.

Score: 20

***

Sage Spirit

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Stamford Joss Styx Chakra Svadhistana Sacral

Second review - scroll down for earlier

This is the last of the six fragrances in the Chakra range. All the Aargee Stamford branded Chakras have now had up-to-date reviews. I don't know who made them, and it's likely that they were specially commissioned, but I'd love to find out, so I could buy them again if they are avaialble under a different brand name. 

The scent on this stick is a little more volatile than on the other Chakras, and is more fruity and sweeter. Pineapple, floral tending toward jasmine, with herby notes. The scent on the burn is darker, more musky, less sweet, less fruity. This could be the result of the liquid scents, the oils or whatever has been used, burning off the high notes too quickly.  Looking down at my previous review, and I note I was not as enthusiastic regarding this Chakra as I was with the others, and I made comments regarding the volatility on the stick, and that the scent on the burn not being as pleasant as on the stick. My reaction now is fairly similar. I think this is the weaker of the Chakras.  

The blub says this incense uses "a special mix of Jasmine and Sandalwood". Yes, both of those scents are present - though I hadn't really focused on the sandalwood until I read that blurb. 

Date: Dec 2023    Score: 32

First review

The Chakra range uses a traditional approach to incense making. The incense is a fine masala mix of resins rolled onto a bamboo stick with a charcoal paste rather than the charcoal pasted stick being dipped into a perfume. That's not to say that perfume dipping is always inferior - some modern incense makers use some high quality scents, and the results are sublime; nor is it to say that using a masala is by itself an indicator of quality - many inferior and foul smelling incense sticks are made from a masala. Sticks made in Tibet are always masala, and the quality of those varies widely. I think these sticks have also been dipped as there is a volatile chemical based aroma on the stick. This is not uncommon. Indeed, it tends to be only the cheaper sticks that are simply perfume dipped over a basic charcoal paste - the better quality perfume dipped are dipped onto a masala rather than just the charcoal paste. The aroma on the stick is - in addition to the volatile chemical notes - gently citric, with orange jelly and bergamot notes, with musky deeper notes, and some sherbet. When burned the scent is subtle and pleasant, though the chemicals do make themselves known, so there are sharp intrusive notes and sometimes a hint of burning wool or hair.

I enjoyed two other scents in the Chakra range back in 2013, which is why I bought the rest of the range to try.  But I have been burning them recently and have taken a while to come round to reviewing them as each time I burn them I enjoy the scents, but are put off by some of the harshness I experience. I wondered for a while if there was some  halmaddi in the masala, as that can produce a negative reaction in me, but I think it is more to do with the  volatile scent or essential oil that the sticks have been dipped in. 


Date: Dec 2015  Score: 30

***

Vintage Incense
(Incense no longer available)

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(Mysore Sugandhi) Aargee Rose tube series (discontinued)

Third review - scroll down for earlier

Yeah. The scent on this machine-made perfume-dipped charcoal stick has lasted well. This is the same packet I first reviewed in 2015, and they still smell fresh. Some perfume-dipped incense fades quickly, while others remain potent. It appears to be that sticks/cones with a high percentage of charcoal powder hold the scent for better and longer than those which are mainly made from wood powder. But I think that's only part of the story - I think the quality of the perfume solution must be a significant factor. Anyway - this is still a decent floral scent that I enjoy, and would quite happily reach for again.

Date: July 2018   Score: 30   [Average score: 28] 

Second review

Perfume-dipped rose incense is rarely going to be a big hit with me. This is a modest sort of incense, though, to be fair, it is not offensive, and is quite tolerable. There is a rose scent, and there are few off notes. It's a bit too old ladies knickers for me, but it can be burned in the main rooms of the house without any problems. I guess if you like rose scent, you'd like this. There is something quite old fashioned about this - the old school circular tube, and the old fashioned rose scent - it reminds me a lot of Mysore Sughandi Gateway of India - I wonder if it's the same sticks?

I'm up and down with this scent. I lit a few sticks this morning to freshen up the house, and I really enjoyed the scent - old fashioned, yes, perfume-dipped, yes, but not offensive, and quite joyfully floral. When I first encountered this scent, as Mysore Sughandi Gateway of India, I really loved it, but over time I began marking it down, while at the same time, marking up my successive experiences with Aargee Rose. I can't fully explain the ups and downs, except that personal moods, and times of day may have an influence. Whatever, I have particularly enjoyed the scent today, and will explore more of Mysore Sughandi's incense range.

Date: March 2017   Score: 32

First review

Smells of toilet cleaner on the stick. Smells of vague chemicals when burning. Not a great incense this. I am rarely impressed with rose scented incense, especially when chemically created as here. Cheap, and while not offensive, not really a scent to enjoy.

Date: Dec 2015   Score: 20


Note: The British importer Aargee commissions a number of Indian incense makers to make incense for them under a variety of brand names and styles.  The Argee tube series, which are of basic scents - machine dipped, very heady and flowery, packaged in retro tubes with colourful, old fashioned wrappings, are by Mysore Sugandhi.

***

Ratings of other incense by Aargee

Vintage Incense
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Mysore Sugandhi

Best rose incense

Aargee Sandalwood tube series (discontinued)

Basic cheap incense stick, machine made and dipped in a chemical perfume. Seems odd to try to recreate the natural scent of sandalwood with chemicals, but there you go. This is part of Aargee's retro tube series made for them by Mysore Sugandhi. There is a faint awareness of sandalwood, but mainly it's a sweet, slightly floral aroma, clearly chemical. It's not offensive, and it's quite strong, so these sticks are acceptable for everyday use if a subtle or refined scent is not required. Ideal for pleasantly covering up bad odours, or to quickly refresh a stale room.

Apart from the colour of the bamboo stick, this is the same as Mysore Sugandhi 777 Chandan.

Worth noting that the British importer Aargee commissions a number of Indian incense makers to make incense for them under a variety of brand names and styles. The Argee tube series, which are of basic scents - machine dipped, very heady and flowery, packaged in retro tubes with colourful, old fashioned wrappings, are by Mysore Sugandhi.


Date: Dec 2015  Score: 22

***

Sandalwood

Vintage Incense
(Incense brand
not currently available)

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Mysore Sugandhi

Aargee Musk tube series (discontinued)

Pleasant enough artificial floral aroma - no real musk scent. Nothing special, but quite acceptable. Bought as part of a deal on Amazon of six different Aargee scents for £5. Aroma reminds me of Mysore Sughandi's Gateway of India

Date: Dec 2015   Score: 27

Note: The British importer Aargee commissions a number of Indian incense makers to make incense for them under a variety of brand names and styles.  The Argee tube series, which are of basic scents - machine dipped, very heady and flowery, packaged in retro tubes with colourful, old fashioned wrappings, are by Mysore Sugandhi.

***

Ratings of other incense by Aargee

Vintage Incense
(Incense brand
not currently available)

Musk

Mysore Sugandhi

Aargee Lavender tube series (discontinued)

Packed in a retro tube yet machine dipped, these are almost certainly made by Mysore Sugandhi for Aargee. This is a basic cheap incense. It works fine, there is an acceptable and sweet lavender aroma, and it's largely inoffensive, but it doesn't really have much going for it. Bought as part of a deal on Amazon of six different Aargee scents for £5.

Date: Dec 2015    Score: 27

Note: The British importer Aargee commissions a number of Indian incense makers to make incense for them under a variety of brand names and styles.  The Argee tube series, which are of basic scents - machine dipped, very heady and flowery, packaged in retro tubes with colourful, old fashioned wrappings, are by Mysore Sugandhi.

***

Best of Lavender

Vintage Incense
(Incense brand
not currently available)

Ratings of other incense by Aargee

Mysore Sugandhi

Berk Blue Line Holy Smokes Agarwood

Berk are a German wholesaler, rather like the British Aargee.  These incense sticks are made in India for Berk, without identifying who made them. They are hand-rolled from a charcoal paste  which appears to include agarwood, and then rolled in a fine wood dust. These are fairly similar to the unbranded agarwood incense I recently reviewed, though perhaps less woody, and sweeter with vanilla notes. I like this - it's sweet, sensual, musky, with those attractive vanilla tones. It warms up a room creating a seductive atmosphere. Great for the bedroom, or anywhere in the evening, or to create a warm, sensual atmosphere at any time.  Very delicious and woody.

Date: Dec 2015   Score: 36

***

Berk

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Baieido Kobunboku Regular - Plum Blossom

  

After reviewing the Shoyeido Magnifiscents Gems/Jewels Sampler recently, I thought it would be interesting to revisit some Japanese incense I'd already reviewed.  I've not yet really warmed to Japanese incense finding it a little dry and sombre, and also somewhat expensive compared to other incenses. I don't dislike it, I generally find it decent quality and worthy, but as yet it hasn't really transported me as some other incenses can and do. 

This is the only Baieido I have burned, and each time I come to it I like it, so Baieido may be a way into Japanese incense, and it may be worth exploring other incense by Baieido.  Having said that, I am not excited or carried away by the sticks. They burn very mild, even three at once struggles to make a real impact, and there is as much a sense of warm indistinct burning as there is of any scent. I have done several burns over the past few days in an attempt to get to grips with the scent, but it largely escapes me. My thoughts drift away, and the scent is gone. There are times when I get a sense of fruit, dark fruit like plum, but I wonder how much that is suggestive because of the name. I don't get much in the way of blossom though. A bit of vanilla now and again. And other vague scents that I can't pin down, though I note in previous reviews that I came up with a range of suggestions. 

All in all I'm left more curious than satisfied. I will explore other Japanese incense, though I'm not yet there. Do I really need to spend £50+ to get a huge box of incense that I may not like?  I'm moving the score down to the point where it ends up for me - a pleasant everyday scent that is too mild and vague for me to want to buy again. 

Date: Feb 2023   Score: 29

I first reviewed these Baleido sticks in 2015. The dry paste method of making the sticks works well, tending to give a softer, more natural, and milder scent than either the masala or perfumed-dipped methods favoured by India. The principle is the same as that used in making paste cones (not perfume-dipped cones), and in making dry dhoops such as Panchavati. Japanese incense is highly favoured among some incense enthusiasts in America - particularly Baleido, which has a dedicated American website.  I think there may be several reasons why Japanese incense is respected: perhaps because the scents are more delicate than the bulk of Indian incense, perhaps because the packaging is so attractive, perhaps because of the Japanese Incense Ceremony, the Way of Incense, which is similar to the tea ceremony.  Whatever, there is a refined and gentle nature to Japanese incense which also appeals to me.  I have a few Japanese sticks I haven't yet rated, and a few more on the way, so I'll be doing more reviews of Japanese incense in the coming weeks. I am marking this one down for now. The scent on the sticks is still plummy, sweet and attractive, but on burning there is, for me, just a little too much basic woody scent. Straight after burning a couple of these Kobunboku Regular I burned a Panchavati, and I loved the Panchavati so much more.

Date:  March 2017   Score: 35

Japense incense tends, on the whole, to be more delicate and refined than incense made in India, And the packaging is also always divine - very delicate and pretty. The downside is that they can be expensive to buy, especially as they tend to be sold in large amounts, and there is a reluctance to spend £20 on an unknown scent. As this is only £3.50, including postage from Baieido Amazon, I was pleased to buy it. Baiedido are an ancient Japanese incense maker, dating back to 1657.

This is absolutely gorgeous. The scent drifts out of the little box with little delights like plum, bubblegum, sandalwood, raspberry soap, pine resin, candyfloss, spearmint - wow, there is such a depth and range of scents, some tantalisingly just out of recognition. When burned, the smoke and scent is soft and subtle - the aroma gently informs the room rather than dominates. That is quite nice, though as it informs the room barely more when burned than it does when simply left on the table out of the box, I find that something of a flaw for me. The burning scent does not appear to have a significant range - this is better in a small room than a medium size or large, unless you wish to burn more than one stick at a time. The sticks are thin and short. They are - as with all Japanese incense I have encountered - an extruded dhoop, that is a binding paste and a masala of fragrant ingredients are mashed together, and then pressed through small holes in the manner of a PlayDough machine, to extrude a thin rod which is cut into short lengths and laid out to dry.

This is a top quality incense, and if the scent were a little stronger when burned, and had a more significant reach, and if it were perhaps a little more defined, I would like it a little more.  I do enjoy the way the scent teases, and prefer that teasing to a brute, overpowering scent, but in general I do like a defined and stable scent which I can recognise and return to.

Date: Dec  2015   Score: 39

Baieido factory 

***

Incense by Country

 

Japanese incense

Goloka Patchouli

Goloka are one of my favourite incense makers - they make top quality products with natural ingredients, training and employing widows who would otherwise struggle to survive, and profits are returned to the community to help disadvantaged children. The packaging is made from recycled paper, and uses beautiful designs. The aroma here is soft, seductive, and very pleasant. There are sharp, acidic edges which provide balance and interest to the warm, musky tones. I'm not getting too much of the dark, sweet, sexy patchouli, but there is aromatic sandalwood, which I like. Goloka do use sandalwood well - it's a rich, pine fresh, woody sandalwood that wakes and soothes the senses. Goloka also tend to use halmaddi, though I'm not getting too much of that here - just a hint in the sharp edges and a suggestion of damp sheep's wool.

All in all this is a very rewarding, softly sensual fragrance that will warm up a room and welcome guests. The sticks are thin - a fine masala hand rolled onto a thin charcoal paste over green-dyed bamboo sticks. Top quality stuff. I'm a little disappointed that not much patchouli shows through, but otherwise this is a great little incense. It's not an awesome fragrance to grab your attention, but it does the job in a very classy way.

Date: Nov 2015   Score: 36

***

Goloka

Patchouli
Score: 25

PMS Mister Chef Sandalwood Essence Mosquito Repellent Coil

Cheap, but crap. Burns for ages, but the aroma is faint and vaguely chemical. We burn it in the outhouse where we feed the cats, but it generates so little smoke that we doubt if it would be any use outdoors. The coils are made in pairs, so the first thing you have to do is separate them, which is a VERY TRICKY job, and you are as likely to be successful as you are to break at least one of the coils. Made for PMS International.

Epic fail.

Date: Nov 2015   Score: 15

Sandalwood

Unbranded Agarwood

This is an unbranded pack of Agarwood incense that came free with an incense burning box. It's just a cheap, perfume dipped incense, but the fragrance is sweet and divine. Sometimes the cheap and everyday can be more subtle and rewarding than the more expensive artisinal products. It's not really who or how a product is made, or how much it costs, it's really all down to how much you as an individual enjoy it. And I really enjoyed this. Sadness is, that because it's unbranded, I don't know who made it, and so would be unable to buy it again.....

Date: Nov 2015   Score: 37

***

The best agarwood incense

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