Goloka Nature's Lavender

Fourth review - scroll down for earlier

Nice fresh pack, but pretty much the same design over the years. I kinda like the design - it's simple, it's classic; but it's also a bit meh. It's the same design for every scent, just a different colour, with sometimes a small image by the name. This Lavender has a lavender coloured flower as the  small image, though it looks more like a violet than a lavender. I think the little stickers on the back are a bit cheap and tacky. They look randomly placed, though each scent has the stickers in the same place. I'm curious about the Hindu text used on the pack. It's the same four lines repeated over again. I've just had a quick look at Goloka's website to see if they say anything about it, and I note that they have a new website, that - while there are still some of the script packets - most packets now have individual designs, and - with the exception of at least Nature's Nest - that the Nature's Collection series appears to have been withdrawn. Nature's Collection packs can still be bought - on Amazon, on eBay, and on other sites, but it's not clear (given the lack of attention Goloka's two websites are being given) if the series is still being made. 

A very soft, moist, crumbly paste has been hand-rolled onto a purple coloured bamboo splint, and then coated in a fragrant brown powder. Goloka use coconut shell charcoal as the combustible material in the paste, as coconut charcoal is more environmentally friendly. Stuff like that is important to me. Well, it's important to all of us, even if we're not aware of it. The scent on the stick is fresh, moist lavender. Essential oil lavender rather than the flower itself. A little sharp and volatile, but also pleasantly sweet and creamy, like hand lotion. 

The burn is very gentle. More gentle than I recall. I move the incense holder to a place where the scent will drift in my direction. I get the woods now, and a fruity sweetness, a bit like jam. It's a powdery scent. Warm, seductive, floral, a little elusive. Very engaging. I still love this. I think this is a classic. Not spot on as a lavender scent, and it doesn't feel like nature, it feels more like a lavender scent, or - rather  - more like a lavender tinged floral scent blended with creamy sandalwood. But it's good stuff. It feels kinda modern and bright, yet with a firm grip on tradition. Yes, I still love this. It's special. 

Date: March 2025    Score: 46

Third review

I go into the kitchen to do some cooking. I like to have a bit of incense burning as I cook, and I grab a pack at random. It's Goloka's Lavender, and it reminds me just how good Goloka are. I haven't burned Goloka for a while, I've been trying out a variety of companies new to me, like Shroff, Prabhuji's Gifts, Cottage Industries, BluePearl, etc, and there hasn't been much space and time for old favourites. But burning this reminded me of just why I like Goloka. So I sit down to do an update review. 

The stick is a fragrant moist charcoal paste hand-rolled onto a machine cut and purple dyed bamboo splint, and then rolled into a finishing wood powder. The scent on the stick is sweet, floral, fresh, outdoorsy, and definitely lavender.  Quite adorable. 

The burn is a little hot. There is a moderate amount of paste on the splint, but perhaps a little more would benefit the overall experience. However, it's a small quibble, because the scent is divine. Woody, floral, distinctly lavender, though less sweet on the burn, more woodsy and musky and delving into the deeper lavender notes. There's creamy sandalwood to support the floral. Oh gosh, this is what incense is all about. Great stuff. Moved back up to where it belongs. 

Date: Feb 2022   Score: 45 

Second review

Sweet and jammy with some burnt notes like overcooked sugar. This starts off  burning a bit hot and not working well, and I'm not liking it, but then it gets past that, and settles down into the gentle and subtle notes I remarked on when I reviewed it last year. There's so much going on - there's a bit of spice, a bit of wood, some fruit, some honey, some herbs..... To be fair, there's not much in the way of lavender, and it does tend to wander around a bit. I will come back to this later as I have ordered a fresh batch of the whole series of Golaka's Nature from this seller on Amazon UK, and I intend to review the entire series a little later in the year. For now, though, I am lowering the score on this. Not dropping it out of my Heavenly Incense collection, but certainly down to the bottom of that set.


Date: July 2018   Score: 40

First review

This is beautiful - sandalwood, citrus, warm wool, violets, lavender, fresh herbs. It's like walking through Provence on a late summer evening. This is herby yet sweet, like jam or candy. It's cleansing, relaxing, peaceful and soulful. I could burn this any time as it is such a gorgeous and flexible scent.  It's lively enough for the morning, fresh and cleansing enough to liven up the house at any time when its feeling jaded, sophisticated enough to welcome guests, has that exotic Mediterranean feel to waft you away in the evening or when you are feeling meditative or just melancholy, and it has a hint of sexuality to liven up your night life.

A fascinating and very yummy scent. This is now one of my favourites.


Date: Feb 2017  Score: 45

***

Best of Lavender

Goloka