The scent on the burn, sadly, is not as pure. The temperature in the room is comfortable, and there are no wind movements to increase the intensity of the burn so this is burning at the appropriate speed, yet much of the delicate aroma on the stick is not here. Yes, there is some woody fragrance, but there is also an element of burning or scorching, so much of the delicate sweet notes are lost. Having said that, there is still enough of the creamy sandalwood to make this quite an alluring incense. I like it.
Available all over the world in 15gm packs: Canada for $2.99; UK for 75p; South Africa for R28.00; US for $2.00; Latvia for €1,75; Spain for €1.45;
Date: April 2023 Score: 38
As part of my investigation into Flora and Fluxo incenses, I'm revisiting this SAC Flora. These are hand-rolled masala incense sticks (I'm correcting my earlier review in which I said they were machine made). There are volatile notes on the stick more suggestive of perfume than essential oil, and this may be the key difference to those incenses which come across as rich and heady (essential oil) and those which are merely pleasant (perfume). I'm not anti-perfume as I find perfumed incenses are able to produce a greater range of scents, and can be more complex and intriguing, but for sheer beauty I incline toward the essential oils. Notes of tobacco, orange groves, sea weed, on the stick. Aroma when burning is less profound and less interesting - the volatiles burn away too quickly, leaving modest mid notes of creamy vanilla and pleasant sandalwood. It's a decent everyday masala, and is excellent value for money. It's not profound, but not all incenses need to be profound, and at this price it is excellent as a casual room freshener. Some woolly, prickly halmaddi rounds it off. Yes, nice one.
Date: Aug 2021 Score: 34
15g of proper job masala for 75p from Popat Stores, probably the best value incense store in the UK.
SAC are a major Indian incense manufacturer, and the bulk of their output is everyday perfume-dipped incense - but they also do a few proper job masala incenses, such as this. It's a neatly made
Date: Aug 2017 Score: 34
I enjoy reading your blog posts Steve, thank you.
ReplyDeleteI find the Atma Darshan incense to be quite lovely for what it is. As far as I know, it is one of their more popular varieties.
I just clicked on your name, and I see that you have an incense shop, and that you make your own incense. Cool. How did you get into that?
DeleteDear Steve, I have loved incense all my life and it is something I treasure dearly. As for making it, well, let's just say, a lot of trial and error. :)
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