Benzoin / Loban / Sambrani

Benzoin (also called loban and sambrani)  is a ritual incense - it is the resin from the storax or snowbell tree, and is burned for its cleansing power rather than the aesthetic qualities of the aroma, which tends to be neutral and mineral. However, some incense which contain loban/sambrini (or are named after it) can be attractive depending on what other ingredients are blended in. 

I like benzoin. As with frankincense and myrrh, it is a tree resin; it comes from the sap of the Sal tree. Sambrani cups are very popular in India, and have been available in the UK since at least 2017.  

I like sambrani - it is a fragrant tree resin, like frankincense, myrrh, dragon's blood, etc. It is also known as benzoin and as loban (among other names). It has a number of uses, including medicinal, as well as being a fragrance ingredient due to its fixing quality and sweet vanilla scent. It is particularly popular in India where it is burned as a single ingredient as part of a cleansing ritual. Typically when burned as part of a cleansing ritual, it will either be in a sambrani cup, such as Raj Guru Vandana Sambrani Cup, or a thick dhoop, such as Ambica Pooja Sambrani. 

Kinkele says that loban/benzoin has an "enveloping, soothing, protective cloak inviting us to relax and dream", which is rather nice. 

I often read that benzoin/sambrani has a sweet vanilla scent, though that tends not to be my experience. I usually find it has a cool mineral scent, sometimes pine or medicinal.

A reader, Chris, has said: "I've bought several loban and sambrani incense and non of them have smelled even remotely like benzoin resin. Either these descriptions have become stylized (I've had frankincense incense labelled loban before), or maybe sambrani uses another part of the styrax tree rather than the resin. Benzoin resin is sweet smelling and vanilla dominant. I'd be suspicious of any benzoin resin that isn't."

Reviews

Koya's Maya Supreme
Sambrani Premium Incense Sticks
June 2023 - Score: 45

Sai Handicraft UK Hand Rolled Loban 
Dec 2023 - Score: 40

Ambica Pooja Sambrani (D)
Jan 2018 - Score: 39

Veer Special Loban 
Match 2020 - Score: 39 

 

B.G Pooja Store Sambrani (P)
Feb 2023 - Score: 33

 

Incensum Benzoin (M)

Oct 2022 - Score: 32 

Yadalam Vaastu Loban Thick Dhoop (D)
Oct 2018 - Score: 32

Aromatika Benzoin cones

Feb 2021 - Score: 32

Hari Om Sambrani (P)
July 2018 - Score: 30

  

Misbah's Natural Loban Candy Agarbathi Benzoin
  June 2023 - Score:  21

Raj Guru Vandana Sambrani Cup 
with Natural Benzoin Filling
Jan 2018 - Score: 20

 

Vedavyasa Parimala Works Sree Chamundeshwari
Sambirani Instant Sticks 
Jan 2023 - Score: 20

Number of scents: 10
Top score: 39
Low score: 20
Average top five: 35
Total score: 30



Links

* Is sambrani smoke harmful
* What is sambrini
* Sambrani benefits
* Slideshare
* Wikipedia
* Thomas Kinkele
* The natural herbalist

 Incense Ratings - Top of the Dhoops!