Incense in The Wind: Fair Trade Incense Works / Nitiraj / Om / Bombay

Fair Trade Incense Works are based in Mumbai and mostly make incense for others to brand as their own, though they did have some brands of their own which they distributed themselves, Om Incense, Nitiraj Incense and Natural Incense. Of those, only Om and Nitiraj appear to still be available under individual distribution deals. In the UK, Bombay Incense (dead link) - a British based company who do (did?) most of their business in America, used to distribute Nitiraj and Om in the UK and America, though, by 2018, Ian Snow had taken over the UK distribution. However, as of 2021, Ian Snow no longer sell Nitiraj or Om.

Fair Trade make masala incense using halmaddi, but the ingredients tend to be thin, poor quality. They tend to use machines. This is a reliable and economical method of making incense sticks.

I tend to quite like Fair Trade products, but never get excited by them. They are always decent scents, and the incense is well made, professional, and consistent. But there is not much excitement, creativity, or heart about them. This is professionally made incense, made with a clear eye on the profit line. Job done. There is nothing wrong with them, except, like HEM and SAC Sandesh, they lack soul. Companies like this show that it doesn't matter if the incense is masala or perfumed, what matters is the attitude and spirit of the makers.

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