Mahendra Gulabi Collection Lavender

 

Perfumed stick by Mahendra Perfumery Works of Bangalore, who also make the Belco range of sticks, and the successful Gulabi - rose scented stick.  Mahendra expanded upon the Gulabi  brand in 2018, and started a Gulabi Collection range which ReallyRelaxing were selling at a reduced price at the time, so I got this. It's been sitting in collection unopened since then. While the original Gulabi is still available in the UK (99p from JustAromatherapy) this Lavender and the Rose can, it seems, only be imported.  But, that's no loss, as it's a fairly standard perfumed incense. It has the scent of lavender, but in a simplistic and crude air freshener style. Not offensive at all, but not a significant incense. Just something to use as, well, an everyday  air freshener. 

Date: March 2021   Score: 23 

***

Mahendra Betco - Best of

Best of Lavender

(HMS) Pure Incense The Classic Range Frankincense

 

I enjoyed the previous Pure Incense I reviewed in 2017 - the Nepal Musk. Later research, when reviewing Primo Incense Nepal Musk, led me to the view that the Nepal Musk had been made by Haridas Madhavdas Sugandhi (HMS) of Pune, a small company, but one that is generally respected for still using traditional methods, and producing good quality incense. They mainly sell direct to distributors, such as Pure Incense, who then sell the incense under their own name. 

This incense has not impressed me as much as the Nepal Musk. Not to say it isn't good stuff. But it's not as heavenly for me. It's good, but I experience it as a bit crude. The scent is cedar rather than frankincense, and it reminds me of  the SifCon Cinnamon Cedarwood, though not as interesting or complex.  I find it rather simple and direct and eventually boring. The cedarwood scent is a bit dry, and lacks tingle and excitement. Looking at the ingredients I note that cedar is a main ingredient, along with sandalwood, vanilla powder, amber, and various flower petals. Right down at the bottom, along with the gums and makko powder, is a drop or two of frankincense oil. Seems odd to call an incense Frankincense when is is mainly woody cedar. There is a sense of being misdirected, which is a shame. As, while this is not on the same level as the Nepal Musk, it is a good incense, and is clearly made from pure ingredients in the traditional way. If it had been marketed as Cedar, or at least as a Woody incense, I would be happier.  

 

HMS Classic Frankincense

This Pure Incense Frankincense is HMS Classic Frankincense, which it appears is not directly available in the UK, so distributors such as Pure Incense a providing a service. It is available from Pure Incense at £2.25 for 10gm. Pure Incense is run by Adi-Guru Das a UK based Krishna devotee who has experience of incense buying for Krishna temples in the UK. He sources from traditional cottage manufacturers in rural India, such as HMS.  He has stockists in various outlets around the world.  The prices are a little high, especially when compared with Gokula incense, which is also run by a UK based Krishna devotee who sources from traditional cottage manufacturers in rural India, but the two incense I have tried have impressed me, and I am keen to explore further (though I need first to reduce my current backlog!).

Date: March 2021 Score: 30

***

Haridas Madhavdas Sugandhi

Frankincense

 What's The Best Incense In The World?

Aromatika 7 Chakras Incense Cones

 

A selection of coloured cones with little variety in the scents. Not that impressive. As with the bulk of these Aromatika cones, the perfumes are pleasant without being interesting or special, and are applied too thinly so the smell of the burning of the core wood dust material of the cones is detected at times more strongly than the perfume. 

Date: March 2021   Score: 20 

***

  Aromatika

Satya (Mumbai) Celestial

 

A modest but gently pleasant woody incense.  Soft blend of woody sandalwood and mild vanilla. Nothing really stands out, but it works OK as a decent enough everyday incense. I don't think much thought was given to the creation of the scent in this, but the ingredients and the manufacture are of sufficient quality to make this, as with the majority of Satya's output, a fairly reliable bet as something that's going to be broadly acceptable to most people. 

Date: March 2021   Score: 28 

Satya (Shrinivas Sugandhalaya)

Aromatika Nag Champa Incense Cones

 

One of the more successful of this Vedic "Natural Masala" (they're not) series. Most of the cones in this series have a pleasant aroma on the cone, but are let down when being burned as the perfume is not strong, and smell of the (cheap) core material comes through too much. This one, however, has a nice smell on the cone and a similar smell when burned. As it gets to the end (where the core material is the greatest), yes, the aroma starts to become smoky and less pleasant, but on the whole it makes for a modest everyday incense. There are better everyday incenses, so I'm not recommending this, but it's one of the best of an otherwise weak lot. 

The aroma is sweet, fruity, plummy, floral, musky, patchouli, talcum powder - no, baby powder. It's modestly attractive.  Yeah. OK. 

Date: March 2021   Score:  27

***

  Aromatika

Nag Champa