R. Expo / Song of India Moksha Bliss

Second review - scroll down for earlier

Familiar and pleasant creamy sandalwood scent on the stick. Anyone who has burned a range of Indian masala incense sticks will have encountered this fragrance a few times. It is warm and attractive, and the familiarity is reassuring and comforting - the degree to which it is welcome will depend on how often someone has encountered this scent and how recently. If I had not smelled this for a while, particularly for a few years, I would welcome it as a long lost friend, and indulge in the warm glow of nostalgia where everything seems nicer than now. If I had burned a few incenses fairly recently which have this scent, I would feel somewhat satiated, and be a little uninspired or even bored by the sameness of the fragrance. And I have burned a few sticks recently which have this scent, so that has to be borne in mind. Additionally, I am not a fan of this incense house - I feel they create run-of-the-mill incense utilising Indian culture in order to sell to a Western market. For me they are unadventurous, and not an authentic incense house, nor a high quality one, though the incense is professionally made. Added to which, R. Expo was the main exporter to the US of the dreadful Mumbai Satya incense which damaged the name and reputation of the original Bangalore Satya. And they intimidated other US distributors into dropping the Bangalore Satya from their lists. Unpleasant and illegal business tactics.  

Scent on the stick is familiar masala sandalwood. A little bit dry, moderately peppery. It's an OK, warm, familiar, woody scent. I like it. It's unadventurous for sure, but there is always a place for a decently made everyday sandalwood masala incense. 

Widely sold in the UK and EU in 15g packets at everyday prices: Ephra-World (EU - €2.25); Just Aromatherapy (UK - £1.45); The Incense Circle (EU - €1.80); Wierookwinkeltje (EU - € 1.99); etc. 

Date: Dec 2025   Score: 32

First review

 

R. Expo, who trade under the brand name Song of India, have a strong presence in America for their perfumed incense, particularly for their Temple Aroma, with its evocative name. They also do decent everyday masala such as this Moksha Bliss. This is part of a series which includes Samsara and Bodhi Sutra, all of which involve Buddhist mantras. The manta on this one is Nianfo, "Namo Amitabha Buddha", used to overcome negative energy or vibes. 

The sticks consists of a fragrant, semi-soft charcoal paste, beautifully and skilfully hand-rolled around a machine rounded bamboo splint, dyed green. The stick has been rolled in a fragrant finishing powder or melnoorva. The scent on the stick is woody (sweet, creamy sandalwood) and floral (jasmine, rose petal, magnolia), with some acidity suggesting an "agarbatti oil", which is usually diethyl phthalate (DEP), has been used. It is a pleasant scent - warm, inviting, seductive; neither particularly feminine or masculine. It offers a wide appeal. 

The stick burns well - evenly and consistently, producing a modest amount of smoke though plenty of gentle aroma. The scent informs the room and beyond with a creamy sandalwood touched with floral peaks, and a suggestion of a musk base. It is an appealing and professional scent that it would be difficult to imagine anyone disliking, though possibly some may find it lacking in adventure. I like it, a lot; I have burned quite a few of these sticks - it's currently my go to incense. An easy, attractive burn, with a scent that lingers into next week. Comforting, relaxing, sensual, with a modest sense of playfulness and a hint of uplifting joy. I feel calm, relaxed and happy while burning this. Nice one. 

It is sold around the world widely in the EU in 15g packets at everyday prices: SunDrops (Australia); Ephra-World (EU - €2.25); Just Aromatherapy (UK - £1.45); Spiti (Sweden); The Incense Circle (EU - €1.80); Wierookwinkeltje (EU - € 1.99); etc. 

Date: Feb 2022    Score: 38 

***

R. Expo / Song Of India