HEM Myrrh Masala Incense

  

Second review - scroll down for earlier

Sample masala sticks sent by Irene of Rauchfahne.  I've already reviewed these back in 2022, but I always like revisiting an incense. My ideal would be to review every incense three times, at least one month apart. Lovely fragrance on the stick. Sweet, floral, wet, sexy, slightly resinous. No particular scent stands out - its more of a general impression. Working at it a bit more, there are some earthy notes; and something green, not quite herby, more like foliage in the rain; some pepper; Milkybar chocolate; and a hint of fenugreek. Jolly good. 

These are quite generous sticks. The charcoal paste is slightly moist. It takes a little while to light. The fragrance on the burn takes a little while to settle. Initially it's a bit smoky, woody, and muggy, but then the scent of the perfumed ingredients wafts over, and it's very nice. More floral than on the stick, with attractive but not overbearing sweetness, a sexy musky note, some faint but solid woods supporting the rest. It's a good, balanced, accord - covering the full range of base, middle, and top notes. Diffusing attractively though the room. Yes, this is a solid incense. Nice one. 

Date: Feb 2025   Score: 40 

First review

This is the third box of HEM masala incense I have - part of a set of six: others being Amber, Frankincense, Musk, Cinnamon and Patchouli - all traditional resin or plant fragrances. The boxes are attractively illustrated with traditional images inspired by the Kama Sutra. The wording on the boxes is: "Hem masala incense is a unique blend of several ingredients such as rare herbs, flowers, leaf extracts, aromatic plants, resins, essential oils, and spices. Its deep mystifying aroma creates an ambience of positive energy that reduces stress and helps relax mind, body and soul. 

This and three other HEM masala fragrances are available from Amazon UK for £6 with free delivery.  This Myrrh fragrance is available in various outlets, such as : Australia - Sundrops; Ireland - LotusPagoda; Canada - EncensNaturalPur; etc. 

Like the Cinnamon, this does what I expect a masala to do. There is halmaddi involved, though not too much. The scent is warm, rounded, comfortable, pleasant, slightly sweet, gently and attractively woody, musky, and overall more attractive than the other two boxes I have tried. As I said with regards to the Cinnamon, this easily matches (though, unlike the Cinnamon, possibly exceeds) Satya. It will likely gain a market among the general public, especially those who normally buy Satya. It may also gain a market among those who normally buy the HEM perfumed incense, though some may find masala incense a little too wild.  This is pleasant enough to possibly attract even incense enthusiasts (at least those who have not shut off HEM from their world) as it is a genuine masala at a decent price - good enough for everyday use. The stick is a charcoal paste made by mixing charcoal powder with binders, then  hand rolled by someone experienced onto a plain bamboo stick, then covered in a wood powder or melnoorva, which prevents the sticks from gluing together - the process would be the same as shown in this video of  the Satya factory.  

This is proper job masala. Very attractive, and a decent price. It has a warm, rich, sensual fragrance that is very satisfying. It burns for around an hour, gently, but firmly filling the room with warm, balanced scents. The scent, as with masala in general, lingers, though can tend toward cold ash the following day.  On the whole a decent incense I'd happily buy it again. 

Date: March 2022   Score: 39

***

HEM Corporation

Myrrh

Reviewed on Rauchfahne