Prabhuji's Gifts Swadhisthana Chakra Sacral Energy Center Sensuality & Creativity Vanilla, Rose & Vetiver

 

This is the fifth of the seven single stick samples of Prabhuji's Gifts Chakra series of masala incense. Prabhuji's Gifts are a spiritual American based company who commission their incense from India. The sales of the incense are used to finance their mission to spread the teaching of their founder, the Chilean born mystic, Prabhuji.  So far I have found the sticks to be modestly pleasant, especially on the stick, less pleasant on the burn, and leaning toward dry, woody, earthy, and plant-like, though with occasional moments of pleasurable and interesting scents. I was more engaged with the first scent I tried in the series, the Muladhara, though whether this was because it is genuinely more appealing,  because I spent more time on it and discovered more, or because I was simply being more generous I don't know. I note the oil marks on the packet of this one, and those are of essential oil - which certainly makes the packet smell nice - distinctly floral and sweet and soapy. I don't know yet what scents are in this stick, as my samples don't say - the only info I have is: Sacral Chakra Swadhisthana. I'll look up for more information after I have started the review. 

All the sticks in the series have been made the same way - a fragrant masala charcoal paste has been hand rolled onto a usually hand cut bamboo splint dyed pink. The differences have been in the dryness of the paste. This one is damp. It is also a little fatter than the others. The scent on the stick is richer than the others, though less rich than the scent on the packet. I suspect a lot of the essential oil fragrance has been absorbed by the paper packet. I guess this is why a lot of incense distributors use plastic sleeves instead of the the more planet friendly paper ones. There is a faint note of parma violets, some rose, soap, lemongrass, and underneath, just a bit of wood, sandalwood. 

As with the other samples, the scent on the burn is dry, spicy, woody, with little sense of the aroma on the stick. I was patient with the first stick, the Muladhara, and burned it in several sessions over two or three days. It was my first experience with this company,  Prabhuji's Gifts; I knew nothing about them except what I learned as I burned that first stick - that they are a spiritual company reselling/commissioning Indian incense in order to fund their project; so I had no idea what they would be like. I have been less patient as I have gone though the rest of the range, as I feel I am getting a handle on these sticks now, and I am not that impressed. They are OK, but they are not for me - the quality is not here. The best part of the aroma is conveyed by essential oils which are not fully integrated into the paste, so are barely noticeable during the burn. I don't know if the "artisans in India’s cottage industry" who make this Chakra range make other incense for  Prabhuji's Gifts, but as it stands I'm not encouraged to seek out more of  Prabhuji's Gifts branded incense if they are anything like this.   

  

I've looked up the details, and this is  Sensuality & Creativity, which contains vanilla, rose, and vetiver. 

The customer reviews on the sales page of the Chakra range are very enthusiastic five stars. 

Date: March 2022   Score:  23