Own brand or private label sellers and distributors do not make incense but commission it and sell it under their own brand name. Some distributors, such as Gokula, Happy Hari, Absolute Bliss, Pure, and TOI may use the same producers, such as
HMS, and some, such as Gokula and Pure, may be more open about their suppliers, and a few also sell directly branded incense alongside their own self-branded incense. They are not producers themselves, and often will conceal their sources in order to sell at a high price and make a larger profit, though they can serve a useful function of supporting local producers, and bringing either quality or cheap incense into the UK, Europe, and America that may not otherwise be distributed. Some companies, like Aargee/Stamford, are very big commercial operations with vast warehouses, others, like Gokula, are small one-person operations.
I sway to and fro on the issue. I understand the impulse and desire both from the resellers and the producers to go down the own brand route, and have the realism to accept it, but emotionally and spiritually I don't like it. I am way more accepting of it when the prices are low (I love supermarket own brands because they are cheaper), but I hate it when the prices are high. I don't like paying more for an own brand than I would if buying the same incense with the maker's name on it. Some great genuine Indian incense can be bought from
Aavyaa and
Popat Stores for low, low prices. It is up to the consumer to find these out for themselves.
For information about the actual makers of incense rather than the middle man,
Number One
Scents reviewed: 7
Highest: 45
Lowest: 30
Average: 40
*****
Number Two
 |
Happy Hari's Incense
(out of business)
UK importer and distributor
of Indian incense
(Ceased Trading Dec 2017) |
Scents reviewed: 8
Highest: 48
Lowest: 28
Average: 38
Conclusion: Paul Eagle found a quality incense maker, and for over 20 years imported decent incense into the UK. I have enjoyed the incenses I have tried - they are certainly above average, and I am now attempting to grab those scents I haven't yet tried, and to buy a few packets of those scents I like.
***
Number Three
 |
Absolute Bliss
(out of business)
American importer and distributor
of Indian incense |
Corey Topel imported and sold a selection of branded Indian incense, though was better known as the inheritor of Paul Eagle's Happy Hari label, commissioning a range of incense from the same source(s)
Incense tried: 7
Highest score: 49
Lowest score: 34
Average: 40 (borderline Decent stuff/Heavenly)
Conclusion: An impressive selection of Decent/Heavenly incense.
New Age are a California based wholesaler founded in 1995. They market bamboo-splint based smudges which are made for them by Native Americans in California.
Reviews: 4
Top score: 42
Bottom score: 35
Average: 40
Conclusion: Natural, indigenous ingredients, and wonderful fragrances. I'm keen to explore more.
*****
 |
Aargee Incense
(out of business)
UK importer and distributor
of Indian incense |
British based company founded in 1978. They didn't directly make incense, but imported it, and had incense made for them under several brand names including Stamford, and Imperial. They used a range of incense companies, including Goloka, Tulasi, Padmini, and Satya (
Shrinivas Sugandhalaya). The quality was as variable as the intended markets, but included some of the best masala incense made, and didn't often sink very low. The company split up, with the incense importing division continuing as Stamford London, but only dealing in scented incense. Top scents:
Stamford Chakra Ajna (Third Eye) (42);
Stamford Chakra Muladhara Root (40);
Aargee Imperial Bharat Mata Bouquet Fragrance (39);
Aargee Laxmi Pooja (38) ;
Stamford Midnight Calm (by Satya) (34);
Aargee Patchouli (33);
Aargee Imperial Raja Rani Lavender Fragrence (33);
Ganesh Flora by Aargee (32);
Stamford Earth Angel (32);
Stamford Magic Angel (31);
Aargee Jasmine (30)
Scents reviewed: 57
Highest score: 48
Average top five: 45
Lowest score: 12
Average: 28
Overall score: 37
Conclusion: Aargee were a significant wholesale importer of incense into the UK, and commissioned some excellent masala incense and sweet, heady commercial scented incense. Though they continue as Stamford London, they now only sell the scented incense, so the excellent masala incense is no longer available under the Aargee name except in places where there is some old stock left.
*****
Zam Zam is an Islamic store and online shop. The store is on
Green Street in East London, and was founded in 1980. They sell
Foil Wrapped incense sticks branded Zam Zam, but made by
Balarama Enterprises Thailand, who also make the incense sold by
Kuumba. The sticks are long burning and very pleasant, and some of the scents are fascinating and very attractive.
Reviews: 12
Top score: 38
Bottom score: 18
Average: 32
Conclusion: Great fun perfumed incense by Balarama, sold in UK at bargain prices.
*****
Fumino is the brand name for incense and home décor items imported by
Inbound To Anglia Ltd, a one man company based in Southampton. The company sells mostly via
eBay and
Amazon. The incense is sourced from "a team of expert ladies at our third-generation family factory in Bangalore", which could apply to a number of companies, including
Satya.
Six pack deals on Amazon are available for under £10. All the sticks appear to be
masala style, and they look and behave like Satya sticks, though the fragrance is clearly based on some form of
perfume rather than dried fragrant ingredients.
Scents: 6
Top score: 45
Bottom score: 20
Average: 33
Conclusion: On the whole the sticks are decent, good value room fresheners, and the best are more satisfying than that. The experiences do vary, however, and will come down to personal taste.
*****
Top scent:
Blue Pearl Classic Champa Dec 2022 - Score: 41
Scents: 4
Highest score: 41
Lowest score: 18
Average: 32
Conclusion: Quality is random. Other than the Classic Champa I have little interest in this brand.
*****
Top scents:
Green Tree Palo Santo Incense Cones (36); Green Tree Californian White Sage (
34) Incense reviewed: 6
Highest score: 36
Lowest score: 20
Average score: 30
Conclusion: Own label distributor of decent, professional masala incense. Not that interesting, but OK
Moroccan Bazaar is a UK importer of Moroccan goods. The
UK website also sold foil wrapped incense under their Moroccan Bazaar logo, but made by
Balarama Enterprises Thailand, who also make the incense sold by
Kuumba. The Moroccan Bazaar UK website has the same UK address as the current .com website, though claim to have been founded in 1946, and no longer sell incense. The same incense is available from other UK websites, such as
ZamZam.
Scents reviewed: 5
Top score: 33
Low score: 17
Average: 27
Conclusion: The Moroccan Bazaar brand may have stopped selling incense, but the incense is made by Balarama, so continues in other brands, such as Zam Zam.
*****
 |
| American importer and own brand seller |
Prabhuji's Gifts is a spiritual American based organisation who commission incense from an unrevealed manufacturer in India. The incense is one of a number of products the organisation sell in order to assist in spreading the teaching of their founder, the Chilean born mystic, Prabhuji. The profits help found their Hindi temple in the Catskill Mountains, and assist their mission to help the local people in Upstate New York.
They sell 65 different incense sticks, which they categorise by ingredients, fragrance notes, and intention (cleansing, relaxation, etc). They also organise by "lines" such as Meditation, Devotion, Chakra, etc.
Scents: 6
Highest score: 35
Lowest score: 20
Average: 25
Conclusion: Decently made
masala style incense; fairly average, leaning on a fragrant/essential oil for the bulk of the scents, and with evidence of the wood resin
halmaddi in the charcoal paste mix, which is not to my taste.
*****
UK based
Sifcon International company are a wholesalers dealing in household goods. They import a range of incense sticks and cones, such as Bhagvati Ppure, plus unbranded incense which they have packaged for themselves.
Scents rated: 15
Top score: 36
Low score: 19
Average: 27
Conclusion: Sifcon incense products are decent value for money. They mainly deal in low cost everyday incense, but also bring in decent masala incense under the Bhagvati Ppure brand.
*****
UK brand started in 1990, taken over by Cha Cha Dum Dum, who closed in 2018. The brand is up for sale. The packets claim to be made in the UK, but the style and quality is more indicative of Asian manufacture - possibly Vietnam.
Incense reviewed: 5
High score: 33
Low score: 20
Average: 28
Conclusion: Modest import brand, no longer in business.
*****
 |
UK importer and distributor of Asian goods and incense |
Cha Cha Dum Dum
was an ethnic gifts company founded in Kensington in 1968 which also distributed incense under their own Ganesha and Mystic Incense brands, and took over the UK Tree of Life brand. Started having problems in 2018, and by 2020 had permanently closed.
Incense reviewed: 11 (including Tree of Life)High score: 35Low score: 20Average: 28Conclusion: A modest importer of budget incense, closed as of 2020. Their foil wrapped Mystic Incense was good value and will be missed, though the importing of foil wrapped has been taken over by Zam Zam.
*****
Passion is the brand name for a range of budget
perfumed-charcoal incense sticks marketed by UK general goods wholesale company,
Jaycia, who were founded in 1991 and are based in Birmingham. They do not appear to currently have an active website, though the company is still in operation. It is unclear if they still distribute Passion, though there still some stocks to be found.
Scents tried: 8
Highest: 29
Lowest: 19
Average: 23 - Modest everyday or average incense
Conclusion - Bargain basement everyday perfumed incense. Nothing remarkable, but not offensive.
*****
One Aromatics is a brand of incense sold by
One Village, a distributor of fair trade goods made in poor or disadvantaged communities. The company was founded in 1979. Their
range of incense is made by the Auroville community in India.
Scents reviewed: 6
Highest: 33
Lowest: 10
Average: 24
Conclusion: The Auroville community is interesting, so I'd like to explore more incense from them. These One Aromatics are not impressive, but at their best they are decent everyday scents - though they can also be a little crude and harsh.
*****
Escential Essences is the brand name of a small company,
MatchlessGifts, which operates out of a PO address in
Laguna Niguel, California. They import packaged incense such as Satya Nag Champa, and loose incense which they bag and sell under the brand name
Mystic Temple, and smudges made by American tribes in New Mexico, such as the
Jicarilla Apache, who make
Sage Spirit. I don't know, but it seems plausible that these Escential Essences sticks are made by Sage Spirit or some other American tribes co-operative for Matchless Gifts.
Reviews: 3
Top: 34
Bottom: 19
Average: 24
Conclusion: The three sticks we sampled are synthetic-perfume incense sticks. The interest for me is that the sticks are made in the US, possibly by American tribes in New Mexico, such as the
Jicarilla Apache, who make
Sage Spirit. However, the incense itself is not of interest - fairly average everyday synthetic room-freshener. And that the seller conceals who made it, so we don't know the actual source, lowers my interest even further. I have no interest in exploring this brand any further.
*****
The Elements brand is part of
Something Different, a wholesalers who deal in cute unicorn, magic, and Indian inspired gifts as well as an extensive list of their own branded incense.
Elements caters to fantasy enthusiasts, with incense packets illustrated with unicorns, mermaids, and angels. They use known fantasy artists and designers such as
Jessica Galbreth, and
Anne Stokes. The incense tends to be everyday
perfumed charcoal - the main buying impulse being the imagery on the packs. The incense sticks are made in India by an unspecified source.
Incenses tried: 3
Top score: 25
Low score: 22
Average: 23
Conclusion: Not a brand that interests me.
*****
The
Juicy Jays company was founded in America in the late 1990s to sell flavoured cigarette papers, and a few years ago - probably 2013, launched their incense series. The aromas have tempting names such as Orange Overload, Funkincense, and Apple Brown Betty. They are cheap and made in Thailand.
Scents reviewed: 5
Highest score: 23
Lowest score: 18
Average: 21
Conclusion: Not a company I'm interested in buying again, though the incense is not evil.
 |
Ancient Wisdom
UK importer and distributor
of Indian and Vietnam incense |
Ancient Wisdom are a UK distributor of gift ware and
incense, based in Sheffield. They import incense from Thailand and sell under their own name, or the brand name Dawn Of Time, or as wholesale bulk lots which are then sold on under names such as Ashley's Workshop.
Top scents:
Ancient Wisdom Red Dragon Incense Tibetan Musk (31)Scents: 12 (9 over 5 years old)
Top: 31
Bottom: 9
Top five: 27
Average: 22
Overall: 24
Conclusion: I love David's emails. Less keen on his own brand incense.
*****
Incenses tried: 3
Top score: 21
Low score: 18
Average: 20
Conclusion: I have little interest in exploring further.
*****
Wild Berry is an American incense which is starting to sell in the UK. The sticks are colourful, and have wacky modern names, like Pounding Surf and Baking Brownies. They have a pleasant aroma on the stick - quite sweet and like apple pie. When burned, they all smell the same - very synthetic.
Top scents: None
Scents rated: 5
Average score: 20
Conclusion: Not impressed by the sticks in open jars, but the shorties and the cones, while not good value, are acceptable everyday incense.
*****
(Possibly closed)
UK importer and distributor
of Indian and Thai incense
are a UK based importing business. They distribute incense, and also have their own brands which are made in India and Thailand. Among the brands they own are the nasty Divine Spirit and the cheap small Spiritual Sky. They have an incense factory in Calcutta.
Top scents: None
Incense tried: 8
Highest score: 25
Lowest score: 9
Average score: 17
Conclusion: Mostly cheap and nasty, but at their best they can be harmless.
*****
