Ramakrishna's Natural Handmade Incense Sticks Nag Champa

 

This is a Nag Champa (magnolia) scented masala incense from a stall in the popular Mapusa Municipal Market in Goa. There are at least two stalls in the market selling locally made incense, though this stall, Ramakrishna's, has recently (2021, though building in 2022) acquired some interest due to a tourist purchasing some in Goa, and then enthusing about it online. That's sometimes how these things happen. It might have happened to Shekhar's stall, or one we are not yet aware of. But, in this case, it happened to Ramakrishna. Now people are sourcing it direct at the market or from GoaBay, or via eBay or Etsy, or getting it from Exotic Incense, and then spreading the joy. 

The sticks are heavy and moist, like a Flora or Fluxo incense - rich with perfumed oil. The scent on the stick is rich and creamy and floral. There is magnolia here, and rose, and vanilla, and honey. It's a delightful scent - sweet and floral, but not heavy or invasive. I love it. And I'm not a huge fan of florals. But this feels natural and inviting; and some aspects of what can be overwhelming in a pure floral incense is balanced by the sweet notes of vanilla and honey, with a light touch of sandalwood that grounds it nicely. 

Ramakrishna's Nag Champa on top
Shekhar's Nag Champa below

When I compare the Ramakrishna with the Shekhar on the stick, they are very similar, and at times hard to tell apart, but the Sheknar is perhaps more consistently sharper and less sweet and less floral. It is the Ramakrishna I keep returning to with more pleasure. They are both going after the same thing, but the Ramakrishna is the more successful at getting there. Of the three of us, two preferred the Ramakrishna scent on the stick, while one preferred the Sheknar as being more balanced and interesting - offering more. On appearance, the Shekhar is slightly darker or more damp looking - other than that, they are the same. 

On the burn the Ramakrishna, like the Shekhar, is soft and pure - there are no off notes. It does not assert or overpower, but does gradually make itself known in a medium sized room - you'd need at least two for a large room, and even in a medium room, two doesn't overpower and might be preferred to just burning one. The scent notes incline towards woody rather than floral, and are pleasant if a little vague.  Burn times vary, but - as with most masalas of this type - are between 50 and 70 minutes. All three of us preferred the Shekhar, which we found a little spicier and more interesting. 

On the whole, the scent on the stick is quite lovely, while the scent on the burn is below average for a decent masala. Overall we feel this is bottom end of decent everyday masala. 

Date: Dec 2022   Score: 32

Nag Champa

Ramakrishna's Natural Handmade Incense