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.
I have tried some one stick samples of their Chakra range, which came from the excellent Padma Store in Europe. I found them to be 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. Halmaddi is an ingredient that has largely fallen out of favour among Indian incense consumers and incense makers, though is popular among Western masala incense buyers. I am not a fan of halmaddi, so the Chakra range is not to my liking.
Reviews
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| Muladhara Chakra Root Grounding & Serenity Sandalwood, Khus, Patchouli & Clove Score: 35 |
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| Ajna Chakra Third Eye Concentration & Intuition Jasmine & Tulasi Score: 28 |
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Score: 24 |
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| Anahata Chakra Heart Love & Sensitivity Patchouli, Geranium & Rose Score: 21 |
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Score: 20 |
Scents: 6
Hi Steve, thanks for your reviews.
ReplyDeleteI was eyeing the Chakra line sampler for a while but was discouraged to get them from reviews that pretty much align with yours.
I tried one Prabhuji's before that is Lalita (Devotion line) Sandalwood & Musk.
It smells absolutely delicious and heavenly unburned, but it's like you repeat in your reviews: Lit, the scent does not life up to the that.
After about half a pack, I chose to scrape off the masala and use it on my tealight incense stove. That's my go-to trick for to smoky sticks. That way, it actually smells as nice as the unlit stick so I can at least properly enjoy what is left.
You mention Happy Hari - Queen of Lotus in the Sahasrara review as one of your favorite Lotus sticks. I had them in the sampler set I got from Padma Store and wasn't really impressed with it. I found it reasonably pleasant, very creamy-powdery sweet and floral but ultimately not very remarkable. What did I miss?
If you happen to find BERK/Holy Smokes Ambrosia for a reasonable price
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Berk-Worlds-Ambrosia-Incense-Sticks/dp/B005SYZ9LS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2QZHWW4DUW16Z&keywords=berk+ambrosia+holy+smokes&qid=1673438722&sprefix=berk+amrosia+holy+smokes%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-1
- link for context - give them a try. BERK is a German company. A pack of those usually cost around 3,50€ here.
They are one of my favorite incense sticks. After I had tried a few different "Blue Lotus" incenses, I'm sure that's part of the formula. They have a heady, floral sweetness that I really find "etheric", but at the same time, there is something dark and earthy. There is quite some complexity going on. They are like the olfactory equivalent to a dark violet velvet fabric, sprinkled with a pinch of glitter.
(Everything else I tried so far is neglectable. I'm still working my way through 2 of 3 remaining sample boxes of the "blue line" and I say "working" because it actually feels like that.)
On a side note, I suspect their sticks could be produced by the same manufacturer who produces for Pure Incense. I sense some sort of "family resemblance" going through them, especially the often annoying vanilla note. Ambrosia doesn't have that note - or at lieast it is far enough in the background to actually support the scent instead of dominating (or ruin) it.
I like your idea of scraping the incense off the stick - I have heard of someone else doing that. I'll give it a go. I haven't got my burner out in a while, and I have a whole bunch of stick incense I want to get though first, so it may be a while before I try it!
DeleteI always like your recommendations Samsa, so I've just ordered some Berk from Hungary.
ReplyDeleteI did review Berk Holy Smokes Agarwood
, but that was way back in 2015, and I can't recall seeing any more since then.
Oh, thank you! :D
DeleteYes, I remember reading it now.
Agarwood are (still) one of the better ones.
Actually, back when I was a teen, I LOVED Holy Smokes. I got deeply into loose incense in my early 20's to the point of abandoning incense sticks completely untill about 2 years ago. I had some Holy Smokes from back than (mostly the "Royal Line" that was discontinnued in the meantime) and one of them was Agarwood. The old sticks (at least 10 years old) still smelled a tad bit better than the one from the newish sampler box.
I'm sure my taste changed and matured during that time (I'm sure my teen me wasn't botherd by the Vanilla) but I'm also to some degree convinced their quality sunk.
From Hungary lol - I hope you'll like it. I'm looking forward to your review. (I'm patient, don't worry.)
I have ordered the Padma Happy Hari sampler. I think most of the incense in the sampler I have in the original, when Paul was still doing it. I am curious as to how it compares.
ReplyDeleteI will get around to trying another of Prabhuji's Gifts lines, though I am well backed up at the moment, so that will have to wait. But when I do, I'll get the Devotion line.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the Devotion is often told to be the best one.
DeleteI have some ohters from that line on my curious-list:
Vrinda Devi
Nrasingha Dev
Yamuna
Krishna
Hari and Gukula
but I'm not sure if I'll ever try them at that point.
Maybe I see and wait for your reviews - or I happen to do an incense exchange with someone having them...
Yes, I'm getting into incense exchanges. They're fun. I've got a large selection of Ramakrishna, and some Milo's Temple, and I'm hoping to source some more Shekhar's tomorrow, if you're interested. Plus, I have developed a tendency to keep a few sticks from the incense I review (unless they were samples), so if there are some incenses I've reviewed that you are curious about.... And I can send you a pack or two of original Happy Hari.
DeleteOMG yes! I'll send you an email.
ReplyDelete