These are very thick sticks - machine extruded from what appears to be a coconut charcoal paste on a very substantial like machine cut stick. The stick is like a skewer. The thickness of the stick, and the weight, means it does not fit into any of my regular incense holders, and I had to plonk it in the soil in a plant pot - something I often used to do when burning joss sticks as a hippy.
The name Kasturi means musk - but this is not at all musky. The scent on the stick is very sweet, and reminds us of a milky pudding we had in the Middle East, though the name of which escapes us. There is vanilla in the mix, plus something cool and mineral. Something a little chalky. It's a bloody gorgeous scent. We all love it.
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This Chinese incense burner is weighty enough to hold the stick, though the ash will fall on my Keffiyeh. |
When I burned it yesterday, I felt it was a benzoin incense. It gently filled the kitchen with a calming, cool, comforting, clean, cleansing scent - cool mineral elements that somehow create a warmth. This morning the kitchen and the rooms near to it had the cool, calm, clean feel of benzoin. Kasturi is an Indian term for musk. I'm looking at this incense closely, and searching out the musk qualities. Hmmm. Yes, there is a sensual warmth - though inclining toward patchouli more than musk. There is also the cool warmth of charcoal - or rather, coal itself. Yes - good Welsh coal. So, right now, I'm getting a blend of vanilla, benzoin, patchouli, a Welsh coal fire, fresh herbs, and a hint of musk. Ha! How much of those scents are actually there, and how much I have drifted my thoughts in that direction, I don't know. But I do know I really love this incense.
It's a good long burn that really fills the room with scent. It doesn't overpower, and it's not smoky. Indeed, it's a really clean and enjoyable scent with no flaws. Nice one.
Date: Jan 2023 Score: 43
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