Ramakrishna's Natural Handmade Incense

 

There has been a slow bubble of Western interest in Ramakrishna's Natural Handmade Incense over the past few years, which is growing into something of a loud and excited buzz. Ramakrishna Yende has a stall in Mapusa Municipal Market, a local market which attracts tourists and travellers, at which he sells locally made incense and essential oils. At some point  Westerners buying his incense were so impressed they encouraged friends to seek out his stall and bring some home. By 2010, he set up a website to sell incense online. That website doesn't appear to be active, and international sales are mostly conducted  via GoaBay (lowest cost method), or on eBay at around $7 a pack with low cost shipping.  Additionally, it's sold in America by ExoticIncense at around $7 a pack plus shipping. ExoticIncense do reasonable international shipping.  

  

Ramakrishna's shop in Mapusa Market, Goa

With a combination of mentions on Reddit, and recommendations from some of my readers, plus the discovery in my hometown, Southampton, of a packet of Shekhar's Natural Handmade Incense which originates from the same market in Mapusa, Goa, I felt it was time I explored Ramakrishna's Natural Handmade Incense. I'm happy I did - it's good stuff. A little variable in terms of quality, with some packets not quite living up to the hype, but that's normal. Some of the sticks I feel are standard everyday masala incense, assisted by simple essential oils, though some have been very pleasing indeed, and are getting into my Top Drawer Wall of Fame. They are certainly worth getting at a reasonable price, even if only to satisfy your own curiosity.  I bought 24 packs via GoaBay - most of them were 88 rupees (88pence in the UK), though some were 176 rupees (£1.76 in the UK). Shipping was 2,210 rupees (£22.10). The fee was 400 rupees (£4), so the total came to just under £50 - around £2 per pack on average. Well worth doing. 

 

My Viking hoard from Goa

There is little difference between Shekhar and Ramakrishna - the incense appears to be made in the same manner with the same recipes, and packaged in the same way. They both sell from stalls in Mapusa Municipal Market in Goa.  It is possible that one of them is copying the other.  Or it is possible they have the same source, and that this is a common form of incense in Goa, or at least in Mapusa.  I have also bought some incense from Milo's Temple, and it appears that they could be from the same source. The scents, the style of manufacture, the packaging, and the printed labels are rather close to each other.  

I have recalled that Paul Eagle of Happy Hari, spoke about getting his incense originally from Rama, but when he put up his prices, Paul started asking around, and discovered that Rama was sourcing his incense elsewhere, and he found a retailer in Goa who knew Rama's sources, including in Mumbai. So Paul would buy from this retailer - whose name he kept to himself, until events and debts overtook him, and he gave Cory Topel of Absolute Bliss the name of his contact in exchange for 10% of Cory's business. 

 

Similarity in packaging seals and label 
designs between Milo, Ramakrishna, 
and Shekhar

 

Similarities between Milo and Ramakrishna,
and between Shekhar and Ramakrishna

I'm still working my way through my hoard of Ramakrishna's incense. The one that has caught our attention the most so far is Kasturi Drop. That's the first one that has stood out as possibly World Class - certainly Heavenly. But none have been poor. They've all been pretty much decent masala or essential oil incense, and I'm looking forward to trying the rest of them. 

Reviews 

 

Ramakrishna's Kasturi Drop
Jan 2023 - Score: 43

Ramakrishna's Natural Handmade Incense Sticks
Sandalwood (M)
Feb 2024 - Score: 38 

Ramakrishna's Black Current (M)
Aug 2023 - Score: 38

  

Ramakrishna's Sunset (M)
Feb 2024 - Score: 38 

Ramakrishna's Nag Champa
Dec 2022 - Score: 32

 

Ramakrishna's Orange
Dec 2022 - Score: 30

 

Ramakrishna's Mint
Jan 2023 - Score: 28

  

Ramakrishna's Vasundara
Jan 2023 - Score: 25

Scents: 8

Highest score: 43

Lowest score: 25

Average: 32

Conclusion: Small scale / cottage industry producer of  decent everyday natural incense. Quality is variable, but on the whole is a tad above average, and some scents can really engage the senses. There is a charm to the low level production - with the simple labels, and the crude, erratic quality of some formulations and rolling. The back story of the sticks being found on a market stall in Goa adds to the delight of the whole experience.
There is some question over who is responsible for the production and formulation - is it Ramakrishna Yende, the man who runs the market stall, or is it a local producer,  who also makes for Milos Temple and Shekhar?  For the time being I am listing this among the Best Incense Makers rather than Own Brand Distributors. 

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The Best Incense Makers