Incense In The Wind

Radiating Incense In The Wind - a painting by Hai Linh Le

Wednesday 23 August 2023

GP Industries Pandhari

 


I had a sample stick of GP Industries Ruh Amber, which I really liked, and discovered that their best known brand is Pandhari, so I bought a pack from an eBay company that was recommended to me on the Reddit incense  forum.   GP Industries are based in the city of Shimoga in Karnataka, and have apparently been in business for 23 years, but I have found little other information. Which is a shame, as going by the Ruh Amber and this Pandhari, they are a decent incense company. It continually surprises me how many decent Indian incense companies there are which us Westerners know nothing about - meanwhile a handful of well known brands predominate.    

This is truly delightful stuff. A soft black masala paste has been hand rolled onto a plain machine cut bamboo splint, and then coated in a fluffy brown wood powder. There is a scent on the powder - though I suspect that is a transference of the essential oil that has been applied to the stick. The oil has a bold perfume reminiscent of a Turkish lemon cologne infused with fresh vanilla and coconut, Fresh, gently manly, musky, sensual, bright, transportive - hugely inviting and compelling. The scent on the burn - as with the best masalas - carries on the scent from the stick, albeit in a softer, more diffused, manner. It doesn't overwhelm, but firmly informs and decorates the room with the incense perfume. It is a surprisingly subtle incense, unfolding gently, and spreading pleasantly around the room and into the house. Yet, we've also used it in the garden while indulging in our hot tube, and it makes itself known even in an open space. 

I'm impressed with this. A lot. It hasn't got me that excited or intrigued enough to go into my top drawer, but it is certainly a heavenly incense that does stand out as something a little bit special. Nice one.  


Date: Aug 2023   Score: 43 
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