Sree Vani Little Ganesh

   

Second review. Scroll down for earlier

Proper traditional masala incense from a relatively modern Indian incense company. A Satya sized packet (I use Satya as the template for this size and shape of packet as they are, as far as I'm aware, the first company to use this packet - at least, the first well known and still active company - an incense company that is much copied) of the standard 15g weight. The inner packet is waxed paper with printed design and text in blue ink and some oil stains. All quite retro and beautiful. The packet design includes a printed stamp marked "Export Quality". What that means exactly, I don't know. Is it better or lesser quality than domestic output? Who knows. However, Little Ganesh comes from a "Little God" series, which I suspect is aimed at the Western market (which does like a series, especially one based on Eastern imagery and mythology).  It's possible that the Little God series is targeted at the West, but may also be offered to the domestic market, who may feel that incense aimed at the West would be finer quality because the West is perceived to be wealthier and more refined. I do notice that incense aimed at the domestic market from most incense makers will generally be single scent - Jasmine, Patchouli, etc, rather than blends. But it will be the blends, such as Nag Champa and Flora Fluxo, which become the big sellers. I suspect that the domestic market, in general, are cautious about anything  new and different. And I suppose this is to be expected from such an ancient culture, compared to more modern and progressive cultures. 

Anyhow, I like the look and ambiance of this incense even before I open the waxed inner pouch and the fragrance comes out. And then, when it does come out, I'm kinda lost in pleasure and reminiscence. Sweet, juicy, very fruity. It reminds me of the legendary Spiritual Sky - a profoundly perfumed masala incense sold in the Seventies by the Krishna Temple movement (and not to be confused with any of the cheap, crude imitations which may be currently on offer). There is more than a suggestion of strawberry, which puts me in mind of the beautiful Strawberry Fields, which was my (and quite a few others) favourite  Spiritual Sky incense. This is gorgeous. 

I've burned a few of these sticks quite casually over the past few days, which is what put me in mind to come back and review (or re-review) it. It is an attractive masala scent on the burn. There's a little spice that catches in my thought and puts me in mind of halmaddi, as that is what I tend to experience when halmaddi is used as a perfume fixative. Thankfully (for me) most incense makers these days use more neutral and less aggressive/disruptive fixatives such as gum Arabic. There is that general earthy/woody scent which tends to be present in most traditional masala incense. I like that natural scent, and the ambiance and mood it creates. Though it can limit the overall scent experience - narrowing it, and bringing it back to the earthy/woody scent rather than fragrance of the oils. And this is made worse (for me) when halmaddi is used - it can be difficult to really experience the scent journey of the true fragrance. OK for those who love that earthy/woody/spicy masala scent, and are content to have that scent dominant, with subtle variations from whatever fragrance/essential oils are used. But while I like the general masala scent, I find that it can be a little samey after a while, and so I look for incenses that have bolder or at least more noticeable fragrances above and beyond the base masala scent.  

While this incense does limit the floral/fruit fragrance with a little too much masala scent, and a little too much obvious halmaddi, I still love it. I just wish I could get more, or even just the same amount, of the fragrance on the burn that I get on the stick. But that is a general complaint I have of most incense sticks and cones. And is partly why I am becoming more interested in oil burners, and also in going back to explore pure incense. The fillers needed to make incense sticks and cones detracts too much (for me) from the fragrance oils and perfumes. 


Date: Oct 2024    Score: 40 

First review

Sree Vani's "Little God" series of wet masala incense sticks are suddenly (in 2023) available all over the place. I picked up this Little Ganesh packet from PilgrimBazaar on eBay for £1.50, though it is also sold in Spain for €1.45, and in America for $2.50,  Sree Vani Perfumery Works are based in Bangalore, were formed in 1983, and sell a wide range of masala and perfumed incense.  

Sree Vani in Bangalore

This is a rich, moist incense - fairly close in style and attitude to a flora fluxo, though not quite as fat as the average flora. The scent on the stick is beautiful - rich, heady, floral, with an exquisite and exciting cluster of aromas, though the range, albeit vivid, seems to be fairly narrow - fruity (pineapple, lemon sherbet, raspberries) and floral (jasmine, rose, lavender) with nips of baby oil. The light citric notes in the fruit element keep the scent from being cloying, though I'd welcome something else to expand the experience. The joy and delight in the initial meeting of the scent fades as the stick burns, and the scent becomes familiar - perhaps too familiar. There's little left to discover. But that's really a minor quibble. This is essentially a solid and exquisite scent which does delight. 

I'd be keen to explore some more from Sree Vani (when I reduce my backlog a little.....) 


Date: Aug 2023   Score: 38 

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