100 Incense Sticks (more or less) With Holder

 

I'm sorting my incense stash which has become slightly unmanageable, and making a decision to trash, outhouse, or keep various packets I've had for a while. I have a few of these packs of 100 sticks with wooden ash catcher. They were sold intensively in various hardware and pound stores for a while, and I mostly, with some exceptions, found them pleasant as casual everyday incense, and excellent value. They were imported by various people, mainly the wholesalers SifCon International, and mostly they were sold in generous packs of 100 sticks with a free wooden ash-catcher, for prices under £2, though sometimes the amount of sticks would be less than a 100 - perhaps 60 or even 20. The packets don't say who makes the sticks, not even the country - which suggests that they are not made in India. Possibly Vietnam or China. The sticks are generally around 10 inches long with approx 6 to 7 inches of effective paste (the rolling method used tends to trail off the paste quite thinly - and when the paste gets too thin it stops burning) - 10 inches is a more usual length for Vietnam and China. The bamboo sticks are mostly thick, crudely hand cut, though some are neat machine-cut. These vary, but are not standard bargain basement perfumed-charcoal sticks - the hand rolled paste (extremely hard, like rock) has a coating of wood powder which gives the appearance and suggestion of masala. But a rather cheap, crude looking masala. While clearly cheaply made on an industrial scale, the sticks burn well, and, with some trashy exceptions, the aroma generally stretches from average to decent; they are, essentially, nothing special, but, on the whole, nothing bad either. They are not something I would seek out, and nor would I be likely to buy a packet if I happened on them in a shop - but that is because I currently have more incense than I know what to do with; however, if I didn't already have masses of incense, and I wanted something casual but acceptable at a low cost, then these would do nicely enough. 

They are available from various online sellers: CuriositySwanage at £1.95; in Nigeria  for 3,500 Nigerian Naira; Amazon for £4.59;  eBay at £1.99; and traders can buy the Aira brand from GemImports for 63p a unit of 40 sticks - though the quality of that brand is poor.  

Reviews

* = Score over five years old, so may not be reliable

Poundland Coley & Gill
Fig and Wild Plum (P)
Feb 2017   Score: 33*

  

Sifcon 100 Sticks Cinnamon Cedarwood (P)

June 2018  Score:  33*

Bloome Incense
Garden Strawberries (P)
April 2016   Score: 33*

  

Sifcon 100 Incense Sticks Vanilla Frost (P)
Nov 2023  Score: 32↓

Sifcon 100 Incense Sticks Gingerbread Latte (P)
Nov 2023  Score:  30↓

  

Sifcon 100 Sticks Tuberose Gardenia (P)
 June 2018    Score: 30*

  

Bloome Incense
Indian Sandalwood (P)

Feb 2017   Score: 30*

  

Sifcon 20 Fragranced Sticks Sandalwood (P)

April 2019  Score:  29

  

Poundland Coley & Gill
Strawberry Flower & Lily (P)
 Feb 2017  Score: 27*

Sifcon 100 Sticks Ocean Breeze (P)
Nov 2023  Score:  26↓

Poundland Coley & Gill
Fresh Lavender (P)
Feb 2017   Score: 20*

  

Bloome Incense
Sweet Cherry (P)

Feb 2017   Score: 13*

 

Poundland Coley & Gill
Cotton Fresh (P)
Feb 2017   Score: 12*

  

The Candle Company
 60 Sticks & Holder
Lavender (P)
Feb 2017 - Score: 12

The Candle Company
60 Sticks & Holder
Tea Rose (P):
Feb 2017   Score: 12

Packets reviewed: 15

Top score: 33*

Low score: 12*

Top five: 32*
Average: 26 
Overall: 29

Conclusion: Low cost casual everyday perfumed incense. There's nothing interesting or exceptional in these sticks, but supplied with the free wooden ash-catcher they can represent excellent value for money, and on the whole have modest but acceptable scents. 

*****

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