Incense in The Wind: Haridas Madhavdas Sugandhi (HMS)

Thursday, 22 February 2024

Haridas Madhavdas Sugandhi (HMS)

Haridas Madhavdas Sugandhi of Pune (HMS) have a long established presence as an Indian incense house, though are best known in the West as the supplier for a number of own brand retailers such as Happy Hari, Absolute Bliss, Bhagwan, Prasad Gifts Celestial, Hare Krishna Das, Windrose Triloka, Blue Pearl, TOI, Pure Incense, Gokula, Sacred Boutique/KrishnaShopping, Bhaktivedanta Manor, etc. Sometimes it's the same sticks under different brand names; sometimes, as with Pure Incense, some of the sticks are made specially for the retailer (for some special sticks Adi-Guru supplies his own oils, and oversees the making of the incense). HMS branded incense can be bought in India - even from Amazon.in, but HMS are reluctant to sell to Western markets where they have existing contracts with retailers.

They are also recognised for their heavy use of vanilla crystals to strengthen and prolong the incense scent, which tends to give most of their incenses a sweet vanilla base.

The family premises in Pune

According to the HMS website, the family started making incense in 1860 when brothers Haridas and Madhavdas Sugandhi opened up an incense manufacturing business in Poona for the local market. I find it curious and noteworthy that Sugandhi means fragrance, and is also the given surname of the family. The business is today run by Nandkumar and Anil Sugandhi, the great-grandsons of the founders. The HMS website states that "our sustainable approach includes eco-friendly, charcoal-free products that significantly diminish air pollution. By harvesting the remains of gums, resins and barks, we prioritise optimal waste management." Such words are fairly common on Indian incense websites, and need untangling. You'll note that the masala paste on HMS incense sticks is charcoal black, which seems odd given the claim they don't use charcoal. My understanding is that a number of incense companies are nowadays using coconut charcoal rather than wood charcoal, and I assume that is what HMS are referring to. Burning coconut charcoal still releases harmful carbons into the atmosphere, but less trees are cut down.

Some of the HMS workers

HMS employ 50 workers on making the masala paste, packing, etc, and "more than 500 women" on a freelance arrangement where they work at home in their own time to roll the paste onto sticks.

Reviews

Reviews are for incenses made by HMS, including those sold under "Own Brand" names such as Primo, TOI, Happy Hari, Bhagwan, Pure Incense, Gokula, Prasad Celestial, etc.