Fumino Indian Spices

 

Oooh, this has a pleasant Indian spice mix aroma - a bit like a masala chai tea. Cardamom, cinnamon, aniseed, clove, fresh beechwood sawdust, and  - oddly, but not unpleasantly - sweaty socks. It's a rather fascinating and compelling scent, unlike anything I can recall having from Satya, the company who appear to be very similar to whoever makes this incense for Fumino.  I love it. So what third generation family incense house in Bangalore makes a spicy masala style incense? 

The blurb on the back

The scent on  the burn approximates that on the stick, though is more sombre, deeper, and complex. Some of the higher notes don't quite come through so something is lost, but there is a matching gain in depth and impact. It is a little more challenging on the burn, with more of the stale sweat notes being felt. I'd welcome a little more sweetness and balance or contrast, but I am intrigued by the nature of the fragrance - the various spice strands. There is a cinnamon sweetness here, which does offer some relief to the otherwise rather grim cardamom pungency with its emphasis on camphor and burnt curry spices. 

This is not a standard room freshener, nor is it an incense I'm likely to burn often - but there are times when I will be wanting something this complex, challenging, and different.  This is kind of like a breath of fresh air to anyone who may have had weeks of unadventurous mainstream incense. 

Date: April 2024   Score: 45

***

Fumino