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Phool is a young and interesting company based in Kanpur, in Northern India. It was founded by two young men - scientist Ankit Agarwal and business graduate Karan Rastogi, who had been childhood friends. They got together in 2015 to look into how they could economically recycle discarded temple flowers, and by 2017 had launched Phool incense.
I've been curious about Phool for a little while, as there's been a buzz of interest in them because of their sustainability marketing, especially the re-using of temple flowers. So I was pleased to get a box of 40 cones from aavyaa for ₹290.00 (approx. £2.90) with free shipping. The using of temple flowers in incense is becoming popular, Kailapira do it with Alaknanda and others, and Ranga Rao do it with their excellent Pushkarini. In my limited experience, the use of temple flowers is not mainly for the scent, but as part of the burning material as the crushed petals contain carbon elements, though when the petal powder is blended with oils, it can assist the aroma.
A company called HelpUsGreen has been in touch offering samples. I say yes, and mention Phool. They respond by saying: "I am writing to clarify and update you regarding our venture. When this initiative was originally started, it was under the name "Phool". However, over time, the venture has evolved and is now operating under the name "Help Us Green". Currently, Mr. Karan Rastogi is leading and managing the operations of Help Us Green."
Karan Rastogi was the co-founder of Phool with Ankit Agarwal. Phool still exists. I assume Ankit Agarwal is now running Phool by himself. Ah. This is old news. It happened back in 2019. HelpUsGreen was the original name of Phool.
Reviews
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| Phool Luxury Incense Cones Lavender April 2024 - Score: 28 |
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| Phool Luxury Incense Cones Jasmine Nov 2023 - Score: 26 |
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| Phool Luxury Incense Sticks - Tulsi (PM) July 2024 - Score: 25 |
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| Phool Luxury Incense Cones Tuberose April 2024 - Score: 24↑ |
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| Phool Luxury Incense Cones Nagchampa (P) Mar 2025 - Score: 23= |
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| Phool Luxury Incense Cones Indian Rose Sept 2023 - Score: 20 |
Scents reviewed: 7
Top score: 28
Top score: 28
Bottom score: 15
Average: 21
Conclusion: Beautiful marketing and packaging, ethical production, some acceptable scents, but the production method results in an unpleasant off-aroma. I'm open to trying again, but am not seeking to buy any more at the moment.
I find most of the phool incenses to have that burnt, wilted flowers and intense wooly fragrance which bothers with some of the fragrances like Indian rose, lavender and tuberose. I find it unpleasant and most of them have mold in there faster. But their oudh, vetiver, Nargis and their newly launched sandalwood is my favorite. I find some brands which does good flowecycled incense, like help us green with their khus dhoop sticks, Cycle with their Rhythm Pushkarini, Nirmalaya with their Tulsi, Sandalwood, Forestwood and Zen and Tulasi’s Sugandh lok with their Bangalore’s special, Deluxe sandal, soundarya, dehn Al oudh, vidwan, shankhnaad and vanilla bean
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