Phool Luxury Incense Cones Tuberose

  

Tuberose is a highly fragrant night flower that has been used as a floral note in perfumes since at least the 17th century. It was used by Marie Antoinette, who imported the tuberose plant from Mexico.  It is known as an overpowering scent. When opening the plastic inner bag of these Phool Tuberose there is a sense of being overwhelmed, though not in a pleasant manner: there's an odour of death and decay and damp clothes left too long. It's a smell that I am now associating with Phool. While some of the cones have been better than others at overcoming that basic decay odour with the keynote perfume, others, as here with the Tuberose, struggle.  

On the burn the perfume struggles against the core material, so initially what is detected is smoke and burning cardboard with some vague floral notes battling almost in vain to be noticed. It gets a little better as the cone burns down, though never to the point of being attractive. 

I love the idea of Phool, and I love the bright, colourful packaging - it feels special to open a box of Phool; but the production method is really a problem for me. It is possible to reuse temple flowers positively, as with the Cycle brand Pushkarini, or possibly overcome the mouldy odour with a more intense use of perfume, but until I hear reports of Phool improving, then, once I have finished my current stock, I'm unlikely to buy any more Phool. 

[July 2024]: We've been using the cones in the bathroom, and after a while we've either grown accustomed to the mouldy odour, or it has worn off.  The cones, while not being delightful, are quite acceptable, so I'm nudging the score up a bit. 

Date: April 2024   Score: 17   24 

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Phool Incense