New Age Black Copal

 

Second review - scroll down for earlier

Pleasant sage and mineral scent on the  bubbly "resin-on-a-stick" type paste. Slight hint of perfume and some minor volatility. I love the appearance, so clearly hand-made and rustic - it looks like some child has gathered farmyard muck and chicken feed on a stick. Promising. 

The scent on the burn is immediately warm, natural, attractive, resinous, herbal, woodsy, with a light touch of perfume holding it all together and preventing it becoming too rustic or Tibetan. Ooh, it develops beautifully - sage, lavender, woodsy resin, sexy, cleansing, all held together by a feel of perfume in the background, so that the whole is not just random herbs burning, but presents as more ordered and aesthetic. Spicy, dry, and with a natural open feel, like being out in a Greek forest. Lovely stuff. Is it perfect? Almost, but as it burns there's a plastic note that starts to emerge, and something oily like turps. But on the whole this is a supreme smudge. Glorious. 

Date: Jan 2025    Score: 47

First review

Black copal is, as Wikipedia says: "a tree resin, particularly the aromatic resins from the copal tree Protium copal (Burseraceae) used by the cultures of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica as ceremonially burned incense.".

This is spicy, citric, pine, herby. It's like a walk through a Mediterranean pine forest on a hot summer's day. It's clean, pure, natural, emotionally relaxing yet intellectually refreshing and stimulating. It smells wonderful, and it feels emotionally and intellectually positive. Job done. 

Niggles? Yes. There's a burning note throughout - so added to the image of a walk through a Mediterranean pine forest there's a smoky bonfire of autumn leaves in the middle distance.  While attractive ("wonderful" indeed), the scent range is fairly narrow - it's a fairly mid-range citrus and pine; which are the scents associated with cleaning products, so there is little excitement or novelty here. There is little contrast, balance, or counterpoint. I'd welcome some base musky scents, and/or light, playful, joyful top notes, perhaps some fruits or florals. After a while this stick feels more functional and worthy rather than the wonderful of the first moment.  Judge it for what it is - a spiritual smudge cleanser, and it really works fine. More than fine, as a spiritual smudge this is glorious stuff. But overall there are details missing which would make this world class for me. But, by heck, it's close! 

I've enjoyed the New Age products I've had, and would be happy to explore further. 

Date: May 2024   Score: 42

***

New Age Imports