I like Shroff's floral incense. My taste in scent inclines to the woody and musky, so I generally like ambers and sandalwoods, but when it comes to Shroff, I lean the other way. It may be that while I incline to woody and musky, I absolutely adore sweet, rich, and intense. Shroff's ambers and sandalwoods tend to be a little dry, sparse, austere for my taste. A little old fashioned. Tastes differ, and there are those who like traditional, austere, simple single scents, such as those made by Cottage Industries in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, which - like Shroff, have been making incense with the same recipes for well over fifty years. I prefer Shroff's more playful and expressive florals, such as their Mogra and Suganda Bathi. I was somewhat beguiled by the rose water scent on the Paneer, but wasn't so fond of the sandalwood which gradually dominated during the burn. I have a bunch of sandals left in this "dry" sample batch, and I'm wondering how I'm going to get on with them.
Meanwhile, I am enjoying the floral notes on the stick of this Pavitram. Musky floral, like jasmine. It smells like a classic floral + sandalwood mix, a bit like Nag Champa, which in my observation is typically a blend of magnolia and sandalwood (though each incense house will do their own thing, so there is some variation on the Nag Champa theme). Some of the most successful Indian incenses appear to be based on a variation of a blend of floral + sandalwood fragrances. After sniffing some more, I'm thinking that the sweet floral notes are closer to vanilla, or that vanilla is involved; perhaps some benzoin, some lemongrass. It's a familiar combination, though I can't pin it down. Jasmine, benzoin, perhaps lemongrass or vetiver, underscored by sandalwood. There's florals, musks, citrus notes, and a creamy, sweet, soft woody sandalwood with a touch of oakmoss. There a feel of a chypre accord about this, though more feminine, less sharp. I'm loving the playfulness of it. Light, floral, musky, sexy. Yes.
Pavitram appears to be Sanskrit for pure or sacred - not a scent or ingredient; which suggests that this incense is a deliberate combination or two or more prominent fragrances. Perhaps a combination that Shroff wanted to keep to themselves, so they wouldn't announce it like: Shroff Jasmine Sandalwood and Benzoin.
On the burn the familiarity in the fragrance increases. I'm sure I've burned an incense close to this before. It's a warm, woody scent on the burn with touches of warm raw wool which I associate with halmaddi. I've tried placing the stick at various angles, and in various places, including upright beneath me, in the hope I could catch the top notes I found so delightful on the stick, but the burn is predominantly woody. A pleasant woody. But there's little to none of the light citrus and jasmine that was so beguiling on the stick. This is a sweaty wood. But dry. I'm wondering if there is some agarwood or cedarwood here - or at least the intention of agarwood. It's less creamy and light than sandalwood. I've just checked the price on Padma Store, and note that at 18.45 EUR for 50g, it's more than twice the price of other Shroff. So perhaps there is some agarwood oil in the mix.
Meanwhile, I am enjoying the floral notes on the stick of this Pavitram. Musky floral, like jasmine. It smells like a classic floral + sandalwood mix, a bit like Nag Champa, which in my observation is typically a blend of magnolia and sandalwood (though each incense house will do their own thing, so there is some variation on the Nag Champa theme). Some of the most successful Indian incenses appear to be based on a variation of a blend of floral + sandalwood fragrances. After sniffing some more, I'm thinking that the sweet floral notes are closer to vanilla, or that vanilla is involved; perhaps some benzoin, some lemongrass. It's a familiar combination, though I can't pin it down. Jasmine, benzoin, perhaps lemongrass or vetiver, underscored by sandalwood. There's florals, musks, citrus notes, and a creamy, sweet, soft woody sandalwood with a touch of oakmoss. There a feel of a chypre accord about this, though more feminine, less sharp. I'm loving the playfulness of it. Light, floral, musky, sexy. Yes.
Pavitram appears to be Sanskrit for pure or sacred - not a scent or ingredient; which suggests that this incense is a deliberate combination or two or more prominent fragrances. Perhaps a combination that Shroff wanted to keep to themselves, so they wouldn't announce it like: Shroff Jasmine Sandalwood and Benzoin.
On the burn the familiarity in the fragrance increases. I'm sure I've burned an incense close to this before. It's a warm, woody scent on the burn with touches of warm raw wool which I associate with halmaddi. I've tried placing the stick at various angles, and in various places, including upright beneath me, in the hope I could catch the top notes I found so delightful on the stick, but the burn is predominantly woody. A pleasant woody. But there's little to none of the light citrus and jasmine that was so beguiling on the stick. This is a sweaty wood. But dry. I'm wondering if there is some agarwood or cedarwood here - or at least the intention of agarwood. It's less creamy and light than sandalwood. I've just checked the price on Padma Store, and note that at 18.45 EUR for 50g, it's more than twice the price of other Shroff. So perhaps there is some agarwood oil in the mix.
After burning for a while the room, even with the doors to the house open (it's a pleasant summery day), starts to fill up with the fragrance in a dry, austere, slightly intimidating way. The fragrance now feels very woody and dark, and quite a long way from the sweet, floral playfulness on the stick. Interesting incense. I look forward to returning to this at some point in the near future.
I liked shroff’s pavitram incense. I usually buy shroff incenses in their factory in Bangalore but not, they’re commercially available in India through scenting secrets website. I’m so happy because I can but shroff incenses in the comfort of my home.
ReplyDeletescenting secrets is a good website - it's a shame they only deliver to India.
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