Incense In The Wind

Burner Burner - Carhartt jacket incense burner

Saturday, 6 July 2024

HEM Silver Rain

 


Silver Rain is a not uncommon name for incense in Asia. Some scents are associated with bringing luck, prosperity, or abundance, and so burning these scents may increase the chances of  becoming rich. Which scents are associated with the bringing of wealth depends on who you read and what you believe - if you type "scents which attract money" into Google, you'll get a range of views on the topic, with little consistency between which scents will bring you wealth. At a glance I'd say that the most frequent scents mentioned are patchouli and cinnamon. If you put a dab of those scents on your neck, and you go out and get rich, then I'll expect 10% commission! 

This is another scruffy HEM stick with powdery charcoal that comes off on your fingers. The scent on the stick is fascinating, containing a number of the scents I've glanced on the "scents which attract money" lists such as bergamot, cinnamon, ginger, and patchouli - though it also has rose, which I didn't  notice on anyone's list (rose is usually associated with love rather than money). It's a intriguing accord, though a little busy, confused, and clashing. It makes a lot of noise, but little harmony. I kind of like it for its vigour - an energetic and powerful accord. There's some green in there as well. 

As with the previous scruffy HEM I've burned - Red Apple, the stick flared up when lit, and produced a lot of black smoke. But when the flame is blown out (blowing is important, as you are putting your own breath into the scent - the burning experience then becomes more intimate and personal; shaking out the flame is arrogant and dismissive - please treat your incense with love and respect),  the smoke is silvery grey and beautiful. I'm burning upright again - this really does seem to produce finer results. I get similar scents on the burn to those on the stick - a proper display of top, heart, and base notes, and they present wonderfully in that order. I will keep experimenting, though at the moment I'm seriously considering just throwing away all my 20 degree angle burners - and I have dozens and dozens of them - especially those everyday wooden ones that come free with some incense packs. But burning upright just seems to produce a sharper, fresher, more accurate scent experience with fewer off-notes. 

The scent on the burn is partly bergamot, with some spice, but mostly, as it builds, it's the damask rose. It's moderately heady, quite powdery, gently sweet, and rather beguiling. I hope it rains money now! 


Date: July 2024  Score:  30
***



No comments:

Post a Comment

Please leave a comment: