The "Original" series of incenses by Nandita are all traditional single scent incenses (apart from Nag Champa). With a few exceptions, all other Nandita incenses are blends. The "Original" incenses are named as "Organic" on the company's website - the incense and boxes are the same, but instead of saying "Original" they say "Organic". I'm not sure if the ingredients are actually organic, as only 2% of Indian agriculture is certified organic (though, to be fair, there will be more than that which is organic, but not certified, as there are considerable costs involved in certifying). I suspect the term is being used in the same way that "Natural" is used. Looking back on my previous reviews of Nandita, it appears that the older reviews have the "Organic" name, while the more recent are called "Original".
I have had difficulties with the term "benzoin". It is called loban in the north of Indian, and sambrani in the south; it comes from more than one tree source; and is sometimes considered a generic term for tree resin, so can be used interchangeably with frankincense. I've also noticed the scent is quite variable - ranging from neutral and mineral via pine and medicinal to pleasantly sweet with balsamic vanilla notes. The scent on this stick is intensely sweet, with a sherbet powder tingle. It is fruity like Juicy Fruit, and has light, airy lemon and vanilla notes. It is rather child like and feminine, and quite fascinating. I like it - but I'm not sure how much, as it is rather focused on the light and sweet, which is generally not my favourite scent accord, and there's little in the way of balance. And I do like my balance - or at least a reasonable counter-point.
I have had difficulties with the term "benzoin". It is called loban in the north of Indian, and sambrani in the south; it comes from more than one tree source; and is sometimes considered a generic term for tree resin, so can be used interchangeably with frankincense. I've also noticed the scent is quite variable - ranging from neutral and mineral via pine and medicinal to pleasantly sweet with balsamic vanilla notes. The scent on this stick is intensely sweet, with a sherbet powder tingle. It is fruity like Juicy Fruit, and has light, airy lemon and vanilla notes. It is rather child like and feminine, and quite fascinating. I like it - but I'm not sure how much, as it is rather focused on the light and sweet, which is generally not my favourite scent accord, and there's little in the way of balance. And I do like my balance - or at least a reasonable counter-point.
The scent on the burn is spicy, woody, a little prickly. I'm not getting much of the sweet notes that were present on the stick. They are there, lingering lightly in the air, but the woody, resinous, peppery middle to base notes are dominant here.
It's a decent perfumed-masala incense, but it doesn't excite me. The scent on the stick is quite joyful, while the scent on the burn is quite sombre, and neither are balanced enough to deliver, for me, a complete and satisfying experience. It's a warm and gentle incense which feels natural, but that natural translates to being a little rough and basic for my taste, and a little too close to Tibetan style incense, which I find admirable, but not aesthetically pleasing.
Date: Dec 2024 Score: 30
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