This is a companion piece to Noor Oud Crystal, and - like Om Flora which I've just reviewed - was bought from ScentedAndMore for £3.50. The packaging is lovely. There has been a recent trend toward these slide out tray packets, and Hari Darshan (HD) use them a lot. Originally we kept them to use as little containers, but the shape means they are not that useful. The square slide out containers that Phool use for their cones (such as this Lavender) are more useful.
The sticks are machine-extruded charcoal paste onto purple coloured machine-cut bamboo splints; the paste has then been firmly covered with a perfumed masala/melnoorva powder. I removed the powder from a part of the charcoal paste, then removed and crushed the paste. It had no aroma. Essentially, this is a charcoal blank which has been covered in a wood powder. It's not clear if the wood powder was pre-perfumed, or if the stick with the powder was then dipped in a perfume solution, but like the Nandita Saffron Sandal I reviewed a few days ago (and which has some interesting follow up discussion with Alok, maker of Malaan Gaudhoop Swarna Champa), this really pushes our understanding of the term "masala", and HD do use that term on the back of the pack: "Inciensos de Masala by HD". Originally the term would have been used to refer to the fragrant dried spice mix which would be rolled into the combustible paste - over time the term has been transferred to the melnoorva powder applied to the exterior of the stick, which was originally used just to prevent the sticks from gluing together as they dried, but over time has come to signify and differentiate a masala incense from a perfumed incense; the powder has generally been perfumed to give what is known as a "cool throw" - an attractive scent on the stick before it is burned. As such the melnoorva has started to be called masala powder - and it is possible that some powders may have dried fragrant ingredients, though most - like this stick - will likely just be perfume dipped. Having said that, the scent on the stick is reasonably attractive, hovering between a sort of perfumed men's cologne feel, and a standard "masala incense". There's woods and florals, with a little nip of sweet citric fruit.
The scent on the burn takes a little while to warm up. Initially there is a mild smell of scorching paper, which is likely to come from the wood powder. Even though the combustible paste is charcoal, so much wood powder has been applied to the outside of the paste that the scent of the scorching wood makes itself felt. When the fragrance does come through it is fairly modest, and there's nothing clearly defined. It is a generic "incense" smell - woody, musky, and floral. If it had a bit more oomph it might work as an average "incense" accented room freshener, but as it stands it's not quite pulling its weight.
The sticks are machine-extruded charcoal paste onto purple coloured machine-cut bamboo splints; the paste has then been firmly covered with a perfumed masala/melnoorva powder. I removed the powder from a part of the charcoal paste, then removed and crushed the paste. It had no aroma. Essentially, this is a charcoal blank which has been covered in a wood powder. It's not clear if the wood powder was pre-perfumed, or if the stick with the powder was then dipped in a perfume solution, but like the Nandita Saffron Sandal I reviewed a few days ago (and which has some interesting follow up discussion with Alok, maker of Malaan Gaudhoop Swarna Champa), this really pushes our understanding of the term "masala", and HD do use that term on the back of the pack: "Inciensos de Masala by HD". Originally the term would have been used to refer to the fragrant dried spice mix which would be rolled into the combustible paste - over time the term has been transferred to the melnoorva powder applied to the exterior of the stick, which was originally used just to prevent the sticks from gluing together as they dried, but over time has come to signify and differentiate a masala incense from a perfumed incense; the powder has generally been perfumed to give what is known as a "cool throw" - an attractive scent on the stick before it is burned. As such the melnoorva has started to be called masala powder - and it is possible that some powders may have dried fragrant ingredients, though most - like this stick - will likely just be perfume dipped. Having said that, the scent on the stick is reasonably attractive, hovering between a sort of perfumed men's cologne feel, and a standard "masala incense". There's woods and florals, with a little nip of sweet citric fruit.
The scent on the burn takes a little while to warm up. Initially there is a mild smell of scorching paper, which is likely to come from the wood powder. Even though the combustible paste is charcoal, so much wood powder has been applied to the outside of the paste that the scent of the scorching wood makes itself felt. When the fragrance does come through it is fairly modest, and there's nothing clearly defined. It is a generic "incense" smell - woody, musky, and floral. If it had a bit more oomph it might work as an average "incense" accented room freshener, but as it stands it's not quite pulling its weight.
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