Nandita Dream Catcher

 

Machine extruded, perfumed incense from Nandita. The paste is hard and crumbly (which machine extruded paste tends to be). There is a very meagre dusting of powder on the paste. This is an incense which appears to be aimed at the West. A dreamcatcher is a part of the culture of the Ojibwe people of North America. During the Sixties and Seventies, dreamcatchers spread to other Native American people, and became so popular that they spilled over into mainstream cultures as cute examples of native art. These days dreamcatchers are sold all over the place, with very few actually made in America, let alone by Native Americans. Most are made in factories in Asia. This incense box simply uses the idea and imagery of a dreamcatcher to catch a buyer's attention. I wonder how much influence a name has on a buyer's decision to purchase, especially when the name gives no indication of what the incense will smell like. A number of incense packets aimed at the West will invoke New Age interests, such as New Age interest in Native American spirituality.  There is an accepted connection between New Age and incense (particularly smudge incense), so it's inevitable that incense makers will make incense aimed at New Age followers. 

There is a mineral, marine, minty, fresh, linen, coffee, floral scent on the stick. A curious feel of natural (benzoin resin) and synthetic. It's a fairly neutral scent, not signifying much, apart from a sense of cleanliness. It's a modest room freshener or clothes conditioner scent. 

The scent on the burn is more attractive. Deeper, muskier, woodier. There are whiffs of burning candles. Some earthiness. Some resin. Hints of frankincense. Moderately churchy.  A sense of cool charcoal. Despite appearances (machine made, and perfumed), when burned this gives a feel of being natural. Yes, there are off notes (scorched dust - as when turning on an electric element for the first time in ages), but on the whole there is an olfactory sense of burning resin and woods. Not really an incense that has pleased or interested me, but it is fairly harmless, and it burns well. An OK room freshener. 

Date: Jan 2025    Score:  28

***

Nandita of Mumbai