Variety packs, often called 3-in-1 or similar, are popular in the budget end of the incense world. They tend to be single packs with three or more different scents inside. They are different to gift packs, which tend to gather together usually five different, though related, packs of incense, into one package, such as Impressions Gift Pack and Hari Darshan Hindu Gods Gift Pack. They are also different to sample packs, where a company will gather together several samples of their products in order to encourage consumers to buy the individual products, such as Shoyeido Magnifiscents Sampler. A variety pack is generally intended to be an end in itself - it is the variety that the customer wants, and they will repeat buy. We used to buy such a variety pack - a green box of seven scents, called 105 sticks. We were quite happy with that green box. Then one day our local shop were out of stock, and they recommended Satya Nag Champa as a replacement, and my life changed! But, yes, the point is that companies will make a variety pack for customers who just want to casually buy one pack of incense a week or month, and like to have a variety of scents. Such people, like we were, are largely buying on price or perceived value. And commonly such variety packs are confined to the budget end of the market, so will generally be perfumed-charcoal, as that is cheap and easy to make, and the scents will be augmented with a chemical such as DEP to help keep the costs down.
Reviews
* = Review over 5 years old so may not be reliable
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| Sital 3 in 1 Masala Jan 2024 - Score: 36 |
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| Veer Special 3 in 1 (P) Apr 2020 - Score: 29* |
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| Dr. Jieer Incense Cone 6 Color (P) Oct 2022 - Score: 22 |
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| SHHT GmbH Incense Cones (P) Oct 2022 - Score: 22 |
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| ITC Mangaldeep Treya Power of 3-in-1 (P) Oct 2023 - Score: 21 |
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| Metromilan +7 (P) Feb 2025 - Score: 21 |
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| Ancient Wisdom Loose Assorted (P) Dec 2023 - Score: 21 |
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| Windhorse Mixed Sticks (P) June 2014 - Score: 21 |
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| Aargee Ayurveda Variety Pack (P) Feb 2017 - Score: 20* |
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| PMS International Assorted Aromas (P) Jun 2014 - Score: 20* |
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| Aanchal Agarbatti 3 in 1 (P) Apr 2023 - Score: 20 |
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| Sky Aromatherapy Variety Pack No. 2 (P) Mar 2017 - Score: 11* |
Reviews: 12
Top Score: 36
Bottom score: 11
Average: 22
Top Score: 36
Bottom score: 11
Average: 22
Conclusion: With the exception of Sital 3 in 1 Masala, which are intended to be decent quality, all the variety pack incenses I've had have been bargain basement stuff. I'll be avoiding them in future.
These variety packs are quite popular in the Middle East too. Notably, 5 incenses are famous and can be found in every shop in the Middle East- Cycle Three in one, Shalimar Seven Wonders, Liberty Viji, Tulasi 7in1 and BIC Panchavati 4in1. Even Parimal’s Rainbow 7in1 is famous but it’s rarely seen. I have the theory why this is popular-
ReplyDelete1. In a cheap price, you can get many scents and sticks form one pack, therefore it’s economical.
2. Small shops tend to keep it as it will save them tones of money then buying multiple packs of different scented incense. There fore, it’s cheaper for them to stock upon 3in1 or 7in1 incenses.
I have many of these in my collection- Cycle Three in One, Cycle Lia 7in1, Shalimar Seven Wonders, Liberty Viji, Darshan Ceylon 7, Lanka Sumeda Frangipani 2in1 and Cycle Moods 4in1.
I also forgot to mention that I have Mangaldeep’s 3in1 with me too.
DeleteI used to be keen on them. Indeed, for years the only incense we bought was a variety pack. But I think, now, that they are made to a price, and few incense companies make much of an effort to produce good quality incense. Of course there are exceptions, but most variety packs have value in mind rather than quality.
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