Calmveda is a young Indian incense company which uses recycled temple flowers - an ecological initiative started by Phool. Founded in May 2023 by the 24 year old Dhruv Gupta, a business graduate of the respected Shaheed Sukhdev College Of Business Studies in Delhi, Calmveda has quickly developed a presence in the West. I came upon Calmveda in December last year; and while I found the scents variable - I really liked Habana Cinnamon, but didn't like 1960's Patchouli (your mileage may vary), I was struck by how normal the sticks were compared to other incense companies using recycled temple flowers. The sticks I burned last December were machine extruded, and some of those I really enjoyed, though I became aware that Calmveda also sold hand rolled masala style incense. Dhruv then sent me a pack of this Oudh Agarwood, a perfumed masala incense. Wow!
We chatted on Whatsapp while Dhruv was making preparations for his sister's wedding. I wanted to know why Calmveda incense smelled better than other incense using recycled flowers. I had a theory that perhaps Calmveda was using more oils, though Dhruv felt that wasn't the case - though he did explain that the oils were not diluted, and that halmaddi was used. We discussed that Calmveda outsources production to established incense houses like the excellent Parimal, though this Oudh Agarwood is made by a smaller artisanal operation. I would be interested in exploring more incense from that incense house, because I am blown away by the beauty of these sticks. We talked about how Calmveda collects and processes the flowers, and Dhruv explained that the flowers are dried for at least 25 days in greenhouses to ensure there is no remaining moisture. I have long thought that Phool incense smells of dirty water and damp decay, so this makes sense. Dhruv says there is an average of 15-17% dried flower content in each stick. This didn't seem enough to me to be the sole combustible, so Dhruv explained that the rest is made up of rubber wood powder from Vietnam - a slow burning and low odour wood powder that also has binding qualities. I suspect that mixing the flowers with the clean burning rubber wood powder contributes to Calmveda's olfactory success.
We chatted on Whatsapp while Dhruv was making preparations for his sister's wedding. I wanted to know why Calmveda incense smelled better than other incense using recycled flowers. I had a theory that perhaps Calmveda was using more oils, though Dhruv felt that wasn't the case - though he did explain that the oils were not diluted, and that halmaddi was used. We discussed that Calmveda outsources production to established incense houses like the excellent Parimal, though this Oudh Agarwood is made by a smaller artisanal operation. I would be interested in exploring more incense from that incense house, because I am blown away by the beauty of these sticks. We talked about how Calmveda collects and processes the flowers, and Dhruv explained that the flowers are dried for at least 25 days in greenhouses to ensure there is no remaining moisture. I have long thought that Phool incense smells of dirty water and damp decay, so this makes sense. Dhruv says there is an average of 15-17% dried flower content in each stick. This didn't seem enough to me to be the sole combustible, so Dhruv explained that the rest is made up of rubber wood powder from Vietnam - a slow burning and low odour wood powder that also has binding qualities. I suspect that mixing the flowers with the clean burning rubber wood powder contributes to Calmveda's olfactory success.
There is a strong cleansing medicinal fragrance on the stick. Dhruv explained that yes, some oils are applied externally by spraying (as he wants it to be light and not overpowering), but the bulk of the oils are folded into the paste in traditional masala style. There is some gritty brown powder on the surface of the paste. The appearance is solid and traditional and quite rustic.
From the first moment I burned this I fell in love with it. And that has remained so on every burn since. I have been burning some Chinese and Japanese agarwood incense recently, and they cost more yet don't smell as rich and beautiful as this. I think you'd have to go very expensive with Asian incense to get close to the richness and depth of this Calmveda Agarwood. It is cleansing, calming, sexy, deep and delicious. While rich, it is not heady - the scent diffuses firmly but gently. There are no off notes, even when up close - the balance of flower and wood combustible works well to create a steady, slow burn that does not intrude at all in the enjoyment of the scent - a rare achievement in any stick incense. I love oudh, and often I feel poorly served by what is sold in China and Japan. The Asian sticks may be using genuine agarwood, but they often use young wood, and/or wood where the oudh oil has already been extracted. This is possibly using a synthetic like Firmenich (I didn't ask Dhruv, so I don't know, but the price point suggests as much), which is fine by me as it has all the features of oudh that I love - the wood, the balsamic smoke, the animal heat and musk, the wildness, the earth, the leather, the fresh sweat. It has it all. A lusty, throbbing, genuinely beautiful and satisfying oudh. Good gosh! Top of the dhoops indeed!
From the first moment I burned this I fell in love with it. And that has remained so on every burn since. I have been burning some Chinese and Japanese agarwood incense recently, and they cost more yet don't smell as rich and beautiful as this. I think you'd have to go very expensive with Asian incense to get close to the richness and depth of this Calmveda Agarwood. It is cleansing, calming, sexy, deep and delicious. While rich, it is not heady - the scent diffuses firmly but gently. There are no off notes, even when up close - the balance of flower and wood combustible works well to create a steady, slow burn that does not intrude at all in the enjoyment of the scent - a rare achievement in any stick incense. I love oudh, and often I feel poorly served by what is sold in China and Japan. The Asian sticks may be using genuine agarwood, but they often use young wood, and/or wood where the oudh oil has already been extracted. This is possibly using a synthetic like Firmenich (I didn't ask Dhruv, so I don't know, but the price point suggests as much), which is fine by me as it has all the features of oudh that I love - the wood, the balsamic smoke, the animal heat and musk, the wildness, the earth, the leather, the fresh sweat. It has it all. A lusty, throbbing, genuinely beautiful and satisfying oudh. Good gosh! Top of the dhoops indeed!
Available from Amazon at £8.50 for 40 sticks ($11.99 in USA) - Faire have some for £4.04.
Very interesting review, Steve! I wish more success to Calmveda!
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