HEM Anti-Stress

Second review - scroll down for earlier

 Typical scruffy HEM stick that leaves a little bit of charcoal dust on the fingers. Scent is pleasant - lavender room-freshener.  Clean and uplifting. Lavender is widely known as good for aiding relaxation, and reducing stress. Linalool is the active ingredient in lavender that aids relaxation, and is a common aroma compound used in soaps, room-fresheners, and incense. It is the aroma that aids relaxation, so it doesn't matter if the linalool is natural or created synthetically. Whereas, some lavender scented incenses use lavandin, a plant which looks and smells like lavender. Lavandin has a stronger scent than lavender, but doesn't contain linalool. This means that an incense containing synthetic linalool will have therapeutic benefits, while an incense containing natural lavandin won't have those therapeutic benefits. Curious isn't it? 

The scent on the burn is moderately attractive. It's a generous scent, quickly filling the room. There is a lavender aspect to it, though it doesn't feel natural.  It's acceptable rather than special. A little musk rounds it out quite nicely. 

Date: Nov 2025    Score: 26

First review

There are a number of scents that are known to reduce stress, the best known being lavender and frankincense. I think both those scents are being used here, though with more weight on the lavender than the frankincense.  There's a general sense of amber and herbs. It is warm, reassuring, cleansing, and attractive. I reviewed this in cone form in 2019, when I scored it 21. I am enjoying it more than that today. I tend to prefer most scents in stick rather than cone formulation, I like the even way the scent unfolds, and that it doesn't become too smoky or hot; but I suspect that my greater enjoyment today has more to do with my mood and environment than just a change from cone to stick. It's early morning in late June, the air is fresh, and the Sun is shining, and I'm feeling relaxed. It's a good time to burn incense! 

I don't like the name of this incense, it's rather crude and functional, and is posed in a negative fashion (it's "anti" rather than "pro") - I'd rather a name such as "Relaxing Dreams" or "Sunday in Bed" or "Private Massage" - whatever, anything but "Anti-Stress"! But despite the name, and the vague packet design - a blurred image of a person in distress, the scent is pleasing, attractive, and calming. Modest, yes, but good enough as an everyday relaxing room enhancer. 

Date: May 2025   Score: 29

***

HEM Corporation