Seraphim Incense

 

Seraphim, Handmade Natural Incense from the Holy Land

Sourced and hand-crafted in Israel by Benyamin Shoham of Seraphim Incense who, in relation to the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians and other Muslims, told me: "I condemn all acts of aggression against any human, animal or plant. I am a man of peace, and I promote peace on earth mainly by providing medicine from mother earth to the hearts of all people."

I love that this incense is made in the Holy Land because some of our earliest and most evocative and lasting writings about incense come from this area. Benyamin writes: "Each incense stick I craft is more than just a blend of herbs—it is a story, a prayer, a piece of the land itself."

He describes how he makes the incense: "I gather my ingredients from the forests, hills, and deserts of Israel, selecting each herb with care and respect. Only plants that have reached their full potency are chosen. The herbs are dried, crushed, and blended by hand, following ancient knowledge of scent and energy. No chemicals, no artificial scents—only the raw, untamed power of nature. Every batch is rolled with focused intention, honouring the sacred purpose of incense. Whether for healing, meditation, or ritual, each stick is a tool for transformation." 

My heart goes out to this, though my head and my experience knows that most of it is New Age smoke and mirrors. I love that each stick is "rolled with focused intention", but I know that such intention is not going to be realistically picked up in an olfactory way. What matters most is the construction of the fragrance profile, and protecting the scent ingredients so they are not consumed too quickly in the burn.  However, I find myself more engaged and willing when I encounter incense made by hand with love and care than when the incense is made by machine from synthetic ingredients. I know that the love and care and the natural, hand-picked ingredients do not necessarily transfer to a more profound and precise olfactory experience, but it is what excites, warms, and interests me more. I'm an old hippy so such things do move me....

Reviews

Seraphim Embracing Love (M)

May 2025 - Score: 34

  

Seraphim Astral Vision (M)
Jun 2025 - Score: 28

   

Seraphim Single Spirit Pine (M)
June 2025 - Score: 27

Seraphim Single Spirit Cedar (M)
Jun 2025 - Score: 25

Reviews: 4

Top score: 34

Bottom score: 25 

Average: 28

Conclusion: On the whole I think that Seraphim incense is not my thing - the incense is too close to Pondicherry and Himalayan incense than the fragrant incenses that really move me.. As I said earlier in response to a comment on Single Spirit Cedar: "My heart goes out to makers like Benyamin who are focused on the spiritual aspect of incense. However, in my journey of exploration though incense I have found that my personal inclination is toward the fragrance rather than the symbolism or even the health benefits of certain ingredients.... I'm cool with incense that has an awareness of spirituality and ritual, because many of us are drawn to incense as a way of fragrancing our homes because of the spiritual and ritual aspects of incense. I think it makes us feel closer to nature, to our past, to rituals, and to the spiritual, in whatever manner we feel that. But I guess I don't want the spiritual and ritual to be the be all and end all of the incense, especially at the cost of creating an attractive fragrance. I feel that an understanding of both the spiritual and ritual, and the olfactory pleasure of incense, should go hand in hand. And the best incenses handle that balance well." 

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