This is part of a batch of samples that Shreyas Sugandhi of Vithaldas Narayandas and Sons, in Pune, (VNS) sent to me. I'll be quickly going through those samples where the ink has run on the paper sleeves, making it difficult to read. Shreyas has translated the Rorschach style ink blobs for me, and I want to get through them before the blobs get worse. This particular blob is OK - it is just about readable as Shahi Chandan ("Royal Sandalwood"). It is available from VNS at 100 rupees (85p) for 20g, from Padma Store for 4.65 Euros, and from Everest Trader for $5.00. (If you live outside India, to buy from VNS you need to contact Shreyas Sugandhi at vns@vnsons.com).
I like the fragrance of sandalwood, but so do many people, and authentic natural dark heartwood sandalwood oil is now too expensive for most everyday incense because of over-production of the sandalwood tree, while synthetic oils are easy to make, low cost, and work very well. Sometimes other natural plants are used, such as amyris, which is quite earthy and interesting, though not as sweet and sexy as sandalwood. These Shahi Chandan sticks are hand rolled with a dark woody paste that has dried hard. There is a thin dusting of powder on the paste. The sticks look dark, rough, and natural. The scent on the stick is very volatile - there's sandalwood fragrance here, though mostly it's the volatile fumes that I'm getting. The scent from the sticks is best appreciated from a distance - these are not sticks to sniff (unless you have a particularly robust nose).
The scent on the burn is robust, earthy, and attractive. Very woody and oily, with touches of petrol and a hint of herbs. For me it leans more in the direction of amyris than sandalwood, but that is not a complaint - I like amyris. I have some amyris essential oil, though I tend to blend it with other, sweeter, and sometimes citric oils to suit my taste for balance and yin-yang.
The scent on the burn is robust, earthy, and attractive. Very woody and oily, with touches of petrol and a hint of herbs. For me it leans more in the direction of amyris than sandalwood, but that is not a complaint - I like amyris. I have some amyris essential oil, though I tend to blend it with other, sweeter, and sometimes citric oils to suit my taste for balance and yin-yang.
This is quite a heady, dark, sandalwood. The earthiness is compelling, though the fragrance accord can at times be a little rough, with notes of bubbling tar and primeval ooze, and it is fairly one-sided with a deep focus on that dark wood. However, treated with enough space and air, this is quite an intoxicating brew. I find it great as a smudge - walk through the house and fragrance and cleanse the corners, and under the shelves. For me this is not an incense to sit with and study, nor an incense I want to spend a lot of time with in the same room, but as a smudge it really works well. It gives depth and interest to the home. I like it. I like it a lot. I shall enjoy returning to this.
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