Manohar Gurukrupa

 

Manohar Sugandhi was founded in Pune in the 1930s, and is a third generation family run incense house. I've been sent five samples by Julian of The Incense Atelier who also sells on eBay under the same name. There are three known and respected incense houses in Pune, and from my quick exploration of the samples Julian has sent me, I suspect that Manohar Sugandhi will join that group as an incense house to be sought out by knowledgeable and curious incense hunters.  

There is an intense fragrance on the stick - a little muddled and unclear, but quite rich and beguiling with suggestions of rose, leather, sandalwood, damp sand on the beach, woody mint. A sense of decayed or rotting flowers petals like a potpourri soaked in alcohol or fragrant oil.  I love scents like this. I prefer this to yet another plain lavender or sandalwood, no matter how nicely done. I love the intrigue, interest, and excitement of an unusual and unique scent blend that works. And this works! 

Available in India from Manohar Sugandhi
at 160 Rupees for 60gm.
Available in the UK from The Incense Atelier
at £2.35 for 10gm. 

On the burn the floral notes are toned down, and the woody notes come to the fore along with warm, sexy resin. It's a wonderful fragrance full of interest and alcohol - or perhaps fermentation is more accurate. It's woody, spicy, a little dry, with some wisps of lamb's wool which I tend to associate with halmaddi.  It's an enveloping burn, simply generous and warm, without being over-bearing or too heady. When I had it in the kitchen when cooking, it did not overwhelm the onions and spices of the meal I was preparing, instead it beautifully wove its way into the cooking aromas. I love this incense! The scent is there in the room, but gentle and laid  back. And there is a soft cleansing feeling after the burn.

Julian sent me five sticks to sample, and I've almost used them all because I just want to put myself through the Manohar Gurukrupa experience again. This is Indian masala sandalwood incense, yes, but with some added resin(s) and details that, for me, sends this soaring above the ordinary. For someone like me who has been through hundreds of different Indian masala sticks over the 12 or so years I've been doing this blog, I can these days get a little jaded at - no matter how nice - yet another Bangalore style sandalwood based masala. But this Pune focused sandalwood based masala by Manohar Sugandhi has genuinely impressed and excited me. Along with the other Manohar samples (which I've not yet reviewed, simply had a sniff of the raw scent on the sticks, but which have fascinated me both with their beauty and their uniqueness) this Gurukrupa indicates great promise for this incense house, and I feel that incense enthusiasts in the West are in for a treat with Manohar, and will soon be beating a path to their door. This is beautiful incense. Totally beautiful and fascinating and exciting and rewarding. Top Drawer indeed. I can't give it less because there's nothing wrong with it! 

Manohar Sugandhi website description of Gurukrupa: "Experience the divine blend of sandalwood, guggal, and camphor in our hand-rolled incense sticks, crafted to release a warm, resinous base layered with crisp, cooling notes. The subtle interplay of woody and balsamic tones creates a meditative aroma that uplifts your space."

Date: Dec 2025    Score: 50

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