Manohar Manohar Gold

 

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. There are three known and respected incense houses in Pune, and, from my quick exploration of the samples - and my experience with the awesome Gurukrupa, I suspect that Manohar Sugandhi will join that group as an incense house to be sought out by genuine incense hunters. Of all the samples that Julian has sent, this Manohar house has excited me like no other. 

The name appears not to just be Gold, but is Manohar Gold. The sticks are reasonably hefty, with a look and feel in the direction of the resin-on-a-stick style that seems to be spreading all over the world. There is a perfumed bakhoor feel to the scent which puts me in mind of  Ansaam Incenses of Cairo. There's also some interesting notes of sweaty socks and soap. 

There is a fair amount of black smoke when the stick is set alight, which I tend to associate with heavy use of DEP, as DEP does not readily ignite, and so there is incomplete combustion which results in unburned carbon being released as black smoke. However, there may be other ingredients in the stick which are reluctant to ignite, and so are responsible for the smoke. The fragrance on the burn is perfume and smoke. There's a suggestion of resin, quite gentle like myrrh or guggul/gugal, and an awareness of mint and/or eucalyptus, with a hint of vanilla. There's a sense of mineral notes from some dirty, crude Sambrani. I'm finding it more resinous than woody. It's an interesting and intriguing incense; though, while intellectually stimulating, I'm not finding it spiritually or physically pleasing. It remains in the same sort of dirty resin area, with little in the way of contrast or balance with sweeter or more floral elements. And it's a tad too smoky and dirty for enjoyment. It's one to burn at a distance, for sure. And possibly one that I may grow to love more than I do right now. 

    

I was unable to find Manohar Gold on Manohar Sugandhi's website. There is a Gold Sandalwood, but that is a different incense. Manohar Gold is listed in the company's brochure (from where I took the image of the packet), but I couldn't find it in the company's shop. However, it is available from the UK at The Incense Atelier at 10g for £2.75, which ships worldwide.

Date: Dec 2025    Score: 28

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