Kevda (also known as kewda, kewra, and ketaki) is the distilled essence of the screw pine or pandanus plant. While not a scent that is commonly exported to the West, it does turn up in domestic Indian incenses, and this is the fifth I can recall having. It's not a scent I favour much, especially cold on the stick where I have observed these notes: volatile, solvent, artificial, boiled corn, burning plastic. And those scents are present on this stick.
When lit the stick burns quite black, something I associate with sticks that use DEP. I have thought about this, and my theory is this: black smoke is generally produced when something does not fully burn, and DEP does not ignite easily. When there is a flame, the hottest part is the outside, furthest away from the material, so the DEP is not getting hot enough. When the flame is blown out, the heat is concentrated on the ember so the DEP is more fully consumed, and so there is no longer black smoke.
Anyway, with the uncomfortable aroma on the stick, and that there is black smoke when lit, I am not feeling positive about this stick. In its favour, the stick is made by Vinason's, an incense house I am becoming familiar with and developing a lot of respect for. I haven't liked all their range, but nothing has been awful. The incenses have, for me, been average at least, some have been decent, while most have been excellent.
Anyway, with the uncomfortable aroma on the stick, and that there is black smoke when lit, I am not feeling positive about this stick. In its favour, the stick is made by Vinason's, an incense house I am becoming familiar with and developing a lot of respect for. I haven't liked all their range, but nothing has been awful. The incenses have, for me, been average at least, some have been decent, while most have been excellent.
The scent on the burn is curious, as most of the screw pine incense scents have been. There's a sense of fruit, slightly decayed, some wood smoke, some pineapple, some old, moist leather, some stewed corn. It's bordering on ugly, though remains compelling. On the whole, though, it's not a scent I feel entirely comfortable with. I'm not repelled by it, but nor am I attracted to it. I am interested in it, like watching one of those car safety crashes in slow motion. Yes, Kevda is a car crash dummy.
Vinason's Kevda sticks are available from VNS at 30 rupees (25p) for 20g. (If you live outside India, to buy from VNS contact Shreyas Sugandhi at vns@vnsons.com).
Date: Dec 2025 Score: 23
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