Blue Pearl Amber

 

This is the third stick from the 10 stick Blue Pearl "Classic Champa" sampler which has three Champa styles, plus 7 other fragrances ranging from Amber to Silver Lotus, is the Amber, which is described as "Resinous, Balsamic, and Deep". There is a degree of uncertainty regarding amber; such that it is often described as a fantasy or constructed scent, based on the notion of what fossilised amber resin would smell like when burned. Common ingredients in Indian incense would be benzoin and frankincense or myrrh.

The scent on the stick of this Blue Pearl Amber has a sickly, sticky vanilla quality, which would likely come from benzoin, along with darker, warmer, woody, musky notes that are quite sexy and exciting. There's some warm wool, which I tend to associate with halmaddi, though could be something else. And there's chocolate, and resin, and sex (the physical smell of fresh sexual excitement). All in all it's an attractive and compelling scent. An intriguing and beguiling blend of the naughty and the nice. 

The scent on the burn is gentle and polite: not quite the wild journey suggested by the scent on the stick. It is actually quite beautifully balanced, integrating the vanilla with the woody, musky, patchouli elements in a warm and attractive and comforting manner. It is quite a yummy gourmand fragrance, propelled by the vanilla elements. It is the use of vanilla in Blue Pearl's scents that puts some people in mind of HMS,  though other incense houses in Pune, such as VNS, also use vanilla. 

I like the Blue Pearl Amber. 

The Classic Champa Sampler & More is available from Vitamin Grocer for £3.95; and Healing Waters for $2.99. 

Date: Feb 2026    Score: 38 

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Blue Pearl

Amber

Note: It is not known who makes the incense for Blue Pearl; however, some of the incenses are similar to those made by HMS of Pune.