The second 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 Musk Champa, which is described as "Botanical Musk with Classic Champa". Interesting. The suggestion is that the musk content would be likely based on a plant, such as labdanum, angelica archangelica, or musk mallow; though, if the most common musk synthetic like Galaxolide is not being used, and it is botanicals, then a blend of benzoin and patchouli oil is the most likely for an Indian incense creating a musk scent. And that does appear to be the fragrance on the stick. A blend of vanilla, minty patchouli, and McVities digestive biscuit.
I wonder if, from the description, this is the Classic Champa blended with patchouli and benzoin. That would be cool, as I loved the Classic Champa, and I love patchouli and benzoin. So this should really be my bag. And I'm loving the scent on the stick. There is a sweet gourmand aroma tickled with the minty patchouli. It's not really musky as such - indeed, the fragrance elements are mostly quite light, floating, top notes - delicate florals, sparkling, crispy vanilla, and some icy citrus - like lemon sorbet. Ooh, this is nice.
I love the scent on the burn. However... Let's park the name, and any expectations arising from the name; as it's not uncommon for incense not to smell like the name, and I have long accepted that. So that's not a real issue for me (though it might be for others). However, this is quite a vanilla dominant scent. There's some botanicals, and some wood in the burn that I didn't notice on the stick, and these do ground the accord a bit. But the vanilla is all over the incense like locusts having a picnic. Does it bother me? Hmmm. No. But this is not the incense I was hoping it would be. I suppose the description, the name, and my own imagination and prior experience had led me up the garden path to a wood shed that didn't contain the treasure I was hoping for. And I have to deal with that. Because. There are joys here. And plenty of them. Florals, vanilla, honey, woods, swirling together in a brilliant yummy haze. Oooh. Yes, I love this. I do.
I wonder if, from the description, this is the Classic Champa blended with patchouli and benzoin. That would be cool, as I loved the Classic Champa, and I love patchouli and benzoin. So this should really be my bag. And I'm loving the scent on the stick. There is a sweet gourmand aroma tickled with the minty patchouli. It's not really musky as such - indeed, the fragrance elements are mostly quite light, floating, top notes - delicate florals, sparkling, crispy vanilla, and some icy citrus - like lemon sorbet. Ooh, this is nice.
I love the scent on the burn. However... Let's park the name, and any expectations arising from the name; as it's not uncommon for incense not to smell like the name, and I have long accepted that. So that's not a real issue for me (though it might be for others). However, this is quite a vanilla dominant scent. There's some botanicals, and some wood in the burn that I didn't notice on the stick, and these do ground the accord a bit. But the vanilla is all over the incense like locusts having a picnic. Does it bother me? Hmmm. No. But this is not the incense I was hoping it would be. I suppose the description, the name, and my own imagination and prior experience had led me up the garden path to a wood shed that didn't contain the treasure I was hoping for. And I have to deal with that. Because. There are joys here. And plenty of them. Florals, vanilla, honey, woods, swirling together in a brilliant yummy haze. Oooh. Yes, I love this. I do.
The Classic Champa Sampler & More is available from Vitamin Grocer for £3.95; and Healing Waters for $2.99.
Date: Feb 2026 Score: 45
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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.
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