The fifth 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 Sandalwood Blossom which is described as "Vanilla with Our Best Sandalwood". This sandalwood stick, unlike the other Sandalwood in the set, is hand rolled. I don't have a distinct preference one way or the other between hand-rolled and extruded. Extruded is the older technique - hand-rolling around a bamboo splint was developed in Mysore around 1900 as a quick and easy way to make incense sticks, with the added advantage that the bamboo splint made the sticks more robust and easy to package and transport as well as easier to use. I find that machine extruded bamboo core sticks burn more evenly with a more consistent fragrance flow, and the ash is more compressed and neater. A number of traditional Indian incense makers say that machine extruding compresses the paste such that the fragrance doesn't breathe properly. I suspect that is because they haven't adjusted their hand-rolling paste formulation properly.
The scent on the stick of this Sandalwood Blossom is mild woody sandalwood with a wrapping of sweet vanilla, and a faint touch of icy volatility along with some damp wool. There is a trend developing here in that a number of these Blue Pearl sticks are sandalwood and vanilla prominent, and that - other than the heady and flora style Golden Champa - the fragrances are quite soft and welcoming and commercial, though with a naughty edge that lifts them above the ordinary everyday incense.
The scent on the burn follows the general pattern of most Blue Pearl in that it is a gentle and attractive fragrance with little in the way of off-notes, and it is somewhat vanilla and sandalwood dominant, which gives it an easy yet modestly interesting appeal. There is some twigginess in the accord, which gives it a curious lift. Overall, slightly more interesting and compelling than the straight Sandalwood.
The Classic Champa Sampler & More is available from Vitamin Grocer for £3.95; and Healing Waters for $2.99.
Date: Feb 2026 Score: 30
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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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