Padma Store's range of Happy Hari incense came from Cory of Absolute Bliss who, just before Paul Eagle of Happy Hari killed himself, sold his sources to Cory. I can verify this, as Cory showed me the messages. And Ashok told me that after he paid Cory, the incense was shipped from India by the same person who had shipped the Happy Hari incense when Paul Eagle owned it. There is a rumour, perhaps started by some of the vague comments on their website, that Paul also provided his sources to the two girls who run Temple of Incense. Certainly, this Padma Store King of Amber looks, smells, weights (4g) and behaves the same as Temple of Incense Amber. Curiously, neither the Padma Store nor the ToI amber sticks resemble the original Happy Hari King of Amber which is longer, thinner, lighter (3g), and has a slightly different scent profile. Of course, such difference could be because the incense house has changed their extruding machine, and slightly altered the ingredients. But there it is.
Scent on the stick is the same as ToI Amber: "an attractive warm, sweet, musky-floral scent" with "hints of chocolate and vanilla". I may be getting some table polish and a faint touch of petrol, but that could be illusionary. Essentially this is the same scent.
As with the ToI Amber, on first lighting it is the top notes that I first become aware of - sweet, delicate florals with a touch of fruit. There is some violet and a sweet moment of strawberry puree, but this is fleeting. As with the ToI Amber, the scent is surprisingly light for such a thick stick. Details of the scent profile are faint, some fruit, and then a smoky patchouli. Almost the same as Toi Amber, though perhaps a little more smoky and woody, and a little less floral/fruity.
Scent on the stick is the same as ToI Amber: "an attractive warm, sweet, musky-floral scent" with "hints of chocolate and vanilla". I may be getting some table polish and a faint touch of petrol, but that could be illusionary. Essentially this is the same scent.
As with the ToI Amber, on first lighting it is the top notes that I first become aware of - sweet, delicate florals with a touch of fruit. There is some violet and a sweet moment of strawberry puree, but this is fleeting. As with the ToI Amber, the scent is surprisingly light for such a thick stick. Details of the scent profile are faint, some fruit, and then a smoky patchouli. Almost the same as Toi Amber, though perhaps a little more smoky and woody, and a little less floral/fruity.
I also lit up one of my aging original Happy Hari King of Amber sticks, and the scent is very close, though a little more musky and manly, a little more depth, and the floral/fruit aspects are clearer and brighter. Much of the differences will be down to age, and possible alteration of recipe, and the slightly thinner paste. But, essentially, it does seem likely that all three are made by the same incense house. As the Padma Store stick is almost contemporary with the ToI stick, these two are the closest.
Which to buy is down to personal preference in the dealer, the packaging, and the amount you want to buy. ToI sell their Amber in 20 stick packs costing £18, while Padma Store sell their King in 10g packs (three sticks) for 4.25 Eur (£3.66), which means they are stick for stick close in price, with the ToI costing slightly less. The Padma Store has a closer connection to Happy Hari because Ashok uses the same packaging and labels as the original Happy Hari. You pays your money you makes your choice.
Which to buy is down to personal preference in the dealer, the packaging, and the amount you want to buy. ToI sell their Amber in 20 stick packs costing £18, while Padma Store sell their King in 10g packs (three sticks) for 4.25 Eur (£3.66), which means they are stick for stick close in price, with the ToI costing slightly less. The Padma Store has a closer connection to Happy Hari because Ashok uses the same packaging and labels as the original Happy Hari. You pays your money you makes your choice.
These look remarkably similar to an Amber stick that Vedic Vaani sent me. I cant confirm the name of theirs because it was in a wrong box. It's the same (or very close) to the one Ramakrishna sells also..
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's kinda frustrating isn't it, that so many traders sell us the same incense under different bloody brand names. With so many incense houses in India, why can't they look elsewhere. I know Julian has managed in a short space of time to find several incense houses not used by others, and to sell them openly and honestly under their own brand names.
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