Pure Incense Sambrani

 

What “Sambrani” Means

Sambrani is a slightly tricky name. Historically it would refer to benzoin resin, or even frankincense or other fragrant tree resins. Today, however, the word more often refers to what Thomas Kinkele describes as Calcutta block benzoin - better known as loban or sambrani. These are inexpensive blends of benzoin with other resins, usually sold in charcoal cups.

Typical sambrani charcoal cup

Given that the Calcutta block Sambrani does not in general have a reputation as a quality incense, the assumption here is that Adi-Guru, the owner of Pure Incense, is intending to refer us to the more traditional use of the name as meaning a decent quality pure benzoin. 

And that's fine. Though, as I said in relation to Temple of Incense Benzoin Absolute, benzoin is such a common resin in Indian incense that it's hard to work up an enthusiasm for it. It's usually used as a fixative, or to add some sweetness to a fragrance blend. And when it is used as a single fragrance incense stick it can be rather linear and dull, with a somewhat boring and sometimes satiating focus on little more than a vanilla sweetness. Ho hum. But, fair enough, that vanilla sweetness can be an instant, albeit short-term, appeal.

Scent on the Stick

The unlit stick smells appealing. There’s a warm, musky sweetness - almost patchouli-like -alongside perfumed florals that hover around violets. Herbs add some interest. However, there’s also a slightly cold volatility that’s faintly off-putting

Scent on the Burn

Burning the stick brings a somewhat dry, twiggy harshness. It leans more toward Calcutta-block territory than toward rich, pure benzoin resin. Moving it farther away helps: the scent becomes lighter and sweeter, closer to what you’d expect from benzoin. But overall the fragrance remains narrow and linear. There's not a lot going on here.

The base reminds me of some Pondicherry style incense where distillation residue may be used - imparting a dry, peppery character. Whether that’s actually the case here is impossible to know, but the effect is similar. And the sweet benzoin notes on top of the base struggles to compete, and when it does win out, the scent is too simple to hold the interest of someone who is perhaps easily bored, and/or has burned quite a few Indian incenses with a similar profile. 

Verdict

This isn’t a bad incense. It has an appealing sweetness and will probably please anyone looking for a straightforward benzoin fragrance.

But it lacks depth and development, and compared to more complex Pure Incense offerings it feels a bit ordinary.

Pros

*Pleasant warm sweetness
*Easy to enjoy initially
*Traditional benzoin profile

Cons
*Linear scent
*Slightly harsh burn
*Limited depth

Date: Feb 2025   Score: 24/50 

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Pure Incense

Loban / Sambrani

Note: It is not publicly revealed where Adi-Guru sources the incense for the Pure Incense brand; however, the style is sometimes similar to the incenses made by HMS of Pune.