Incense in The Wind: The Laughing Buddhaa

Monday, 2 February 2026

The Laughing Buddhaa

The Laughing Buddhaa is a shop in Dubai that presents as a "high-end" New Age shop that sells healing crystals and incense. Their own brand incense appears to be made in Mumbai (the packs are marked: Dubai - Mumbai). There are a number of white label incense houses in and around Mumbai, such as Melting Moments, Suchatas, Kamicka, and the massive Singapuraship. However, the style and quality of the incense suggests that the makers may be Incense Collective, who are located just outside Mumbai, and are the brand owners of Nitiraj.

The pack design is the same for all the fragrances - all that is different is the name and the decoration colouring. This is the most common approach used by own brand traders, as it is low cost, low effort and commitment, and advertises the trader's own brand. The design and colours are simple and unimaginative but quite pleasing.

The scents range from the traditional, such as Frankincense, which present as clean and natural and simple; through the standard established scents such as Nag Champa, which present as decent quality, and on a par with others of that ilk; to their own scents such as Celestial Fragrance, which are quite sweet, floral, and perfumed. So there is something in the range for everyone.

The incense is available in the UK from The Incense Man at £5.99 for a pack of 20 sticks at approx 1g per stick, which is the average weight of an Indian joss stick. The Laughing Buddhaa in Dubai sell packs for 40 UAD each (approx £8), though the size is not given; only a few of the scents have the same name as those sold by The Incense Man.

I find them likeable and decent quality. The UK price of approx £6 for 20g is acceptable given the retail chain, and the quality. Incense bought direct from source is always going to be cheaper; and the bigger incense makers such as Cycle and Satya, will always be competitive on price due to the economies of scale; so some allowance needs to be made for lesser known brands, especially when sold from Western traders. All that said, I felt the price to be a little higher than the quality and presentation warranted. This is an incense I am happy to have and burn; however, I found them a little safe and familiar. Overall I enjoyed them a lot, though found that the range, coupled with Laughing Buddhaa being a Western brand rather than an authentic original, lacked the character, emotional connection, and/or aesthetic interest to really excite me. I'm borderline on if I want to explore the range further.

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