Julian of TheIncenseAtelier has sent me an attractively presented box of B.G Pooja Store Agarwood. The story of the B.G Pooja Store is interesting. When Eugene of Bhagwan Incense was setting up his business, he went hunting in India and came upon the store in Tiruvannamalai, and sent me some samples when he got back. After I had positively reviewed the Nag Champa in March 2023, it appeared on the Everest Trader store in America. And then Mike of ORS reviewed in Sept 2024 what Pat of Everest Trader had sent him, with the comment "I believe Pat of Everest Trader told me that these incenses were found in a Pooja store while he was over in India"; which must be a misunderstanding of Pat saying something like "these incenses were found in a Pooja store", and Mike assuming that Pat was talking about himself rather than Eugene who I had mentioned in my review when I said that this was the incense that "Eugene ... brought back from the B.G pooja store in Tiruvannamalai".
The stick is dark and chunky and has a rich dark woody oudh scent. Quite earthy and realistic woody notes, rich with terpenes so it feels like walking though a pine forest on a fresh spring morning. It feels like a constructed scent rather than true agarwood, and the price (£2.45 for 10g / £8.45 for 50g) indicates that it is unlikely there would be much if any true agarwood here. However, that's the case for most agarwood joss sticks, and if someone is looking for true agarwood, they would - with some notable exceptions - be advised to be buying wood chips from a reputable dealer rather than joss sticks, be they Indian, Chinese, or Japanese. For those looking for a decent quality and very attractive dark wood scent based on agarwood, then something like this is ideal. A joss stick is a convenient and easy way of burning incense, and the price is very attractive.
As expected from a thick, oil-rich stick, there is some black smoke on first lighting. The smoke is unburned particles as the flame burns too quickly too burn everything completely, especially when the stick is thick, and a lot of oils have been used which take time to burn. When the flame is blown out, the black smoke is replaced with an appealing ghostly grey smoke. From the size and dark colour, I was expecting the fragrance to be quite heady and smoky; however, this is quite relaxed and laid back. It has the dark woody tones of an Arabian oudh style incense, though is much lighter and more uplifting and refreshing. For those unfamiliar with oudh style incense, or who have experienced it and found it a bit heady or smoky for them, then this stick would be something to consider.
Date: Apr 2026 Score: 33/50
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