Jahagirdar First Choice

Jahagirdar are a 7th generation Indian attar business who set up in Pune in 1850, and became an incense house in 1943 - they have their incense shop next door to their attar shop in Budhwar Peth Rd. In 2017 they set up First Choice Fragrances with their own factory. The samples I have (sent by Julian of The Incense Atelier) are more in the Arabian/Muslim tradition of Indian incense than the Hindu - more perfumed, more oudh focused, richer, deeper, more oil based and decorative than the Hindu sandalwood focused which is more aimed at tradition and ritual - the spiritual value of the ingredients. Hindu incense for the temples. Muslim/Arabian incense for the palaces.

Muslim incense is a style that doesn't get exported to the West anywhere near as much as the Hindu style, unless the incense house is Hindu but makes a few Arabian style incense sticks for their customers. It's a shame, because I feel I am often more in tune with this richer, deeper, oil intense style of incense. I think the West is largely unaware of the beauty and power of this style of incense. I like the long history of Jahagirdar, and I like the Jahagirdar name, which is redolent of Maharashtra/Karnataka history, of Persian Mughals, and of a beautiful, proud culture. 

Reviews

Jahagirdar First Choice Anarkali Flora (M)
Mar 2026 - Score: 50/50

Jahagirdar First Choice Rose Oudh (M)
Mar 2026 - Score: 50/50

Jahagirdar First Choice Sugandh Flora (M)
Mar 2026 - Score: 35/50

Jahagirdar First Choice Majmua (M)
Mar 2026 - Score: 30/50

Reviews: 4
High: 50
Low: 30
Average: 41/50

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