IncenseInTheWind The Incense Hunter: Smells Like Spells

Saturday, 20 June 2026

Smells Like Spells

Smells Like Spells in a British owned retail shop in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, which sells "Norse Magic" related candles, home fragrance, and incense under the Smells Like Spells brand. The incense, as indicated on the accompanying paperwork, is made in Nepal. In discussion with the owners, Vilius and Marius, they assured me that despite all indications to the contrary, the sticks are made by their team in Lithuania under various stages of the moon, which are noted on the packaging, and not in Nepal. There is an adage that if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it is a duck. The Smells Like Spells sticks, look, walk, and quack like a Nepalese duck, and the paperwork appears to confirm this. But the owners assure me the paperwork connection to Nepal is due to Nepal having certain Norse Mythology related herbs that are not available in Lithuania. That the sticks look, burn, and smell exactly like Nepalese incense is, it seems, simply a coincidence. For those who wish to engage with the Norse Magic of Lithuanian-made incense sticks, they will need to suspend disbelief while reading this book of spells. Others may simply, and perhaps more realistically, compare these sticks to what else is available from the Himalayan region, and consider if the Lithuanian connection is worth the extra money.

I'm not a big fan of Nepalese incense, though I have enjoyed these sticks; and I do love the imagery and packaging around them. Also, as an incense hunter, I love to see what is going on in other countries. And I'm enchanted by the Lithuanian connection as well as the references to the phases of the moon when the incense was made (true or not, I love the idea), and that they are sold in glass tubes with corked lids. So there is much about Smells Like Spells which I've enjoyed - including the incense itself. And I know there are those who do love Nepalese incense more than me, and would also be enchanted by the Norse mythology and the Lithuanian connection, so there is a market out there for Smells Like Spells incense, and I wish Vilius and Marius well for future sales and development.

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