Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Sai Handicrafts Lavender

Pretty appearance and pretty fragrance on the stick. A blend of floral, herb, lavender, and vanillin, with some wet leather and straw. Attractive and inviting, though the sweetness is a mite too sugary and obvious, which is a slight distraction.

The fragrance on the burn echoes that on the stick, though somewhat sweeter and more perfumed. Because of the vanillin it reminds me of HMS in Pune, though DBS, also of Pune, use vanillin as well, and incense from Vrindavan sometimes uses vanillin. Indeed, I thought for a while that incense sold in Vrindavan by shops such as Vrindavan Bazaar, Hare Krishna Das, and Rasbihari Lal & Sons, were made by HMS - though logically it would make more sense for those shops to sell incense made locally, rather than bring in incense by lorry from a maker over 24 hours drive away. Also, the Lavender incense made by HMS, such as Ab Lavender sold by Sacred Boutiques, Lavender sold by Blue Pearl, and Lavender Bliss sold by Bhagwan, look and smell different.

I quite like this (indeed, I was going to send two samples to Vid of Ratnagandh, but I'm now only going to send them one as I'm burning this quite a bit). The sticks are somewhat variable, with some being darker and muskier than others (I like the darker and muskier ones more), and the sweetness becomes less obvious on subsequent burnings. On the whole, an attractive, albeit slightly modest, incense. Not bold on the named scent, though in the same ball park. Yeah, these are OK. Available from Sai Handicrafts at approx 15g for £2.00.

Date: June 2025 Score: 30

***

Sai Handicrafts

Best of Lavender

Sai Handicrafts Rose

These sticks look pretty, and they have a pleasant powdery sweet floral scent on the stick, leaning toward Turkish delight, though with some fresh, rain splashed rhododendrons in there. Gentle, mildly intriguing, though a tad too perfumed for my taste. I've enjoyed some rose incenses, though on the whole it's not a scent I like to cuddle up to.

It's a smidge smoky on the burn, as well as being somewhat vague, so the mind tends to focus on the blurry smell of grey smoke. Aside from the smoke there's a slight acidic sharpness, and a sense of floral, more jasmine than rose. On the whole, while mildly pleasant, this is not my huckleberry.

Best burned while listening to "Moon River" sung by Audrey Hepburn. Available from Sai Handicrafts at approx 15g for £2.00.

Date: June 2025 Score: 28

***

Sai Handicrafts

Best rose incense

Monday, 16 June 2025

Stamford Patchouli

Sample stick of perfumed-charcoal incense from Stamford London who have carried on the Stamford name and incense from the now closed Aargee. I did review this Patchouli back in 2015 as part of the Stamford Exotic Collection, and wasn't impressed: "There is a hint of patchouli on the stick - also sandalwood, lemon, and polish. There is a mild and modest perfume on burning, with hints of rose petal, strawberry jam, and lawn grass. It's OK, but doesn't really make an impression."

I largely agree with that review. I like patchouli and am usually inclined to like even the simplest or crudest patchouli incense, but this one isn't impressive.

Date: June 2025 Score: 20

***

Patchouli

Stamford London

Prasad Incense

Prasad Incense is the brand name of incense sold by American gifts and incense shop Prasad Gifts. The incense is made by HMS (Haridas Madhavdas Sugandhi of Pune), a much used and fairly distinctive white label incense house who make incense for a number of own brand outlets in India and the West, such as Gokula, Berk, and Pure, as well as selling incense under their own name (though not easily available in the West).

Reviews

(HMS) Prasad Celestial Patchouli (PM)
Apr 2025 - Score: 35

(HMS) Prasad Celestial Golden Champa (PM)
May 2025 - Score: 30

(HMS) Prasad Celestial Midnight Rose (PM)
May 2025 - Score: 30

(HMS) Prasad Celestial Frankincense (PM)

May 2025 - Score: 28

(HMS) Prasad Celestial Sandalwood (PM)
Apr 2025 - Score: 28

(HMS) Prasad Celestial Amber (PM)
Apr 2025 - Score: 26

(HMS) Prasad Celestial Musk (PM)
Apr 2025 - Score: 26

Reviews: 7
Top Score: 35
Bottom score: 26
Average: 29

Conclusion: These are pleasant enough everyday incenses. Though, as they are made by HMS whose sticks are sold by so many own brand traders, I have little interest in exploring further. I would much rather get HMS incense in HMS branded boxes so I know exactly what it is I am getting.

***

Own Brand Traders

Haridas Madhavdas Sugandhi

Seraphim Astral Vision

The ingredients of Astral Vision have been selected by hand by incense maker Benyamin Shoham of Seraphim Incense in Israel for their meditation properties; and the ingredients chosen do have historic ritual uses as well as uses in modern medicine - such as Compass Lettuce which produces Lactucarium, an opium-like substance which has sedative and euphoric qualities, Rue which protects against the evil eye and is also a mild sedative, and Blue Lotus which aids sleep as well as euphoria.

There's a curious and pleasant mild curry scent on the stick. Some herb, some root, some mild spice, and a hint of sweet mint. I like it, though more as a curiosity than a delight. I find the scent on the burn a little rough and dry - not really my thing. Closer in style with Pondicherry and Himalayan incense than the fragrant incenses that really move me. I quite liked the first Seraphim incense I reviewed, Embracing Love, though in retrospect I think I was a tad generous in my scoring. I'll be interested to see how I react to the same incense when I return to it later in the year.

On the whole I think that Seraphim incense is not my thing. As I said earlier in response to a comment on Single Spirit Cedar: "My heart goes out to makers like Benyamin who are focused on the spiritual aspect of incense. However, in my journey of exploration though incense I have found that my personal inclination is toward the fragrance rather than the symbolism or even the health benefits of certain ingredients.... I'm cool with incense that has an awareness of spirituality and ritual, because many of us are drawn to incense as a way of fragrancing our homes because of the spiritual and ritual aspects of incense. I think it makes us feel closer to nature, to our past, to rituals, and to the spiritual, in whatever manner we feel that. But I guess I don't want the spiritual and ritual to be the be all and end all of the incense, especially at the cost of creating an attractive fragrance. I feel that an understanding of both the spiritual and ritual, and the olfactory pleasure of incense, should go hand in hand. And the best incenses handle that balance well."

All that being said, for those for whom the ritual, spiritual, and natural aspects of the burning of herbs and resins is important, Seraphim incense is likely to hold a strong and vibrant attraction; and, at a high price point though these sticks are, there will be people willing to pay the premium for hand made sticks from Israel. Available at $17.00 for 10 sticks from Seraphim.

Date: June 2025 Score: 28

***

Seraphim Incense

Saturday, 14 June 2025

Seraphim Incense

Seraphim, Handmade Natural Incense from the Holy Land

Sourced and hand-crafted in Israel by Benyamin Shoham of Seraphim Incense who, in relation to the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians and other Muslims, told me: "I condemn all acts of aggression against any human, animal or plant. I am a man of peace, and I promote peace on earth mainly by providing medicine from mother earth to the hearts of all people."

I love that this incense is made in the Holy Land because some of our earliest and most evocative and lasting writings about incense come from this area. Benyamin writes: "Each incense stick I craft is more than just a blend of herbs—it is a story, a prayer, a piece of the land itself."

He describes how he makes the incense: "I gather my ingredients from the forests, hills, and deserts of Israel, selecting each herb with care and respect. Only plants that have reached their full potency are chosen. The herbs are dried, crushed, and blended by hand, following ancient knowledge of scent and energy. No chemicals, no artificial scents—only the raw, untamed power of nature. Every batch is rolled with focused intention, honouring the sacred purpose of incense. Whether for healing, meditation, or ritual, each stick is a tool for transformation."

My heart goes out to this, though my head and my experience knows that most of it is New Age smoke and mirrors. I love that each stick is "rolled with focused intention", but I know that such intention is not going to be realistically picked up in an olfactory way. What matters most is the construction of the fragrance profile, and protecting the scent ingredients so they are not consumed too quickly in the burn. However, I find myself more engaged and willing when I encounter incense made by hand with love and care than when the incense is made by machine from synthetic ingredients. I know that the love and care and the natural, hand-picked ingredients do not necessarily transfer to a more profound and precise olfactory experience, but it is what excites, warms, and interests me more. I'm an old hippy so such things do move me....

Reviews

Seraphim Embracing Love (M)

May 2025 - Score: 34

Seraphim Astral Vision (M)
Jun 2025 - Score: 28

Seraphim Single Spirit Pine (M)
June 2025 - Score: 27

Seraphim Single Spirit Cedar (M)
Jun 2025 - Score: 25

Reviews: 4

Top score: 34

Bottom score: 25

Average: 28

Conclusion: On the whole I think that Seraphim incense is not my thing - the incense is too close to Pondicherry and Himalayan incense than the fragrant incenses that really move me.. As I said earlier in response to a comment on Single Spirit Cedar: "My heart goes out to makers like Benyamin who are focused on the spiritual aspect of incense. However, in my journey of exploration though incense I have found that my personal inclination is toward the fragrance rather than the symbolism or even the health benefits of certain ingredients.... I'm cool with incense that has an awareness of spirituality and ritual, because many of us are drawn to incense as a way of fragrancing our homes because of the spiritual and ritual aspects of incense. I think it makes us feel closer to nature, to our past, to rituals, and to the spiritual, in whatever manner we feel that. But I guess I don't want the spiritual and ritual to be the be all and end all of the incense, especially at the cost of creating an attractive fragrance. I feel that an understanding of both the spiritual and ritual, and the olfactory pleasure of incense, should go hand in hand. And the best incenses handle that balance well."

***

Incense by Country

The Best Incense Makers

Seraphim Single Spirit Pine

Third of the four incenses sent to me by Benyamin Shoham of Seraphim Incense in Israel. The first, Embracing Love, I liked; the second, Single Spirit Cedar, which is in the same series as this Pine, I did not.

I like woody incense - but it's the oils I like. I'm not so keen on solid woods. Indeed, one of the things I think I dislike about Asian incense is that they tend to use wood powder as the combustible. My understanding from what Benyamin says, is that he uses solid ingredients, dried and ground down. This, for me, from prior experience, tends to give the incense a dry, crackling feel, which is not to my personal taste. Some oils, and some modern fragrance ingredients might make Seraphim's incense more commercially appealing; but from what Benyamin says, it is the ancient traditions, and the use of natural, local ingredients which fires him. I wish there were an acceptable way of using traditional, natural ingredients in a modern and vibrant manner. I love what some new incense makers, such as Pure Yemen in Yemen, and Jeomra in Germany, are doing with traditional, natural ingredients - so there is a way perhaps.

As with the Cedar, I'm puzzled that the scent on the stick is somewhat modern, perfumed, light and sweet, almost floral. I was expecting something drier, more rustic, more spicy, and certainly more woody.

On lighting there is a strong flame which doesn't want to be blown out - the stick burns fiercely for a while as though some resin has caught fire. As the stick settles, and the fragrance drifts across, I find that this stick is more aligned with what I expect of a spicy wood incense, especially one made by hand from local ingredients dried and ground down. It is a little dry and crispy, perhaps a tad harsh; quite fragrant though, and I'm liking this one more than the Cedar. The first stick burned a little awkwardly - there was that flare up at the start, and then it went out a few times. This happens with incense sometimes, though this happened with the second and third stick as well, and I didn't have the enthusiasm to try a fourth. I'll do that sometime down the line.

The scent on the burn is pleasant. Warm, slightly resinous, spicy, woody, and reminiscent of pine. I'm not a huge fan of mono-scents - I like balance and contrast, and a story. This is a fairly simple incense. It's pleasant, but it is also problematic with the sticks going out, and I can't say I've enjoyed the experience that much. The gentle burning pine smell not being sufficient to compensate. $17.00 for 10 sticks from Seraphim.

Date: June 2025 Score: 27

***

Seraphim Incense

Seraphim Single Spirit Cedar

The scent on the burn is herbal, plant-based, somewhat fruit-inclined (perhaps raspberry). There's a sort of damp, outdoors feel - wet, almost rotting (but not quite) vegetation. The scent of the wet, slimy leaves of bulrushes. Vegetation is key here. There's tomatoes, or - more precisely - tomato sauce or ketchup. A pleasant sweetness. A sense of decay. Chrissie said she could smell death. Not foliage death, but people death. I wouldn't go that far, but I understand what she's saying.

After the incense has burned, and the scent has diffused, there is a more balanced and attractive and, yes, woody, fragrance in the air. This is perhaps more of an incense to burn in an empty room as a smudge, perhaps, than one to burn live when you are present. As a smudge it is a little light and gentle, and I don't find the room cleansed, or the atmosphere charged, but the residual smell is more than acceptable.

This is a curious incense. Interesting, but I'm not sure how much I like it. Smouldering damp plants is mostly what I get, though on subsequent burns there is an element of dry resin and wood - tree bark perhaps.

Date: June 2025 Score: 25

***

A cedarwood sampling

Friday, 13 June 2025

Rasbihari Lal Super Hit

I quite like Satya's Super Hit, in both cone and stick format. It is widely regarded as a successful formulation, and is Satya's second best selling incense after their "blue box" Nag Champa. After checking back with Satya Super Hit this has elements in common - it has perfumed floral top notes supported by pale wood, though does its own thing. The scent on the stick is certainly quite bold and vibrant and very likeable, taking me back to incense from the Seventies. There's various aromachemical crystals in play here - mainly vanillin though also something more musky like civet or musk ketone. It has an immediate appeal which I am susceptible to, though it is not natural or balanced or rounded or sophisticated. I suspect it will appeal more to those who are comfortable with perfumed incense and synthetic scents, than those who are looking for something more natural and subtle. Oooh, I love it.

The scent on the burn is almost as adorable, and has few off-notes, even up close. I really like this. In general as much or more than the Satya Super Hit, though I've had a varied experienced with that fragrance over the years, especially in the cone. But this is warm, sweet, musky, woody, floral, perfumed, yummy. I like that it combines male and female qualities, like the two sexes coming together and embracing. Oooh, yes I love it.

Date: June 2025 Score: 46

***

Retailers of Distinction

I shall collect here a list of online shops around the world which sell incense. Over time I will add details such as type of stock, shipping, etc, as well as a general review of my experience and opinion. If folks know of good shops, please leave a comment, or send me an email. These shops may sell a wide or narrow range of incense, but the main criteria is that they sell incense that are made by others, and that they are not rebranding as their own (albeit, there is no makers name on the incense, such as with the Vrindavan and Pushkar incense). Enterprises which sell incense under their own brand name, such as Temple of Incense and Bhagwan, are listed at Own Brand Traders.

Europe

* Padma Store, Germany. Sells selected Indian, Tibetan, and Japanese incense. International shipping.

* Raeucherwelt (Jeomra's Incense World), Germany. Sells resin, a small selection of incense sticks from India, Japan, and Tibet, and excellent home-made incense by Jeomra. International shipping.

* Poppat Stores, UK. Mostly everyday perfumed Indian incense, though also has some interesting dhoop and masala. Insanely cheap. European shipping.

* Pilgrims Fair Trade, UK. Some Tibetan and familiar Indian, though main interest is this site is the Western outlet for Pushkar incense (if you really want to punish yourself with DEP). International shipping (apart from Europe).

* Ephra-World, Germany. Excellent shop. Wide range of incenses, resins, sticks, powder, smudges, etc. The main focus is India, but they have incense from around the world, and some rare, and exotic stuff, at good prices, and mainly genuine brands rather than re-brands.

* The Incense Man, UK. Established 2003. The main Indian brands, HEM. Satya, etc, plus the main British re-branders, ToI, The Mother's, Pure. A good starting point. European shipping.

India

* Vrindavan Bazaar, Vrindavan, Northern India. Sells incense made in the local area. International shipping.

* Rasbihari Lal & Sons, Vrindavan, Northern India. Sells incense made in the local area. International shipping.

* Hare Krishna Das, Vrindavan, Norther India. Sells incense made in the local area. International shipping.

* Goa Bay, Goa, Southern India. Sells incense available in the local area. International shipping.

* Aavyaa, India. Sells a wide range of branded Indian incense not available in the West. Excellent site for authentic quality Indian incense. The more you buy, the less the shipping, until shipping is free. International shipping.

USA

* Everest Trader, USA. Sells Indian incense.

* Exotic Incense, USA. Sells Indian incense, often rebadged such as Prasad, Blue Pearl, Prabhuji's Gifts, Temple of Incense, etc, though they also have the main brands, such as Satya and Balaji. International shipping.

Rasbihari Lal Absolute Darshan

There is a very attractive sweet musky scent on the stick. I like sweet and musky, so this has an immediate and basic appeal for me. It's not a sophisticated or clever fragrance, and it presents as rather synthetic (possibly a blend of civet and vanillin aromachemicals), but nevertheless has a primitive allure.

After the simple crude delight of the scent on the stick, the scent on the burn is a tad disappointing. The fragrance takes a while to diffuse, but when getting up close in impatience (always keep burning incense away from you) the rewards are tempered by a dry smoke - a scent of burning twigs intruding on the sweet musk, so I find it better to be patient and wait for the fragrance to come. When it arrives it is pleasant, gentle, warm, and carries the sweet musk notes from the stick. There's amber and tonka and other sweet musky resinous notes. It's nice, for sure, but doesn't really go anywhere. I like this, I like it a lot in fact, but it's a fairly simple almost crude fragrance accord. I'd welcome more balance and top notes. I'd like some freshness, and a sense of natural. This feels like it leans a tad too much on aromachemicals and DEP to create a simple, basic appeal on the cheap. All that said, this does sit comfortably on my side of the fence as regards the central theme of warm sweet musk, and it is gentle enough not to offend, with very few off notes. So I would be happy to buy this to use around the house. It is 5.45 euros for 20gm from Padma Store. I can't currently see it at the Rasbihari Lal & Sons shop, though there is a Darshan incense at HareKrishnaDas, and one at Vrindavan Bazaar, though neither are the same name, nor look the same.

Date: June 2025 Score: 32

***

Thursday, 12 June 2025

Rasbihari Lal & Sons

Rasbihari Lal & Sons is a Hindu shop in Vrindavan, the birthplace of Krishna. The business was founded in 1978, and sells a range of Krishna related products as well as incense, predominantly unbranded incense which is what we know as Rasbihari Lal incense, which appears to only be sold outside of India by Padma Store, though can be bought directly from the online website Rasbihari Lal. Prices are around $5-$17 (£4-£15) with shipping starting at around $30, then - unfortunately and somewhat off-puttingly - increasing rather than decreasing when you increase the order (when it went up to $57 for around 10 items, I decided not to proceed!). Padma Store sells much of the same incense (though not the complete range, which appears to include several different makers) at around the same price, and with lower shipping costs.

The shop in Loi Bazar Vrindavan

Rasbihari Lal is a shop, not an incense house, and appear to sell incense made by several different local enterprises. This is one of many incense outlets in Vrindavan. Just Dial give details on well over a hundred. Vrindavan Bazaar (Hare Krsna Exports LLC, House No. 351, Chaitanya Vihar, Vrindavan); and Hare Krishna Das (Hare Krishna Emporium, Loi Bazaar, Vrindavan) are two I've bought from, and who offer excellent value for money. I've heard talk that one of the suppliers is
Haridas Madhavdas Sugandhi (HMS ) in Pune, and I wondered that myself before looking into the logistics, and becoming more familiar with artisan incense in India - as Pune is over 24 hours away by lorry, and there are well over a hundred suppliers and makers locally in Vrinadavan, it wouldn't make sense to add to the cost of the incense by buying incense from a maker so far away, when there is so much good stuff available cheaper locally. The similarity with HMS is mainly the occasional use of vanillin, but that is not exclusive to HMS. Musk ketone, coumarin, piperonal, civet, and vanillin are popular scent crystals used by artisanal incense houses in India to be included in the mix, usually on the outside of the stick - generally in the melnoorva powder, which, because of their excellent diffusion and scent character, give instant appeal.

Reviews