Misbah White Tiger

 

A heavy stick. A generous amount of extruded paste on a machine cut bamboo splint. A heady aroma of sage and herbs on the stick. Quite fresh and cleansing. As with the Rose Oudh I've just reviewed there is a lot of black smoke when lighting the stick, and the flames are burning quite hungrily. When the flame is blown out the stick produces the familiar grey smoke. I'm not sure why this happens with some incenses. It tends to happen with incenses that are quite heady. I suspect it is due to using a larger than average amount of DEP. But I don't really know. 

The scent on the burn is quite clean and fresh with floral notes hovering above the sage and herbs, and with some sweet musky, patchouli under notes. It is a very attractive scent, though perhaps a tad sweet, and a tad too much like a car freshener or room scent-diffuser to really get me excited. 

Available in India from Scenting Secrets and Aavyaa.  

Date: Oct 2025   Score: 33

***

Misbah's Fragrance

Misbah's Rose Oudh

 

Sample of Misbah's Rose Oudh from Julian of The Incense Atelier. I've had three previous incenses from this young Bangalore based incense house, and was impressed by them. Other than the occasional expensive eBay listing, and via the excellent Indian online shop Aavyaa, they appear to not be available in the West (at least under their own name); which is a shame considering they are decent quality.  However, Misbah's incense is aimed at the Indian market, and specifically the Muslim community in India, so tend to be quite rich and traditional, with a focus on bakhoor styles, which is not necessarily what most Westerners get excited about. My understanding is that Julian has reached the same conclusion,  and is not at the moment considering importing them. 

The sticks are quite weighty - the bamboo splints are solid, machine-cut, decent quality, and the incense paste (dry, crumbly) has been applied generously albeit it a little crudely with assorted lumps and bumps. A small amount of powder has been applied to the paste. The scent on the stick is heady, affirmative, Arabian, with a huge focus on Damask rose. 

The scent on the burn is quite delicious. It's my sort of incense. It's gently affirmative, gently heady, with a pronounced focus on the rose aspects, though the sweet florals are nicely held in check by the sultry woods and musks. It's an earthy and sexy little incense. Quite  comforting and embracing. It really charms the room and leaves a delicious and quite cleansing fragrance. Top stuff.  My favourite Misbah so far. 

Available from Misbah at  500 rupees for 100g (India only). It occasionally turns up on eBay - worth doing a search. Aavyaa appear not to be doing international shipping at the moment (Oct 2025). I have sent a message to Vishesh to clarify what is happening, though some folks are still celebrating Diwali, so it may take a moment. 

Date: Oct 2025   Score: 43

***

Misbah's Fragrance

The best oudh incense

Best rose incense

GP Industries Gurudwar

 

A sample of GP Industries Gurudwar sent to me by Julian of The Incense Atelier.  I've previously had two other incenses from GP Industries, and I was impressed with both: Ruh Amber and Pandhari. GP Industries are based in the city of Shimoga in Karnataka (they appear to be the only incense house in Shimoga), and seem to have been in business since 2012. I like the incenses I've had from them. I've been very impressed.  This incense is named after Sikh temples or holy places. 

The incense sticks are a hand rolled soft & moist charcoal paste on plain machine cut bamboo splints. The paste is covered with a fragrant brown melnoorva/masala powder. The scent on the stick is musky, sweet, woody, perfumed, with floral touches. I find it very attractive and somewhat Arabian - it reminds me of bakhoor, though sweeter and more feminine.

The scent on the burn follows that of the scent on the stick, though warmer and less clear. It is a homely and attractive embrace. It gently and pleasantly informs the room without being dramatic or clever. It perhaps remains in that somewhat commercial warm musky sweet spot a little too much for my taste .I'd welcome a little more variety and/or balance. A few sharp notes would add interest and excitement. However, as it is, it is a delicious incense, leaving a very warm and welcoming fragrance in the room. 

Date: Oct 2025    Score: 38

***

GP Industries

GP Industries Amber Kasturi

A sample of GP Industries Amber Kasturi sent to me by Julian of The Incense Atelier.  I've had two other incenses from GP Industries, and I was impressed with both: Ruh Amber and Pandhari. GP Industries are based in the city of Shimoga in Karnataka (they appear to be the only incense house in Shimoga), and seem to have been in business since 2012. Kasturi is musk, which, like amber, is these days a created scent - either synthetic, or a blend of natural oils.

The incense sticks are a hand rolled soft & moist charcoal paste on plain machine cut bamboo splints which have a faint red dye at the tips. The paste is covered with a fragrant brown melnoorva/masala powder. The scent on the stick is very masculine and sexy - bundles of musk. Oooh - it's almost pornographic. I love deep, dark, musky scents, so I am drawn to this. Though it initially hits as masculine, I also see it as female. A strong, dark, sexy female. If a woman wore this as a perfume I would fall in love with her and bundle her off with me to the south of France to have my babies. 

The scent on the burn is more of the same, though with an awareness of floral qualities (without actually having a floral scent). It is a deep, dark, moist and mysterious musk. There's a suggestion of sweetness, but mostly it is a moist earthiness with some woods. It is a glorious scent, though, for me, it could do with some lightness as a relief or contrast. This is a bucket at the bottom of the well of musk, and there's not much air or sunlight coming through. Something else happening now and again would lift this higher. But even so, as it is, it's damned sexy and compelling.  

Date: Oct 2025    Score: 45

***

GP Industries

Musk

Amber

GP Industries, Karnataka

 

GP Industries are based in the city of Shimoga in Karnataka (they appear to be the only incense house in Shimoga), and seem to have been in business since 2012.

Reviews

   

GP Industries Amber Kasturi (PM)
Oct 2025 - Score: 45

GP Industries Ruh Amber (M)
April 2023 - Score: 44 

   

GP Industries Pandhari (M)

Aug 2023 - Score: 43 

   

GP Industries Gurudwar (PM)
Oct 2025 - Score: 38

Reviews: 4 
Top: 45

Bottom: 38

Average: 42

***

The Best Incense Makers

Vinasons (VNS) Patchouli Dhoop Sticks

 

I love patchouli, and there is some patchouli in this, but it is somewhat overshadowed, for me, by the vanilla (benzoin?) and other notes - chocolate, mint, etc. Put aside the patchouli name, and just approach this as an incense, and I feel much more comfortable, as this has a glorious fragrance that shouldn't be disturbed by doubts about the nature of the patchouli scent. It is fresh, sweet, and exciting. Perhaps a tad too sweet with the vanilla to be a truly great incense - as a Middle Eastern desert it would be awesome. It is so delicious I would love to eat this. As an incense I'd like it to be a tad more earthy and musky, especially with the patchouli name, but even so, as it is I love it. And I love the clean, fresh scent it leaves in the house for hours afterwards. 

The more Vinasons I burn the more I like this incense house. Well crafted incense using traditional scents, but giving them a modern twist. This Patchouli dhoop stick presents as a clean, modern scent that would be as welcomed by Gen Z buyers as the traditional aging hippy Baby boomer market, which is, inevitably, a dying market. 

Date: Oct 2025   Score:  40 

***

Vithaldas Narayandas & Sons
Vinasons

Patchouli

Vinasons (VNS) Royal Sandalwood Dhoop Sticks

 

Vinasons appear to be experts with sandalwood - a significant proportion of their output is sandalwood. Possibly to a degree above average for an Indian incense house (many Asian incense houses deal mostly in either sandalwood or agarwood, while Indian incense houses are more varied). Vinasons' sandalwood incense as a body is quite impressive; I have two listed with scores in the 40s, signifying what I regard as "Heavenly Incense".  This dhoop of the Royal Sandalwood fragrance blend is another fine sandalwood by Vinasons. Minty fresh aspects to the fragrance on the dhoop promises an intriguing blend. There's silky chocolate notes balancing the earthy sandalwood which is the backbone of the accord. 

The dhoop is thin and dry, and fairly short, so this is not a long, heady burn, nor is it smoky such as I tend to get with wet dhoops. This is more a casual everyday quick room freshener. Much in the style of  dhoops such as Panchavati, Vakratund, Padmini, Balaji, etc. And it does elegantly sweeten the room with a soft fragrant sandalwood - more floral and minty than earthy, though the accord is well supported by a sweet, musky, woody embrace. The general impression is perhaps more patchouli than sandalwood, and that plays to my tastes. 

I like this. I like this as a casual room freshener. It is not a complex incense, nor an attention seeker, this is a delicate pleasure giver. Soft, subtle, fragrant, floral,  and really quite pleasing. Some vanilla notes in the burn (possibly benzoin), linger delightfully for hours afterwards making the home feel clean, fresh, and happy. 

Royal Sandalwood Dhoop Sticks are available in boxes of 10 sticks from VNS at 30 rupees (25p). (If you live outside India, to buy from VNS you need to contact Shreyas Sugandhi at vns@vnsons.com). 

Date: Oct 2025   Score:  40

***

Vithaldas Narayandas & Sons
Vinasons

Sandalwood

Dhoop

Huss Raucherbaumchen Incense Trees Pinewood

 

I love the playfulness and inventiveness of Jurgen Huss, who in 1990 restarted the family cone business in the Ore Mountains, Saxony. These cones are mini Christmas trees - perfect for the German Christmas season, the most popular time for burning cones. There is a small hole in the base. This is too small to be a backflow cone - so I assume they are intended to be placed on some kind of stand which has pins pointing up. 

The scent is fresh, green, outdoorsy, spicy, sweet, with a focus on pine. There's some smouldering wood notes which detract from the overall fragrance. The company say they use charcoal. And they do. Though I think there's some wood powder involved as well. There's some caramel and sandalwood notes here as well. At least for me. And gunpowder, like a spent firework. This is a curious one. Not as pleasant for me as the other Huss, though still attractive. 

Available direct from Huss for 2.90 Euros + shipping. 

Date: Oct 2025    Score: 29

***

     

Huss Incense

Huss Neudorfer Raucherkerzen Karsl Dr Christbaam

 

Karsl is a German cone character developed by Jurgen Huss, the grandson of the original founder of Huss incense, who restarted the company in 1990. He sells a variety of cute Karsl products, spoons, jumpers, beer, etc. I loved the idea of this one - "All in one place - Ore Mountains Emergency Kit". A matchbox with a slide out metal tray, three frankincense cones, and four matches. Great fun! Of course, if you put the cone on the tray the box tips over, so I had to put a counterweight in the box. 

The incense is decent. It has the same fragrance as the Mini cones, so is good. The main thing here is the novelty of the kit. There are four different characters to select from, all with the same frankincense fragrance.  I bought mine direct from Huss for 3.60 Euros + shipping. Not really good value for three cones. But I couldn't resist the gimmick. It's not entirely original, there are several Indian dhoop incenses which provide a metal stand in the box to hold the dhoop stick, such as Padmini, though they don't provide the matches as well.  

Date: Oct 2025   Score: 32

***

Huss Incense

Huss Incense

   

The best known and biggest German cone maker is Knox, whose products are available in the UK and elsewhere. As I got into incense I discovered that there are other German incense makers, and the tradition of making incense cones in Germany goes back to the 19th century. Knox was established in 1865, which as far as I'm aware makes them, outside of Japan, the oldest incense house still in existence. After Knox I became aware of Crottendorfer, and then Huss (there's also a Canadian branch: Huss). And that is the order of their size and popularity in Germany: 1) Knox, 2) Crottendorfer, and 3) Huss.  I've communicated with a German, Sascha, who enjoys German incense cones, and they tell me that there are three more incense houses in Germany, smaller than these three, but each with their own following. The other three are Carl Jager (founded 1897), Bockauer (founded mid 1990s), and Oerm, and I shall explore them all! 

Huss was founded in Neudorf in the Ore Mountains, Saxony, in 1928, by Kurt Huss as a part time business to supplement the family income. The business developed, and a factory was opened; though after Kurt's death in 1970, the Huss factory closed. Kurt's son, Siegfried, carried on the business, though it is not clear for how long. In 1990, Siegfried's son Jurgen restarted the business, which continues to this day. 

I'm not sure of the combustible ingredients. Certainly there is charcoal here, but there appears to be wood as well, as the cones do not crush easily, and the cones are packed loose in the box, as with Knox and Crottendorfer, because they are confident the fragrance will be locked in the wood paste and not quickly fade. Charcoal is an excellent combustible for incense, but as it is permeable it allows fragrance vapour to evaporate, while wood holds the fragrance for longer. 

Reviews

Huss Neudorfer Raucherkerzen
Schoko (Chocolate) (P)
Oct 2025 - Score: 41

   

Huss Neudorfer Raucherkerzen Spruce/Pine (P)
Oct 2025 - Score: 32

   

Huss Neudorfer Raucherkerzen Mini (P)
Oct 2025 - Score: 32

 

   

Huss Neudorfer Raucherkerzen
Karsl Dr Christbaam (P)
Oct 2025 - Score: 32

   

Huss Raucherbaumchen

Incense Trees Pinewood (P)

Oct 2025 - Score: 29

Reviews: 5 
Top: 41
Bottom: 29
Average: 33

***

The Best Incense Makers

Incense Around the World

Huss Neudorfer Raucherkerzen Mini

 

These mini cones are very cute. Very small, but cute and able to produce a decent, although brief, waft of incense. The aroma is frankincense, burnt wood, and coal. Attractive.  Too small for me, but I was curious to try them. I assume they are made small to fit some of the smaller German smokers. 

I bought mine direct from Huss for 1.90 Euros + shipping. 

Date: Oct 2025   Score: 32

***

Huss Incense

Huss Neudorfer Raucherkerzen Spruce/Pine

 

Gentle perfumed scent on the cone. A little soap, strawberry jam, fresh air, herbs. Soft and softly pleasant. Little to no awareness of pine or spruce. The scent on the burn, however does have woody pine. Soft, but noticeable. There's the sense of being outdoors in winter in Wales when I was a youngster and smelling the coal fires burning. It's an attractive blend of woody resin, pine, and coal smoke. A child's Christmas in Wales.  A modest though attractive and evocative fragrance. Nice. 

I bought mine direct from Huss for 2.30 Euros + shipping. 

I was sent a little present with my purchase,
this little pyramid containing three cones.

Date: Oct 2025   Score: 32

***

Huss Incense