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Temple Copal incense sticks

Hello everyone!

I don't often create posts to share my blog's reviews here, but today, I published one I feel is worth making an exception for.

TLDR
I bought some second hand Copal resin-on-a-stick style incense sticks that turned out to be shockingly expensive and ... well ... not worth the money to say the least.
I made some experiments to give me an idea of how little resin they likely actually contain (spoiler, it won't be more than about 11%) and now I'm wondering if this is how Copal incense sticks are generally made.

Here is the full review: https://blog.rauchfahne.de/en/2026/07/23/temple-copal-sacred-white-copal-en/

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So for the one part, I'd like to warn everyone curious for this incense style to not waste their money on "Temple Copal" and encourage them to take a closer look at the sticks they are buying.
And for the other part, I'd like to hear from those of you who regularly use these kind of sticks to share your thoughts and experiences.

This text is taken from a local newspaper article here in Germany (PNP).
Extracted from a scan and translated via Claude AI, proofread by me (yes, it was necessary, it left out parts of the text.)
As this is concerning EU law, I assume the following will apply to all EU countries, but, please verify this for your respective countries. Parts might only apply here in Germany!

EU Commission Tightens Fees and Charges

[...] Fees apply to purchases from all non-EU countries. If the declared value of a shipment is up to 150 euros, customs duty is currently waived. However, from November 1, 2026, a fee will be introduced for such shipments, the exact amount of which still has to be determined by the EU Commission.

In addition, starting July 1, 2026, every package from a non-EU country with a goods value of up to 150 euros will incur a charge of three euros per ordered product category. This measure is intended to remain in place until the EU (planned from 2028) is able to check and process all shipments. From that point on, customs duties and taxes will apply across the board. "If the declared value of the shipment exceeds 150 euros, both customs duties and import VAT as well as excise duty must be paid," explains Simone Bueb of the Bavarian Consumer Advice Centre. The package of measures is primarily aimed at curbing cheap imports — ending unfair competitive conditions and reducing the flood of parcels.

Buying cheap goods outside the EU may then no longer be worthwhile for consumers. In any case, buyers must pay customs duties and taxes depending on the product type, including VAT and excise duty. Import VAT is only collected by customs when it amounts to at least one euro.

On top of that, a so-called handling fee may apply. Many parcel services manage the customs clearance process for taxable shipments on the sender's behalf, if the sender has not already done so. For this, parcel services typically charge a handling or service fee of around 7.50 euros.

"If the parcel gets held up at customs and the parcel service does not handle the clearance, the buyer must collect the goods from customs themselves and, if necessary, pay outstanding taxes and fees," explains Bueb. Furthermore: "Warranty and return rights for products ordered from providers outside the EU are not subject to German law," says Birgit Janik. [...]

Nathan, (one of the long-term members here) created an incense quiz on his blog that I found quite fun: https://nathanupchurch.com/quizzes/incense-ingredient-quiz/

The results are not saved in any shape or form, so if you exit them, they are gone.