u/sd_aloha

Got hyperfocused on incense over the last few months! I’ve already posted about my Japanese and Indian incense experience, but here are my reviews for Tibetan, Bhutanese, and one Mongolian. They are organized how Incense Traditions categorizes them as most were purchased there (more on that to follow).

TLDR Recommendations 👇🏻

Best variety to start with:
Lopen Tandin Dorji: Tara Puja Green
Kuengacholing: Gelephu
Mindroling Monastery: Grade 1

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All incense were purchased from Incense Traditions except for Himalayan Herbal which was from Incense Guru and Tibetan Monastery which was purchased from EverestTrader on Etsy. I highly recommend Incense Traditions!

https://incense-traditions.ca/

Quick Shop Review:
- Amazing customer service (thank you Hart!)
- Huge selection of hard to find incense
- Two free sizable samples with every order
- Shipping was surprisingly quick to Southern California
- Tariffs to the US are usually over estimated and I’ve received an immediate partial refund every time I’ve ordered

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Incense Rating System:
10 one of the best I’ve ever smelled
9 amazing
8 very impressive
7 good and will occasionally buy
6 good but not for me (or there are better)
5 okay for what it is
4 they missed the mark
3 disappointed
2 what is going on here, put it out
1 is the house on fire or is that incense

Note: as these incense are all handmade batches may vary

*RECOMMEND

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***BHUTANESE TRADITIONAL***

Drizang Kuenchap

*Lhawang Driden 9/10
- purple stick
- rich red cedar, deep earthy sweetness, soft florals, uniquely feels almost a little wet/humid

Kathok Yosel Samteing Monastery

Cloud of Merit Wind Wisdom 6/10
- purple stick
- rich red cedar, sharp woody sweetness, hints of resinous spice and cinnamon
- leaves more of a smokey after scent than Lhawang Driden, is a tiny bit spicier, and doesn’t have the same damp richness

Nado

*A Composition for Riwo Sangchoe (Morning Incense) 9/10
- very light brown stick
- sweet dry woods, warm milk, rich butter, hints of honey and earthy spice

A Composition for Riwo Sangchoe and Surzey (Evening Incense) 5/10
- purple stick
- rich deep woods, soft florals, tiny hint of sweetness, has an odd sour top note

Special 2015 Incense 5/5
- very dark purple stick
- soft airy and warm woods, develops a warm iron on cotton type musty warmth that can lean a bit chemical/unhealthy smelling (not as dominating as Gang-zi Mani Nunnery though)

Lopen Tandin Dorji

*Tara Puja Green 9/10
- light brown stick
- fresh white cedar, resinous juniper, clear alpine air, hints of woody spice
- like breathing fresh air on a mountain top in early spring as the snow starts to melt, clear but comforting

*Bhutanese “A Quality” Incense 10/10
- bright purple stick
- red amber like woody depth balanced with berry like sweetness, very soft beautiful florals that surround the scent but don’t smell burnt or fake, tiny hint of red cedar like spice
- classic purple stick but the added soft florals make it feel luxurious and emotionally healing

Pure Herbal No 2 “B Quality” 7/10
- purple stick
sweet florals that don’t smell fake or cloying, soft warm woods
- A quality does florals better, and C quality is more complex

*Guru Puja “C Quality” 8/10
- medium purple stick
- soft red cedar, gentle florals, frankincense, tiniest hints of spice
- gentle version of a classic purple stick plus a little floral and citrus (A quality has a lot more floral but no citrus)

Sung Sung Quality 5/10
- purple stick
- green watery florals that smell a tiny bit powdery and fake, mild hint of soft juniper

Kuengacholing

*Gelephu 9/10
- purple stick
- soft resinous woods, juniper, hints of herbal cooking spices
- like a soft classic purple stick with the relaxing twist of added herbal notes

Siddharth Incenses

Druk Healing Incense 1/10
- reddish brown stick
- burnt newspaper and hair, tiny hint of burnt flowers

Riwo Sangchoe, The Incense God 6/10
- red stick
- red cedar, zesty and airy spice that’s softened by a resinous juniper like sweetness

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***TIBETAN THERAPEUTIC & RELAXATION***

Mandala Trading

Himalayan Herbal Incense 6/10
- greenish brown stick
soft woods, hints of cooking spices and tomatoes, fresh celery, warm but also cool, comforting
- like walking down the street early evening smelling hints of people cooking dinner in their warm homes
- unfortunately I never got another bundle that smelled like my original review (8/10), it appears to have changed to a more evergreen scent

Tibetan Monastery 6/10
- brown stick
- soft warm woods, small hints of leather and dark resins, hint of spice
- the diet version of a classic purple stick mixed with a little Indian incense

Tibetan Medical College

Holy Land (standard/“regular”) 2/10
- light brown stick
- light woods, hints of resin, dominating body odor or perspiration

Holy Land (grade 2) 4/10
- dark brown stick
- warm woods over a fire, hints of the body odor or perspiration found in regular Holy Land

Shang Valley of Shigatse

*Gangtruk grade A 7/10
- light brown stick
white cedar, airy woody spice, tiniest hint of milk and butter
- very balanced, a little like Tara Puja Green but less airy green notes on the top and more warm soft campfire smell

Dong Gu

Fragrant Incense 6/10
- medium brown very thin stick (every so slightly thicker than Japanese size)
- soft dry resinous woods, cooking herbs, soft campfire, hint of fresh mountain air, barest trace of spice

Dhoop Factory

Ganden 1/10
- lighter brown stick
- cigarette smoke, tiny hint of campfire wood and herbs

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***TIBETAN MONASTERY***

Mindroling Monastery

*Mindroling (grade 1) 7/10
- light brown stick
- resinous dry wood over a fire, salty musk, barest hints of milk and honey sweetness

Gadong Monastery

TLM/Tsendok Ling Monastery 3/10
- dark brown stick
- burned woods, hint of leather, a bit chemical like they cut the wood with newspaper (might be from oils but either way this is a nope from me)

Samye Monastery

Samye 3/10
- reddish brown stick
- red cedar and musky sweaty body odor

Wara Monastery

Wara 2/10
- very dark brown stick
- musky body odor, wet bog wood

Kathok

Holy Mountain 2/10
- dark reddish brown stick
animalistic, salty, sweaty, sharp almost chemical top note, deep woods in the background

Gang-zi Mani Nunnery

Nunnery Incense 4/10
- deep reddish brown stick
- at first smells like sweet deep woods, fresh tomato, herbs, and hints of earthy cooking spices, but quickly turns to a warm iron on cotton almost chemical like smell that dominates over everything else

Cirenjiang Nunnery

*Temple Incense 7/10
- reddish dark brown stick
- warm earthy woods, notes of fresh tomato and cooking herbs, tiny hint of crisp mountain air

Gangri Thökar Nunnery

Snow Mountain Gathers 4/10
- light brown stick
- campfire like woods, animalistic musk, tiny hint of savory herbs

Dhe Tsang Monastery

Sacred Mountains 4/10
- medium brown stick, on the thinner side (about twice the size of a Japanese stick)
- sample smelled like savory cooking herbs, tomato, soft woodsmoke, soft desert night air —> however the bundle I later ordered smelled completely different…like perspiration and burnt newspaper

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***BHUTANESE JAJU***

Drizang Kuenchap

*Lhawang Driden Jaju (yellow) 10/10
- light brown stick
- white cedar and cypress with hints of juniper, sharp woody zest/spice from the cedar, very clean and invigorating, resets the energy
- like Tara Puja Green but more zesty, invigorating, and clear alpine (vs balanced & relaxing alpine)

Chimi Incense

Shielding 5/10
- light brown stick
- dry woods, warm milk, curry like spices

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***MONGOLIAN***

Inner Mongolia Incense

*Hong Rong Kou 6/10
- medium brown very thin stick (Japanese size)
- soft resinous woods, dry leather, deep savory richness, tangy herbal notes and hints of cooking spices
- almost like a Tibetan herbal incense mixed with Japanese aloeswood, can lean a bit campfire like

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For Context: I’m a low maintenance outdoorsy woman. I’m easygoing and get along with just about anyone, but am also an extroverted introvert. I love to surf hike & travel, am a pisces with an emotionally complex past, and was born in a San Diego thunderstorm ⛈️

*RECOMMEND

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Poesie

Myself Invisible 5/10
- white powder, airy musk, fresh paper
- the scent is light but somehow the powder still dominates too much for me

Library Ghost 4/10
- vanilla marshmallow, soft white musk, hints of parchment
- on my skin quickly turned to a sole dominating note of sickly sweet sugary cereal milk

Bookish 4/10
- syrupy vanilla extract like sweetness, pretty tobacco pipe and aged wood smoke
- a bit too sweet and fake vanilla smelling for me (headache inducing), but the smoke is lovely

*Enchanted Forest 10/10
- lush forest, ancient trees, fresh books, white woods, wet stone and moss, playful spirits in the wind
- such a unique scent! fresh, beautiful, magical, earthy, and exciting
- very unisex, how I picture a magical forest witch or spirit would smell

*Sunny Bunny 9/10
- initially smells exactly like Sun Bum sunscreen to me, creamy coconut with a little bit of watery florals and hints of amber
- on my skin the complexities come out a lot more, adding notes of soft white driftwood and warm sand while the sunscreen scent takes a back seat
- turns into a very pretty and soft beachy mermaid type scent without being atmospheric

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Nui Cobalt Designs

Goldilocks Gets Busted for Breaking and Entering 4/10
- basic pumpkin pecan candle type scent

Scylla 3/10
- sharp and bitter green notes, not clean and fresh just bitter

Snallygaster 5/10
- slightly sweet golden amber, hint of soap

Long Shadows 3/10
- sweet but spicy candle wax, a bit air freshener like

New Moon 1/10
- smells like Philips cherry flavored liquid laxative…which makes me want to vomit

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Hexennacht (round two, check my other posts for more Hexennacht reviews)

*Leviathan 10/10
- petrichor, driftwood, soft silk, airy white blossoms, wet greens and soil, primally energizing, like wearing a cozy sweater in a coastal cottage while a thunderstorm rolls in
- more moody than Wuthering Heights, it’s very atmospheric but still a little softly pretty (if Wuthering Heights takes place in a mountain meadow this takes place along coastal Ireland)

*Elemental 8/10
- sharp greens covered in dew first thing in the morning, wet soil, impending thunderstorm
- this really grew on me as it settled, extremely realistic atmospheric, I just prefer Leviathan which is more complex and a bit more pretty
- bit like Fallen Angel but less wet soil and more greens/petrichor, sharper green notes than Leviathan, definitely more straight up thunderstorm

*Waking the Witch 7/10
- rich woods, deep benzoin like vanilla, top note of airy silver amber lightens it up, barest hints of smoke
- not sure if it’s me but it’s probably the most beautiful witchy scent I’ve tried

Apparition 6/10
- deep rich vanilla, soft silk, sweet but airy amber
- settles very pretty but very vanilla forward, yummy without being cloying, I just prefer more complex scents

Fougère Accord 4/10
- lavender is pretty but absolutely dominates, light hints of wet greens
- pretty much just straight lavender, not complex enough for me (definitely prefer Wuthering Heights for a lavender scent)

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For Context: I’m a low maintenance outdoorsy woman. I’m easygoing and get along with just about anyone, but am also an extroverted introvert. I love to surf hike & travel, am a pisces with an emotionally complex past, and was born in a San Diego thunderstorm ⛈️

*RECOMMEND

———

Arcana

Dreaming of Octopus Lovers 4/10
- bitter overripe fruit, melon, salty air

*On The Wing 10/10
- fresh water, powdery white musk, soft peony like florals

Unicorn Horn 1/10
- bitter acrid sharpness, plastic doll

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Solstice Scents

*Gulf Breeze 8/10
- fresh wet greenery, ocean air, warm sand, hints of driftwood, cashmere, musk, soft vanilla, and white tropical flowers
- mermaid type scent that’s fresh and pretty, good staying power for a lighter scent

*Sea of Gray 8/10
- initially smelled like driftwood, vanilla, salty air, and a tiny hint of smoke - but changed to an old library, black mineral stone/salty ocean air, softly sweet vanilla, white musk, cashmere, and hints if smoke damage long past
- the vibe is witchy werewolf in an ancient library that sits on the coast…it’s beautifully primal, contemplative, and serious/mature, yet also oceanic - at first I didn’t like it but it grew on me a lot as it dried down, great staying power that actually retains the salty/mineral vibe

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Freya’s Daughters

Salt & Shadow 7/10
- salt air, soft worn lace, sun bleached driftwood, jasmine and plumeria flowers tossed into the sea, hints of tropical fruit on the wind, late afternoon air as the fog starts to roll in over the ocean, barest hint of vanilla, romantic and soft but complex, smells beautifully tragic
- tragically doesn’t have much staying power at all otherwise would be 10/10
- Solstice Scents Sea of Gray has a slightly similar (but less pretty) vibe with a lot better staying power

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Just posted my reviews for the Indian incense I tried, here are my notes and ratings for the Japanese incense. Tibetan and Bhutanese to follow! (once I get a few more in the mail)

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Incense Rating System:
10 one of the best I’ve ever smelled
9 amazing
8 very impressive
7 good and will occasionally buy
6 good but not for me (or there are better)
5 okay for what it is
4 they missed the mark
3 disappointed
2 what is going on here, put it out
1 is the house on fire or is that incense

Note: Houses are in alphabetical order

*RECOMMENDED

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Baieido

Tobiume 4/10
- Polyester costumes, ironing clothing, freshly laid asphalt, hints of floral
- Super interesting and confusing, like enjoying the scent of gasoline when you know it’s bad for you…can’t see myself reaching for this one

*Tokusen Syukohkoku 7/10
- Rich dry woods, oiled leather, tannic tartness, dry earth, hints of earthy baking spices

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Baikundo

Yuzen 4/10
- Mostly a single note of strong earthy baking spices, strikingly dry and spicy, comforting when lit outside
- Very cozy without being gourmand in any way but scent is strong and lingers a long time

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Gyokushodo

Kaori No Sho Sampler: left to right

En no Sho 6/10
- Deep but sharp woods, dry aged leather, hints of tobacco and tires after driving through the desert, kerosene, the scent is all background low note which can be lost but also very easily found when looking for it
- Surprisingly low smoke (charcoal stick) but also irritated both my husband and I’s throats to where we had to extinguish the stick…bamboo charcoal sticks have not done this previously, so I can only assume regular charcoal is used here
- Minorien’s Kyara Ryugen does this style of deeper kyara much woodier and more complex for a better price, also no charcoal smell to irritate our throats, maybe I’m just not the biggest green kyara oil fan

*Kaze no Sho 8/10
- Soft suede, rich ancient woods, grass blowing in the wind, hint of tannic dry wine, airy but grounded, dignified
- I picture a historic wooden dojo with all the doors open in spring

*Kumo no Sho 9/10
- Sun bleached salty driftwood, briny seaweed, hints of gentle plumeria and soft white musk, real life atmospheric
- Like being on the beach early in the morning with no one else around, somewhere between a tropical island beach and a PNW beach

Nami no Sho 6/10
- At first definitely got briny notes of driftwood and seashells, but quickly became wet earth, darker woods, and washed up seaweed
- Standing on a forested cliff overlooking the ocean on a stormy day, smells just a bit too dirty for me

Mori no Sho 4/10
- Deep resinous woods with a hint of sweet baking spices
- Not as spicy or dry as Yuzen, not as sweet as Sarasoju, more woody than both, gave slight headache

*Hana no Sho 8/10
- Soft rose and amber, creamy sandalwood, clear green florals, feminine and fresh without being perfumed or fake smelling, if the color rose gold was an incense, pretty and relaxing
- Best floral incense I’ve tried, and I’m not normally into florals aside from secondary notes. The scent doesn’t really linger after the burn but space somehow feels refreshed.

Note: Seems to be reduced smoke (not low smoke). You do notice a hint of warm coconut charcoal only after leaving the room then returning, but doesn’t bother breathing or linger afterwards

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Kida Jinseido

*Ikuho Koh Aloeswood 7/10
- Smooth, sweet but dry in an aged wood type of way, hints of musk
- Classic aloeswood presentation

Hanakokonoe Aloeswood 4/10
- Resinous woods, barbecue notes

*Kingyoku Koh Aloeswood 6/10
- Forest floor, resinous woods, pine needles, hint of cedar

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Kunjudo

Pearl (low smoke) 5/10
- Delicate woods and soft white florals, fresh apricot or peach, hints of warmth from the charcoal
- Balanced, not intrusive, and not fake or perfumed smelling. Decently strong for a low smoke incense

Note: not sure what charcoal is used here but it doesn’t seem to be as natural as Gyokushodo no Sho series, could potentially be problematic for people who have pets, asthma, allergies, or are prone to headaches

Shirayuki 3/10
- Green watery floral with a hint of rose
- A bit generic smelling for me and all floral rather than complex

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Kyukyodo

*Azuza 6/10
- Refreshing plum blossoms, sweet and airy, hints of juicy fresh fruit, soft woods round it out
- Nice warm weather scent if you enjoy juicy florals

Miyuki Sandalwood 3/10
- Resinous woods with a hint of warm jasmine
- Unfortunately the jasmine here barely shines through the woody notes and those woody notes aren’t particularly soft or pretty

Kajistu No Kaori Series Vanilla 2/10
- Smells like maple syrup not vanilla

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Minorien

Frankincense** **6/10
- Very classic church frankincense, middle note resin rather than the cheap high note citrus style
- If you like frankincense this one is the best I’ve tried (I’m not a fan though)

*Fu-in® Sandalwood 8/10
- Clean but softly sweet, rich aged wood, hints of milk, naturally beautiful, more complex than most sandalwoods
- No dark burned smokey scent, no powdery note, and no cloying honey note like many sandalwoods

Fu-in® Kyara 7/10
- Resinous, rich, deeply green but also softly woody, ancestral
- Lovely but the Ryugen jumps a ton in quality, so it’s better to just upgrade

*Fu-in®Kyara Ryugen 9/10
- Deeply wet green, rich softly aged almost floral like heartwood that was previously waterlogged but then dried for many years, mystical, nurturing, the hug of a loved one, peaceful reset, approval of your ancestors long past, an experience
- Basically regular Fu-in Kyara without the resinous note, much deeper wet green accords, yet somehow softer and more complex

*Kyara Chokoh No. 5 10/10
- Aged dry leather and barrel aged wood, softly sweet tannic notes and soft florals, barest hint of chocolate, dignified, intoxicating, ancient, someone who’s been through so much but still managed to choose a kind soft life
- Very different from Ryugen, less demanding of concentration, less forest temple like, dry woods rather than earthy wet, but also more relaxing and luxurious, complexities are less upfront and more evolving

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Nippon Kodo

Kyara Momoyama 6/10
- Soft woods, dry tannins, aged leather, barest hint of plum blossom
- Reminds me a tiny bit of Yamadamatsu Oju but less dry and a little more rich
- Nice but doesn’t live up to its price, I don’t get much actual kyara from it

Aloeswood Kayuragi 2/10
- Sweet woods, resin, floral perfume
- Was my gateway to Japanese incense, not as fake smelling as others but still really perfume heavy and not authentic aloeswood smell

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Okuno Seimeido

*Nihonshu No Kaori 7/10
- Fresh air, watery greens, dry tannic fruit, hint of powder and white florals
- Very low smoke incense, light airy scent that doesn’t feel unnatural or cloying in any way, a freshness you barely notice

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Seikado

*Tokusen Jinsui Vietnamese Aloeswood 8/10
- Sun dried woods, soft tannic leather, refined fresh air, hints of florals and resinous sweetness, a gentle temple like incense
- Similar to Kaze no Sho but less fresh and more woody temple

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Shunkohdo

*Sarasoju 6/10
- Sweet woods, wet fallen leaves, earthy baking spices, leaves a spicy cinnamon after scent

Ka Cho Fu Getsu 4/10
- Deep resinous woods, tanning solution for leather (turpentine?), hints of wet earth forest floor

Luxury Sampler: (right to left)

Fuji no Hana 4/10
- Ripe plum fruit, sweet florals, hints of wood
- Kyukyodo Azuza better, lighter and more plum blossom than plum fruit

Shun Koh Sen 4/5
- Warm woods, hints of patchouli and baking spices

Jinsoku Koh 4/10
- Dry leather, juniper wood

Haru no Kaori 5/10
- Forest woods, green leaves, hint of powdery musk and white florals, tiny bit of patchouli and rose
- Fresh and foresty but just close enough to air freshener territory that I wouldn’t burn this consistently

Housho 5/10
- Resinous woods, yellow curry

Chisen Aloeswood 3/10
- Sour woods, hint of rubber sweetness

Zuika Koh 4/10
- Dry earth, hints of tire on warm road

*Yoshino no Haru 6/10
- Resinous woods, initial hints of watery jasmine and soft musk, transitions to more grounded dry woods with a hint of spice, complex, after note of light green rose

*Ranjatai 10/10
- Warm tannic aged woods, hint of dried fruit, a small juniper wood fire in the corner, worn dry leather, gentle temple like depth, ancient and comforting
- Like finally reaching your warm and welcoming destination late at night after a long journey in the rain
- Reminds me of a dryer Kyara Ryugen with more woods and less wet earth

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Tennendo

Vanilla 3/10
- Deep vanilla over creamy sandalwood
- Very strong by Japanese incense standards, a little bit cloying

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Yamadamatsu

Sampler: (right to left)

*Oju 6/10
- Super dry woods, dusty worn leather, desert night sky
- If you miss the desert this will do it, very authentic atmospheric scent

*Kumoi 7/10
- Dark vanilla bean malt syrup, dry resinous woods, soft hint of red amber and a clothes iron heating up
- Uniquely sweet and comforting without being cloying

Hyofu 4/10
- Crushed violet petals, sharp minerals that evoke water, hints of warm rubber

*Saiun 6/10
- Warm woods, green leaves, light florals, hint of fresh apricot or peach, barest hint of spice

Shikun 2/10
- New leather, mahogany
- Reminds me of a reed diffuser a basic dude would have

Suifu Gokuhin (extra) 4/10
- Dry tannic wood, hints of florals and powder, hot iron on clothes, airy
- Really nice at first then got into air freshener territory

*Suifu 6/10
- Sweet resinous woods, wet forest floor, dry juniper, hint of spice
- Makes me think “Indiana Jones”

Kayo 5/10
- Soft creamy amber, medium heavy woods, just a hint of jam
- Too middle note amber like for my sandalwood taste

Kagetsu 4/10
- Sweet wet woods, hint of barbecue smoke, tiniest hint of floral

Obai 4/10
- Resinous woods, sweet patchouli, tiny hint of earthy spice
- Smells a bit like Indian incense…if I want that I will just burn Indian incense

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So I may have gotten hyperfocused on incense the last few months 😅 Here are my notes and ratings on the Indian ones I tried. Japanese as well as Tibetan/Bhutanese to follow!

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Incense Rating System:
10 one of the best I’ve ever smelled
9 amazing
8 very impressive
7 good and will occasionally buy
6 good but not for me (or there are better)
5 okay for what it is
4 they missed the mark
3 disappointed
2 what is going on here, put it out
1 is the house on fire or is that incense

*RECOMMEND

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Mother’s

*OM 10/10
- has a watery lightness to it, mild honey like sweetness, green florals barest hint of soft powder
- beautiful & refreshing

*Yoga 10/10
- grounding but soft sandalwood, soft watery musk, hints of green florals and rosewood
- relaxing zen

*Buddha 10/10
- somewhat dry resinous woods, beautiful rosewood like florals
- pretty meditation

*Aravind 7/10
- cool woods, airy water, fresh greens, soft florals

Chakra 5/10
- watery greens, resinous honey

Bhakti Nagchampa 2/10
- smokey woods and somewhat basic perfume like florals

Laxshmi Nagchampa 4/10
- resinous woods and dark florals

Patchouli 5/10
- dry woody type of patchouli, hints of dark resins
unlike any other patchouli I’ve tried, I like it’s dry nature, but it’s missing the floral or sweet complexities of others
- doesn’t have a halmaddi base

Vanilla 1/10
- very odd mix, top note of super sweet vanilla frosting and bottom note of almost burnt dark vanilla
- doesn’t have a halmaddi base

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Blue Pearl

*Classic Nag Champa 8/10
- soft woods and resinous florals
beautiful classic champa, not too strong

Note: unfortunately the powder comes off very easily from the halmaddi base, so always grab carefully from the side of the pack

Vanilla Nag Champa 4/10
- soft woods of a nag Champa but without the floral notes, instead there’s an almost cold smell that’s faintly reminiscent of vanilla but more just a light and airy aspect

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Incense from India

*Silver Temple 8/10
- black wet stone and moss, warm humid air and cooling fauna, hint of ripe fruits and tropical flowers

*Golden Champa 6/10
- honeyed depth but not cloying or syrupy, aged wood, fresh flowers

Shanthi Nag Champa 5/10
- watery and refreshing floral champa, smells like Hot Topic so I’d probably like it more if I didn’t spend so much of my youth there

Nag Champa 4/10
- woody and slightly pungent syrupy sweetness

Meditation 1/10
- like old wood and clothes that have been stuffed in an attic for too long

Vanilla Sunrise 2/10
- amber vanilla with a bouquet of flowers that’s starting to go bad

Golden Patchouli 3/10
- musty dry earth, top note of slightly sweet old flowers

Desert Flower 3/10
- dry and dusty generic flowers

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Bhagwan

Nag Champa Supreme 3/10
- sweet woods, black licorice, a little floral
- very disappointed considering the reviews, Mothers and Blue Pearl are way better

Patchouli Queen 2/10
- strong camphor minty notes totally overshadows the patchouli

Royal Mysore Sandalwood 3/10
- soft campfire like woods with an acrid top note of cooling camphor

Garden of Eden 1/10
- watery florals and woods with a dominating CAT PISS note

Jasmine Queen 2/10
- fake grandma perfume like Jasmine
- Triloka Night Queen is better if you want jasmine

Nag Champa Red 2/10
- weird sharp top note of strong soap

Heavenly Rosewood 5/10
- sappy resinous wood, hints of floral and powder

*Amber Kasturi 6/10
- amber, soft airy rose

Spring Blossom 1/10
- sharp sour top medicinal note with florals

*Alchemist Secret 8/10
- watery green florals, soft woods, sweet honey like airy notes

Balsamic Amber 3/10
- burnt teakwood, dark amber, hints of spice

*Dravidian Temple 7/10
- dry woods, wet earth, hints of stone, touch of milk & honey like sweetness

Lady Champa 4/10
- old lady white florals on a champa base

*Woody Champa 6/10
- resinous woods, watery lightness, tiny hint of dry florals

Meena Supreme 1/10
- smells like the freshener used in porta potties…can’t help but notice urine and fecal notes as well

Green Rose 5/10
- mostly just fresh airy & watery greens, tiny hint of fresh uncut roses

King of Flora 4/10
- sweet black licorice, soft woods

Pakeezah 3/10
- dark woods, hints of black licorice, medicinal/chemical bitter note

Queen of Flora 2/10
- burned, old flowers

——

Monsoon Incense

Buddha Temple 1/10
- sharp acrid notes of cough syrup and mint, smells like vomit

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Vijayshree

Golden Nag Vanilla 3/10
- vanilla wood with a strong soap note

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Tulasi

Vanilla 5/10
- warm and deep vanilla bean scent but a tad fake and lingers WAY too long with a cloying soapy after smell

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ME (for context): low maintenance outdoorsy woman, can get along with just about anyone but I’m also an extroverted introvert, pisces

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Wuthering Heights 10/10
Description: lavender, vanilla, spectral musks, vetiver, tonka, jasmine, tea leaves, oakmoss
My interpretation: Early morning dew on fresh lavender and heather, wet earth, vanilla bean, cotton, milk tea, a cottage nearby just lit their hearth
VERDICT: Will be my main daily

Purr 10/10
Description: kitten fur accord, yarn (wool absolute*), milky kitten breath, tonka bean absolute, musk
My interpretation: Soft vanilla bean, flannel, warm black milk tea, slightest hint of baby powder
VERDICT: Will be my go to for bedtime or on cozy rainy days

Loup-Garou 9/10
Description: silver amber, fur, lunar musk
My interpretation: Soft fresh air, clean new leather minus that very top sharp note, hints of authentic vanilla and jasmine, mature but not pretentious, though I still feel a bit too low maintenance to rock this lol
VERDICT: Will be in my daily rotation for non troll days

Fallen Angel 8/10
Description: rain-soaked granite, mountain air, petrichor, creeping ivy, damp earth
My interpretation: Fresh soil after planting, you’ve just noticed it’s about to rain, fallen cedar logs line your path home, very authentically atmospheric though can verge on striking
VERDICT: Will wear when I need to girl boss it up

All Souls Night 7/10
Description: molten marshmallow blobs on scorched sticks, plumes of woodsmoke, and hot, glowing campfire embers on a cool autumn night
My interpretation: Burned marshmallows over a wood fire, fall leaves in the cold wind, earthy cinnamon sticks, someone nearby is baking a pie, a bit too smoky but I suppose that helps make this lean more atmospheric than gourmand which I like
VERDICT: Will save for fall

Black Mass 6/10
Description: smoked vanilla, frankincense, Peru balsam, labdanum, amber, vetiver, atlas cedarwood, patchouli, night musk, and scorched marshmallows
My interpretation: Vanilla bean, cognac, dry woods, hint of myrhh, wet soil, and molasses, a tiny bit too sweet and too vanilla dominated
VERDICT: passing along to a friend who it will suit better

Desert Rain 3/10
Description: sweetgrass, cactus flower, summer rain, ozonic accord, black sage, cedar, sandalwood, pink pepper
My interpretation: Very fresh ozone, watermelon, water lily, body wash, a bit too sweet and fake smelling for me but definitely fresh
VERDICT: leaving by our communal freebie pile

SAMPLE: 1/10
Erstwhile in the Aureline
My Interpretation: Tuberose dominates creating a sharp floral top note, hint of green melon and fresh dew, definitely not me (love jasmine but not tuberose)
VERDICT: nope

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*Might eventually try Moonstone, any other recommendations?