- Apr 10, 2012
Hi everyone! Happy to announce what is to hopefully be the first of multiple incense passes! I don’t know about any of you, but incense is what initially sparked my interest in perfumery and I’ve been obsessed with it ever since. Epapsiou and I will be co-hosting this pass as we both have contributed scents to the bundles. The 16 sticks of incense in each are just a small portion of what he and I have and are familiar with, and we both are looking forward to discussing them with the group!
Much like other passes that have happened over the years, the point here is to experience the scents for yourself and provide your thoughts on them here in the thread.
This “pass” will be handled slightly differently as we feel that it’s easier to send the bundles out to each participant individually rather than the “take one and pass it along” approach. That being said, to help cover the shipping costs for each, we will be taking donations via PayPal. While it would be great to receive the actual amount of shipping for your individual bundle, any donations are graciously accepted. We are also opening this up to international participants as well, but shipping costs outside of the USA must be provided by you.
Currently we are set up include 10 people on this pass:
1. Hat and Beard
2. Epapsiou
3. ISO E Superman
4. Greyspoole
5. Nj guy
6. Cook.bot
7. GoldWineMemories
8. Bavard
9. Earlyn
10. mikeperez23
Rules:
-You must be an active Basenotes member. Six months minimum.
-You must have contributed a minimum of 200 posts to date.
-If you are participating, you must review each stick of incense in the bundle and provide your initial impressions and opinions.
Bundle Contents:
1. Gulabsingh Johrimal - Sandal *full stick*
2. Gulabsingh Johrimal - Rose *full stick*
3. Gulabsingh Johrimal - Jasmine *full stick*
4. Gulabsingh Johrimal - Frangipani *full stick*
5. Gulabsingh Johrimal - Pine *full stick*
6. Satya - Nag Champa *full stick*
7. Satya - Oodh *full stick*
8. Basile & Walker - No. 1 *two sticks provided.*
9. Surya - Sandalwood Supreme *full stick*
10. Balaji - Agar Wood *full stick*
11. Drikung Charitable Society - Red Crystal *half stick*
12. Divine Glory - Musk *full stick*
13. Divine Glory - Strawberry *full stick*
14. Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Ltd. - Mysore Sandal *full stick*
15. Nandita - Black Gold *mostly full sticks, but a few 1/2 sticks in the bundles*
16. Damodar & Co. - Sri Sai Flora *full stick*
If you’re interested in participating, please send me a private message. Let’s go!
General Incense Information:
This information is available by clicking here, however here is an incense overview for those that are not very familiar with it so you don't have to leave Basenotes:
What Is Incense?
Incense is a biological material that produces pleasantly fragrant smoke when burned. Essential oils and plant materials are used in the making of incense. It is used to create an ambiance, produces a pleasant aroma, and is also used in meditation, aromatherapy, and has several other uses as well.
It should be noted that not all incense is created equally! As you start down your incense journey, you will notice that the quality varies greatly between each different brand you try. I know which types I generally stay away from, but you will learn what works best for you as you try different ones.
The word incense comes from the Latin word incendere, which means ‘burn.’ The use of incense dates back to ancient Egypt, where priests used it for the fumigation of tombs and funeral ceremonies. Egyptians also used incense to keep demons away and as an offering to their gods during different rituals.
Types of Incenses
Incense is normally of two main types, which are:
-Indirect burning incense
-Direct burning incense
Indirect Burning Incense
Indirect burning incense includes loose resin that requires a separate source of heat constantly to keep the biological material burning. You will find that indirect burning incenses are most commonly used in contemporary settings. This is the kind of incense that requires a censor and a piece of charcoal to burn. Think of frankincense and myrrh etc.
Direct Burning Incense
Direct burning incense is lit once and fanned out after a while. It creates a glowing ember that burns the material slowly and releases the fragrant smoke. Direct burning incenses are pressed into a cone, block, or any other shape and are formed around a stick that supports it. Everything in this pass is considered "direct burning" incense.
Incenses come in many forms which are:
-Sticks
-Cones
-Coils
-Powders
It should be noted that the burning duration is greatly affected by the form of incense used.
Incense sticks are a part of the traditions of many countries like China, Japan, Tibet, and India. Each region has its own recipe and crafting method. Stick incenses usually burn for a short time. Longer stick incenses are also available which may burn for longer. The types of incense sticks that you are most likely to encounter are:
1. Stick Incense with Bamboo Core
A stick incense with a bamboo core is the most common type of incense that you will find in any tradition. It includes a central bamboo core with a paste of incense material wrapped around it. The fragrance of the smoke is considered to basically be the fragrance of the core, i.e., bamboo.
2. Cylinder Incense Stick
Cylinder incense sticks do not contain a bamboo core. They are made of one material through and through. They are made directly from the dried paste of the incense material. Some examples of this type of incense are simpoi and dhoop.
3. Joss Sticks
Joss is a term that originated in China. It describes objects that have a religious nature. However, nowadays, joss is used to refer to incense sticks. Joss sticks do not have a single definition. You will find different joss sticks used in different traditions.
For example, one tradition may call for an incense stick that has a bamboo core as a joss stick, whereas other traditions may call for a hand-rolled incense stick without a bamboo core as a joss stick. Indian joss sticks contain bamboo in the core, whereas Japanese joss sticks do not have any supporting material in the center. Basile & Walker: No.1 is a considered a joss stick.
4. Hand-Dipped Incense Sticks
Hand-dipped incense sticks, as the name indicates, are made using the hand-dipping method. These sticks can be made by dipping either a bamboo incense stick or a masala stick into fragrant oils, which could be synthetic or natural. Divine Glory: Musk & Strawberry are examples of this kind of incense.
5. Dhoop
Dhoop incense sticks are common in India and Tibet. These are solid incense sticks that are available in many sizes. They are malleable and soft and can be broken easily.
6. Agarbatti
The word agarbatti has been derived from two words; agar, which comes from agarwood or aloeswood, and batti, which means stick. Thus, agarbatti is an incense stick that is made with a wooden core. It is one of the most common types of incense that is used in Indian culture. The Gulabsingh Johrimal sticks, the Balaji: Agar Wood, and Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Ltd. - Mysore Sandal are examples of this.
7. Masala Sticks
Masala sticks come from South India, where many kinds of wood, herbs, flowers, resins, gums, oils, and other ingredients are blended together to form a paste. This paste is then spread onto the surface of a bamboo core and dried. Sayta: Oodh, Surya: Sandalwood Supreme, and Nandita: Black Gold are examples of this type of incense.
8. Durbar Sticks
Durbar sticks are quite similar to Masala sticks. However, the blend of materials that are used to make them is fairly different and unknown in the west. Solid and liquid ingredients are used to make the paste, as a result of which, these sticks rarely dry out.
The liquid ingredients are mainly perfumes. The aroma of Durbar sticks is sweet and spicy, and they are soft to touch.
9. Champa Incense
Champa incense contains sandalwood and frangipani (plumeria). Champa incense sticks are similar to masala sticks and durbar sticks. However, some unique flowers, like nagkeshar and magnolia are used in their preparation. They also consist of a natural ingredient, Halmaddi, which is only found in India.
Champa sticks are so named because their fragrance is similar to that of the Champa flower. Halmaddi is hygroscopic. Because of this characteristic, it can absorb moisture from the atmosphere and can feel wet to the touch. Satya: Nag Champa is an example of this kind of incense.
10. Simpoi Sticks
Simpoi sticks are thicker than other incense sticks. They are a hand-rolled, Tibetan variety of incense sticks. Drikung Charitable Society - Red Crystal is an example of this type of incense.
11. Senko Sticks
Senko can be used to describe any type of incense, either stick or incense blend in Japan. Senko incense sticks do not contain a wooden or a bamboo core. Other names by which Senko sticks are known to include Senkou, Senkoo, and sen-koh.
12. Fluxo Incense
Fluxo incense may not suit well to the western palette, but it is quite popular in India. It contains a complex and rich blend of scent along with a number of additional ingredients. The scent varies with the ingredients used, but typically, the fragrance of Fluxo incense is pungent. Damodar & Co. - Sri Sai Flora is an example of this kind of incense.
13. Cone Incense
Cone incenses are made from a mixture of essential oils and powders. They release a pungent aromatic aroma that enhances the scent of the entire room, which is required during meditation and yoga practice.
However, burning an incense cone is not as simple as lighting a candle and letting it burn. There are certain steps that need to be followed when using cone incense.
Cone incense should be kept in a suitable incense burner that can hold the ash when the incense burns.
To make sure that the incense sits evenly on the top of the burner, fill the bottom of the burner with uncooked rice or sand. This will help in improving the airflow and will also help in conducting less heat throughout the base of the burner. The burner should be kept on a non-flammable surface and away from any materials that can catch fire.
Burn the tip of the cone and either blow the flame out or fan it out. You will see a spiral of smoke rising from the tip of the cone, which will indicate that your incense is now burning.
14. Coil Incense
As you can assume from the name, coil incenses are coils made from incense material. They are also known as incense spirals. They are considered to be a modified version of stick incenses.
Coil incenses are made solely from the incense material. They do not contain a wooden or bamboo core in the center. Instead of shaping the incense material into a stick, the material is shaped to form a spiral.
An incense stick cannot be made too long as it raises the risk of stick-breaking. The major advantage of shaping the incense material into a coil is that it can be made much longer, which can greatly increase the burning time.
They are much like mosquito coils – you burn incense coils so that fragrant smoke is produced. The coil incense is burnt, and the flame is extinguished after a few seconds, similar to how cone incense is burnt. Coil incenses are available in many sizes and shapes. They come with holders to hold the coil and its ash while it is burning.
Because of the extended burn time of incense coils, the compact design, and the capacity to be hanged from the ceiling, they are often a popular choice for worshippers. They can be seen hanging from the ceiling in many religious ceremonies and spiritual sites.
An incense coil having a diameter of 3 to 4 inches can burn for up to 3 to 24 hours. With an increase of only an inch in diameter, the length is increased so much that the burning duration increases from 3 hours to 24 hours approximately.
Incense coils are a perfect choice if you want to keep the interior smelling fresh and mystic for extended durations.
15. Powder Incense
Powder incenses refer to the powdered incense material. They contain incense material only, without any core for support. Powder incense is added to an ignited charcoal disc in a bowl. The powder burns with the ignited charcoal and gives off an aroma that is characteristic of the material being used.
About The Brands In The Pass:
Gulabsingh Johrimal/Divine Glory:
It was 1816, colonial India and also the last chapter in the country’s Mughal history. Lala Gulab Singh, an entrepreneur from Jhajjar, modern day Haryana, immigrated to Delhi, the Mughal Sultanate’s capital. Here, a blessing in the form of a whiff of sublime inspiration encompassed him. Little did he foresee it blossoming into one of the country’s most sought after scent sagas that would span over two full centuries!
As per the instructions of the angels of fragrant inspiration, he along with his son Lala Johrimal, established a one-of-its kind traditional perfumery in the heart of what we today call ‘Old Delhi’! Plunked in a quaint alleyway of Chandni Chowk , one of India’s bustling grand old bazaars of the ‘Walled City’, he cultivated a repertoire of exotic and ethereal fragrances that instantly cast a spell on the city’s who’s who, right from the royal Nawaabs to the nobility, wealthy connoisseurs to the influential crème of society.
And so was born the legendary Gulabsingh Johrimal House of Fragrance, once fondly called ‘Gulab Gundhi ki Dukaan’ or ‘the shop of Gulab the Perfumer’. The Sanskrit term Gundhi is derived from gundh meaning fragrance.
Satya:
The Beginnings
A belief in the power of imagination led to the birth of “Shrinivas Sugandhalaya”. In India, scents and rituals co-mingle every day. The gentle aroma of a jasmine garland can provide a sense of grounding here and now. A whiff of Sandalwood Incense from Father’s study is a sign that he is pouring over books or in deep meditation.
In a land where the power of scent is indisputable, Late Shri K.N. Satyam Setty, the founder of “Shrinivas Sugandhalaya” decided to imagine a world of scents for his Love & Passion.
He established a small Incense manufacturing unit in the year 1964, making up his mind by understanding ancient way of making Incense with various fragrances, particular interest to him was a practice used by monks in medieval times whereby the key incense ingredients were incorporated and massaged into a special container resin which was then hand-rolled into incense. This technique called “Masala” or “Flora” Incense became the prime driver of production at Shrinivas Sugandhalaya (the other technique, known as “charcoal” incense literally involves dipping the unscented stick directly into the ingredient mixture). Over the years, “masala” incense has established itself to a global audience as lasting longer and stronger per stick than its “dipped” counterpart and Satyam Setty, being the contemporary “King of Masala Incense”.
Satyam Setty was a keen innovator and used his power of imagination to evoke powerful moods through his recipe blends. One of the best blends from the house was the “Satya Sai Baba Nag Champa”, which is the most sought after and commercially successful masala / flora incense blend across the world till date.
A New Chapter
While Satyam Setty revolutionised “Shrinivas Sugandhalaya”, his son Shri Balakrishna Setty joined him & apprenticed under him. Acquainted with the manufacturing process, Balakrishna Setty strives to combine his innovative, genius and creativity with the high standards of the original manufacturing process with the key of purity & quality ingredients. It was his father’s belief & trust in him that made Shri Balakrishna Setty to invent a new fragrance hand rolled Agarbatti called “SUPER HIT”. As NAG CHAMPA & SUPER HIT quickly came to be loved across the country homes, with its success “Shrinivas Sugandhalaya” Incenses became popular for their signature purifying capacities.
In 2014, our Company “Shrinivas Sugandhalaya (BNG) LLP” raised its head under the Management headed by his son Shri Balakrishna Setty by setting up the manufacturing units in southern city of Bangalore, India.
Old fans of the erstwhile “Shrinivas Sugandhalaya” are guaranteed with authenticity and vibrancy of their beloved incense brand. While, the new fans are treated to a corpus of new and evolving products from the house of “Shrinivas Sugandhalaya (BNG) LLP”.
Surya:
Surya imports all-natural, finest quality, hand rolled incense sourced from the villages of India.
Since earliest time, sweet fragrances have been associated with refined human activities. Many religions use incense in their traditional ceremonies as natural aromas can uplift the spirit, remove distress, and stimulate healing. They also enhance any space and create a sense of joy. In India, incense is often burned to promote peace, health and prosperity.
Surya Incense mission is to provide India’s finest incense at an affordable price. We are dedicated to superior quality and value. Surya incense contains no charcoal, no chemicals substitutes and is free of animal testing. All ingredients come from suppliers as committed to the preservation of the environment as we are. The incense is sealed inside a cellophane sleeve and colorful packs to maintain freshness. Surya’s simple packaging is 100% recycled paper. Every product is bar coded for easy check out.
Balaji:
Balaji Agarbatti Company is one of the oldest incense manufacturers in India. They are a family-owned business based in Bangalore, India, which is one of the premier incense capitals of the world. Their history began in the 1920’s as the ‘Sri Srinivasa Agarbathi Company’ in a village relatively close to Bangalore, known as Chintamani.
By the time the 1950’s arrived, his son, Mr. P V Raaadha Krishna Gupta, would end up taking over the family business. It was at this time that he founded Balaji Agarbatti Company in Bangalore in 1957, with a passion to supply a superior product at an unrivaled value.
Balaji in the Modern Day
Balaji Agarbatti Company is one of the leading incense brands in the world and their reputation is well respected. Their products are typically very consistent in quality and they continue to innovate and produce new scents and products on a constant basis.
Balaji Agarbatti Company has state-of-the-art research labs and rigorous quality control procedures and they currently produce over 100 different items, including incense sticks, perfumes, and soaps. Balaji products are sold globally through-out the world and their unique vision and approach to agarbatti manufacturing makes them stand out within the crowded arena of modern incense manufacturers.
Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited:
KSDL is an Indian company, owned by the Government of Karnataka, that manufacturers personal care products including Mysore Sandal Soap. It was founded as Government Sandalwood Oil Factory in 1916 by Maharaja Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV and M. Visvesvarayafor extracting and exporting sandalwood oil. It launched Mysore Sandal Soap in 1918, and has since manufactured soaps and cosmetics products. The company became a public sector enterprise in 1980 and was renamed as KSDL.
KSDL obtained the Geographical Indication tag for Mysore Sandal Soap and Mysore Sandalwood Oil in 2006. Apart from soaps and sandalwood oil, KSDL manufactures detergents, fragrances, talcum powder, hand washes, face washes, coconut oil and agarbathis. It has manufacturing facilities in Bangalore, Mysore and Shimoga, and exports its products to 11 countries as of 2019.
Nandita:
Nandita Fragrances is the leading manufacturer and exporter fo Pure & Natural Premium Hand rolled incense sticks. They specialise in Natural Masala incense using rare herbs, resins, essential oils etc...
Nandita products does not contain restricted forest produce or any species of wild fauna and flora wich are listed in the Appendices of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species fo Fauna & Flora.
Sri.K.Y. Achary came from a small village in Udupi, Karnataka to Bombay at the age of 15 with an aim to do business. After decades of hard work, struggle and commitment to quality the single handedly created and incense brand, popular all over the world.
He was a man of courage, clarity, discipline and independent attitude & life’s shortcomings did not stop him from acheiving his vision. He was also a great philanthropist and charity was his only hobby.
He led a very simple life till the end and gave God all the credit for his success. His dream of opening a store for incense sticks, prayer items and religious books in the native Udupi was realised in 2012.
Guided by his light we have launched our excluse Nandita Brand of natural handrolled agarbathis to you.
Damodhar & Co.:
Established in 1988 at Bengaluru, Karnataka (India), Damodhar & Co. is known as the prominent manufacturer, supplier and exporter of a comprehensive assortment of products. The ownership type of the company is Sole Proprietorship and we are involved in offering wide gamut of Sai Flora Fluxo Incense Sticks and Sai Divine Fluxo Incense Sticks. These are manufactured using the best quality material and advanced technology in order to have quality production in the industry. Our team of experts makes sure that the operations are carried out in an efficient manner. They perform their functions as per the company’s laws and regulations. Further, our quality analyst tests these products on various parameters to deliver perfect range in the market. Our quality analyst is highly experienced and carries rich knowledge about the domain. The offered products are widely accredited among our esteemed customers due to their nature friendliness, high quality, longer shelf life and reliability. Furthermore, we are offering these products to our esteemed clients at the most affordable price range with an aim to fulfill their demands in a stipulated period of time. Thus, by offering quality products in the market, we have created a reputed niche in this competitive market. We export 20-40% of our products to North America, South America and South Africa.
Under the guidance of Mr. V. Sainath who is one of the Director of the organization, we have learned new skills to expand the market for our offered products. His vast industry knowledge and acquaintance in this domain has been the guiding light throughout.
Being a quality conscious organization, we make sure that the products are quality approved at the time of delivery. The products offered by us are manufactured using the best grade raw material and latest technologies in accordance with the set industry standards. We are assured to transport only qualitative product range to the customers and to ensure this, our quality controllers work in a capable manner.
Basile & Walker:
This Buffalo, NY based fragrance brand was created out of a combined passion for high quality, handmade products and a never-ending drive to explore the connection between raw materials, incense, perfumery, and experience.
Basile & Walker is my second personal foray into the world of fragrances after successfully co-launching a niche perfume house based out of Brooklyn, NY that I unfortunately do not get credit for. Sadly, the other part of the brand ended up being an upper echelon chiseler, so on I went in a new direction that connects more to my roots and interests and not the parasitic dreams of others.
Named after my both of my grandmothers as they were enormous creative and artistic influences in my life, Basile & Walker is an exploration of olfactive expression, a creative journey, and a triumph over adversity.
Each stick of Basile & Walker: No. 1 is individually handmade from some of the finest woods, resins, spices, and botanicals.
Drikung Charitable Society:
The Drikung Kagyu Order is one school within the Kagyupa Tibetan Buddhist sect (which dates to Milarepa, the famous teacher). The order is unusual in that the lineage is carried by two heads simultaneously. In the early 1960s one of the heads, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, left Tibet for India. Unable to leave Tibet, His Holiness Chungtsang, the other head of the order, was separated from his colleague for almost twenty-five years, their first meeting being in India in 1985. The first American Drikung center was founded under the auspices of the Drikung Kyabgon in 1978.
In 1985 H. H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang founded the nonprofit organization Drikung Kagyu Institute (DKI) in Dehra Dun, India, which strives to preserve, promote, and develop Buddhist philosophy and culture. The institute is made up of four institutions: Jangchubling Monastery, Samtenling Nunnery, Songtsen Library, and Kagyu College.
The Drikung Order is noted for its teachings on meditation, particularly the Drikung Phowa Meditation, a meditation intimately connected with the experience of death. Traditionally the Phowa Benediction was given every 12 years.
Much like other passes that have happened over the years, the point here is to experience the scents for yourself and provide your thoughts on them here in the thread.
This “pass” will be handled slightly differently as we feel that it’s easier to send the bundles out to each participant individually rather than the “take one and pass it along” approach. That being said, to help cover the shipping costs for each, we will be taking donations via PayPal. While it would be great to receive the actual amount of shipping for your individual bundle, any donations are graciously accepted. We are also opening this up to international participants as well, but shipping costs outside of the USA must be provided by you.
Currently we are set up include 10 people on this pass:
1. Hat and Beard
2. Epapsiou
3. ISO E Superman
4. Greyspoole
5. Nj guy
6. Cook.bot
7. GoldWineMemories
8. Bavard
9. Earlyn
10. mikeperez23
Rules:
-You must be an active Basenotes member. Six months minimum.
-You must have contributed a minimum of 200 posts to date.
-If you are participating, you must review each stick of incense in the bundle and provide your initial impressions and opinions.
Bundle Contents:
1. Gulabsingh Johrimal - Sandal *full stick*
2. Gulabsingh Johrimal - Rose *full stick*
3. Gulabsingh Johrimal - Jasmine *full stick*
4. Gulabsingh Johrimal - Frangipani *full stick*
5. Gulabsingh Johrimal - Pine *full stick*
6. Satya - Nag Champa *full stick*
7. Satya - Oodh *full stick*
8. Basile & Walker - No. 1 *two sticks provided.*
9. Surya - Sandalwood Supreme *full stick*
10. Balaji - Agar Wood *full stick*
11. Drikung Charitable Society - Red Crystal *half stick*
12. Divine Glory - Musk *full stick*
13. Divine Glory - Strawberry *full stick*
14. Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Ltd. - Mysore Sandal *full stick*
15. Nandita - Black Gold *mostly full sticks, but a few 1/2 sticks in the bundles*
16. Damodar & Co. - Sri Sai Flora *full stick*
If you’re interested in participating, please send me a private message. Let’s go!
General Incense Information:
This information is available by clicking here, however here is an incense overview for those that are not very familiar with it so you don't have to leave Basenotes:
What Is Incense?
Incense is a biological material that produces pleasantly fragrant smoke when burned. Essential oils and plant materials are used in the making of incense. It is used to create an ambiance, produces a pleasant aroma, and is also used in meditation, aromatherapy, and has several other uses as well.
It should be noted that not all incense is created equally! As you start down your incense journey, you will notice that the quality varies greatly between each different brand you try. I know which types I generally stay away from, but you will learn what works best for you as you try different ones.
The word incense comes from the Latin word incendere, which means ‘burn.’ The use of incense dates back to ancient Egypt, where priests used it for the fumigation of tombs and funeral ceremonies. Egyptians also used incense to keep demons away and as an offering to their gods during different rituals.
Types of Incenses
Incense is normally of two main types, which are:
-Indirect burning incense
-Direct burning incense
Indirect Burning Incense
Indirect burning incense includes loose resin that requires a separate source of heat constantly to keep the biological material burning. You will find that indirect burning incenses are most commonly used in contemporary settings. This is the kind of incense that requires a censor and a piece of charcoal to burn. Think of frankincense and myrrh etc.
Direct Burning Incense
Direct burning incense is lit once and fanned out after a while. It creates a glowing ember that burns the material slowly and releases the fragrant smoke. Direct burning incenses are pressed into a cone, block, or any other shape and are formed around a stick that supports it. Everything in this pass is considered "direct burning" incense.
Incenses come in many forms which are:
-Sticks
-Cones
-Coils
-Powders
It should be noted that the burning duration is greatly affected by the form of incense used.
Incense sticks are a part of the traditions of many countries like China, Japan, Tibet, and India. Each region has its own recipe and crafting method. Stick incenses usually burn for a short time. Longer stick incenses are also available which may burn for longer. The types of incense sticks that you are most likely to encounter are:
1. Stick Incense with Bamboo Core
A stick incense with a bamboo core is the most common type of incense that you will find in any tradition. It includes a central bamboo core with a paste of incense material wrapped around it. The fragrance of the smoke is considered to basically be the fragrance of the core, i.e., bamboo.
2. Cylinder Incense Stick
Cylinder incense sticks do not contain a bamboo core. They are made of one material through and through. They are made directly from the dried paste of the incense material. Some examples of this type of incense are simpoi and dhoop.
3. Joss Sticks
Joss is a term that originated in China. It describes objects that have a religious nature. However, nowadays, joss is used to refer to incense sticks. Joss sticks do not have a single definition. You will find different joss sticks used in different traditions.
For example, one tradition may call for an incense stick that has a bamboo core as a joss stick, whereas other traditions may call for a hand-rolled incense stick without a bamboo core as a joss stick. Indian joss sticks contain bamboo in the core, whereas Japanese joss sticks do not have any supporting material in the center. Basile & Walker: No.1 is a considered a joss stick.
4. Hand-Dipped Incense Sticks
Hand-dipped incense sticks, as the name indicates, are made using the hand-dipping method. These sticks can be made by dipping either a bamboo incense stick or a masala stick into fragrant oils, which could be synthetic or natural. Divine Glory: Musk & Strawberry are examples of this kind of incense.
5. Dhoop
Dhoop incense sticks are common in India and Tibet. These are solid incense sticks that are available in many sizes. They are malleable and soft and can be broken easily.
6. Agarbatti
The word agarbatti has been derived from two words; agar, which comes from agarwood or aloeswood, and batti, which means stick. Thus, agarbatti is an incense stick that is made with a wooden core. It is one of the most common types of incense that is used in Indian culture. The Gulabsingh Johrimal sticks, the Balaji: Agar Wood, and Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Ltd. - Mysore Sandal are examples of this.
7. Masala Sticks
Masala sticks come from South India, where many kinds of wood, herbs, flowers, resins, gums, oils, and other ingredients are blended together to form a paste. This paste is then spread onto the surface of a bamboo core and dried. Sayta: Oodh, Surya: Sandalwood Supreme, and Nandita: Black Gold are examples of this type of incense.
8. Durbar Sticks
Durbar sticks are quite similar to Masala sticks. However, the blend of materials that are used to make them is fairly different and unknown in the west. Solid and liquid ingredients are used to make the paste, as a result of which, these sticks rarely dry out.
The liquid ingredients are mainly perfumes. The aroma of Durbar sticks is sweet and spicy, and they are soft to touch.
9. Champa Incense
Champa incense contains sandalwood and frangipani (plumeria). Champa incense sticks are similar to masala sticks and durbar sticks. However, some unique flowers, like nagkeshar and magnolia are used in their preparation. They also consist of a natural ingredient, Halmaddi, which is only found in India.
Champa sticks are so named because their fragrance is similar to that of the Champa flower. Halmaddi is hygroscopic. Because of this characteristic, it can absorb moisture from the atmosphere and can feel wet to the touch. Satya: Nag Champa is an example of this kind of incense.
10. Simpoi Sticks
Simpoi sticks are thicker than other incense sticks. They are a hand-rolled, Tibetan variety of incense sticks. Drikung Charitable Society - Red Crystal is an example of this type of incense.
11. Senko Sticks
Senko can be used to describe any type of incense, either stick or incense blend in Japan. Senko incense sticks do not contain a wooden or a bamboo core. Other names by which Senko sticks are known to include Senkou, Senkoo, and sen-koh.
12. Fluxo Incense
Fluxo incense may not suit well to the western palette, but it is quite popular in India. It contains a complex and rich blend of scent along with a number of additional ingredients. The scent varies with the ingredients used, but typically, the fragrance of Fluxo incense is pungent. Damodar & Co. - Sri Sai Flora is an example of this kind of incense.
13. Cone Incense
Cone incenses are made from a mixture of essential oils and powders. They release a pungent aromatic aroma that enhances the scent of the entire room, which is required during meditation and yoga practice.
However, burning an incense cone is not as simple as lighting a candle and letting it burn. There are certain steps that need to be followed when using cone incense.
Cone incense should be kept in a suitable incense burner that can hold the ash when the incense burns.
To make sure that the incense sits evenly on the top of the burner, fill the bottom of the burner with uncooked rice or sand. This will help in improving the airflow and will also help in conducting less heat throughout the base of the burner. The burner should be kept on a non-flammable surface and away from any materials that can catch fire.
Burn the tip of the cone and either blow the flame out or fan it out. You will see a spiral of smoke rising from the tip of the cone, which will indicate that your incense is now burning.
14. Coil Incense
As you can assume from the name, coil incenses are coils made from incense material. They are also known as incense spirals. They are considered to be a modified version of stick incenses.
Coil incenses are made solely from the incense material. They do not contain a wooden or bamboo core in the center. Instead of shaping the incense material into a stick, the material is shaped to form a spiral.
An incense stick cannot be made too long as it raises the risk of stick-breaking. The major advantage of shaping the incense material into a coil is that it can be made much longer, which can greatly increase the burning time.
They are much like mosquito coils – you burn incense coils so that fragrant smoke is produced. The coil incense is burnt, and the flame is extinguished after a few seconds, similar to how cone incense is burnt. Coil incenses are available in many sizes and shapes. They come with holders to hold the coil and its ash while it is burning.
Because of the extended burn time of incense coils, the compact design, and the capacity to be hanged from the ceiling, they are often a popular choice for worshippers. They can be seen hanging from the ceiling in many religious ceremonies and spiritual sites.
An incense coil having a diameter of 3 to 4 inches can burn for up to 3 to 24 hours. With an increase of only an inch in diameter, the length is increased so much that the burning duration increases from 3 hours to 24 hours approximately.
Incense coils are a perfect choice if you want to keep the interior smelling fresh and mystic for extended durations.
15. Powder Incense
Powder incenses refer to the powdered incense material. They contain incense material only, without any core for support. Powder incense is added to an ignited charcoal disc in a bowl. The powder burns with the ignited charcoal and gives off an aroma that is characteristic of the material being used.
About The Brands In The Pass:
Gulabsingh Johrimal/Divine Glory:
It was 1816, colonial India and also the last chapter in the country’s Mughal history. Lala Gulab Singh, an entrepreneur from Jhajjar, modern day Haryana, immigrated to Delhi, the Mughal Sultanate’s capital. Here, a blessing in the form of a whiff of sublime inspiration encompassed him. Little did he foresee it blossoming into one of the country’s most sought after scent sagas that would span over two full centuries!
As per the instructions of the angels of fragrant inspiration, he along with his son Lala Johrimal, established a one-of-its kind traditional perfumery in the heart of what we today call ‘Old Delhi’! Plunked in a quaint alleyway of Chandni Chowk , one of India’s bustling grand old bazaars of the ‘Walled City’, he cultivated a repertoire of exotic and ethereal fragrances that instantly cast a spell on the city’s who’s who, right from the royal Nawaabs to the nobility, wealthy connoisseurs to the influential crème of society.
And so was born the legendary Gulabsingh Johrimal House of Fragrance, once fondly called ‘Gulab Gundhi ki Dukaan’ or ‘the shop of Gulab the Perfumer’. The Sanskrit term Gundhi is derived from gundh meaning fragrance.
Satya:
The Beginnings
A belief in the power of imagination led to the birth of “Shrinivas Sugandhalaya”. In India, scents and rituals co-mingle every day. The gentle aroma of a jasmine garland can provide a sense of grounding here and now. A whiff of Sandalwood Incense from Father’s study is a sign that he is pouring over books or in deep meditation.
In a land where the power of scent is indisputable, Late Shri K.N. Satyam Setty, the founder of “Shrinivas Sugandhalaya” decided to imagine a world of scents for his Love & Passion.
He established a small Incense manufacturing unit in the year 1964, making up his mind by understanding ancient way of making Incense with various fragrances, particular interest to him was a practice used by monks in medieval times whereby the key incense ingredients were incorporated and massaged into a special container resin which was then hand-rolled into incense. This technique called “Masala” or “Flora” Incense became the prime driver of production at Shrinivas Sugandhalaya (the other technique, known as “charcoal” incense literally involves dipping the unscented stick directly into the ingredient mixture). Over the years, “masala” incense has established itself to a global audience as lasting longer and stronger per stick than its “dipped” counterpart and Satyam Setty, being the contemporary “King of Masala Incense”.
Satyam Setty was a keen innovator and used his power of imagination to evoke powerful moods through his recipe blends. One of the best blends from the house was the “Satya Sai Baba Nag Champa”, which is the most sought after and commercially successful masala / flora incense blend across the world till date.
A New Chapter
While Satyam Setty revolutionised “Shrinivas Sugandhalaya”, his son Shri Balakrishna Setty joined him & apprenticed under him. Acquainted with the manufacturing process, Balakrishna Setty strives to combine his innovative, genius and creativity with the high standards of the original manufacturing process with the key of purity & quality ingredients. It was his father’s belief & trust in him that made Shri Balakrishna Setty to invent a new fragrance hand rolled Agarbatti called “SUPER HIT”. As NAG CHAMPA & SUPER HIT quickly came to be loved across the country homes, with its success “Shrinivas Sugandhalaya” Incenses became popular for their signature purifying capacities.
In 2014, our Company “Shrinivas Sugandhalaya (BNG) LLP” raised its head under the Management headed by his son Shri Balakrishna Setty by setting up the manufacturing units in southern city of Bangalore, India.
Old fans of the erstwhile “Shrinivas Sugandhalaya” are guaranteed with authenticity and vibrancy of their beloved incense brand. While, the new fans are treated to a corpus of new and evolving products from the house of “Shrinivas Sugandhalaya (BNG) LLP”.
Surya:
Surya imports all-natural, finest quality, hand rolled incense sourced from the villages of India.
Since earliest time, sweet fragrances have been associated with refined human activities. Many religions use incense in their traditional ceremonies as natural aromas can uplift the spirit, remove distress, and stimulate healing. They also enhance any space and create a sense of joy. In India, incense is often burned to promote peace, health and prosperity.
Surya Incense mission is to provide India’s finest incense at an affordable price. We are dedicated to superior quality and value. Surya incense contains no charcoal, no chemicals substitutes and is free of animal testing. All ingredients come from suppliers as committed to the preservation of the environment as we are. The incense is sealed inside a cellophane sleeve and colorful packs to maintain freshness. Surya’s simple packaging is 100% recycled paper. Every product is bar coded for easy check out.
Balaji:
Balaji Agarbatti Company is one of the oldest incense manufacturers in India. They are a family-owned business based in Bangalore, India, which is one of the premier incense capitals of the world. Their history began in the 1920’s as the ‘Sri Srinivasa Agarbathi Company’ in a village relatively close to Bangalore, known as Chintamani.
By the time the 1950’s arrived, his son, Mr. P V Raaadha Krishna Gupta, would end up taking over the family business. It was at this time that he founded Balaji Agarbatti Company in Bangalore in 1957, with a passion to supply a superior product at an unrivaled value.
Balaji in the Modern Day
Balaji Agarbatti Company is one of the leading incense brands in the world and their reputation is well respected. Their products are typically very consistent in quality and they continue to innovate and produce new scents and products on a constant basis.
Balaji Agarbatti Company has state-of-the-art research labs and rigorous quality control procedures and they currently produce over 100 different items, including incense sticks, perfumes, and soaps. Balaji products are sold globally through-out the world and their unique vision and approach to agarbatti manufacturing makes them stand out within the crowded arena of modern incense manufacturers.
Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited:
KSDL is an Indian company, owned by the Government of Karnataka, that manufacturers personal care products including Mysore Sandal Soap. It was founded as Government Sandalwood Oil Factory in 1916 by Maharaja Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV and M. Visvesvarayafor extracting and exporting sandalwood oil. It launched Mysore Sandal Soap in 1918, and has since manufactured soaps and cosmetics products. The company became a public sector enterprise in 1980 and was renamed as KSDL.
KSDL obtained the Geographical Indication tag for Mysore Sandal Soap and Mysore Sandalwood Oil in 2006. Apart from soaps and sandalwood oil, KSDL manufactures detergents, fragrances, talcum powder, hand washes, face washes, coconut oil and agarbathis. It has manufacturing facilities in Bangalore, Mysore and Shimoga, and exports its products to 11 countries as of 2019.
Nandita:
Nandita Fragrances is the leading manufacturer and exporter fo Pure & Natural Premium Hand rolled incense sticks. They specialise in Natural Masala incense using rare herbs, resins, essential oils etc...
Nandita products does not contain restricted forest produce or any species of wild fauna and flora wich are listed in the Appendices of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species fo Fauna & Flora.
Sri.K.Y. Achary came from a small village in Udupi, Karnataka to Bombay at the age of 15 with an aim to do business. After decades of hard work, struggle and commitment to quality the single handedly created and incense brand, popular all over the world.
He was a man of courage, clarity, discipline and independent attitude & life’s shortcomings did not stop him from acheiving his vision. He was also a great philanthropist and charity was his only hobby.
He led a very simple life till the end and gave God all the credit for his success. His dream of opening a store for incense sticks, prayer items and religious books in the native Udupi was realised in 2012.
Guided by his light we have launched our excluse Nandita Brand of natural handrolled agarbathis to you.
Damodhar & Co.:
Established in 1988 at Bengaluru, Karnataka (India), Damodhar & Co. is known as the prominent manufacturer, supplier and exporter of a comprehensive assortment of products. The ownership type of the company is Sole Proprietorship and we are involved in offering wide gamut of Sai Flora Fluxo Incense Sticks and Sai Divine Fluxo Incense Sticks. These are manufactured using the best quality material and advanced technology in order to have quality production in the industry. Our team of experts makes sure that the operations are carried out in an efficient manner. They perform their functions as per the company’s laws and regulations. Further, our quality analyst tests these products on various parameters to deliver perfect range in the market. Our quality analyst is highly experienced and carries rich knowledge about the domain. The offered products are widely accredited among our esteemed customers due to their nature friendliness, high quality, longer shelf life and reliability. Furthermore, we are offering these products to our esteemed clients at the most affordable price range with an aim to fulfill their demands in a stipulated period of time. Thus, by offering quality products in the market, we have created a reputed niche in this competitive market. We export 20-40% of our products to North America, South America and South Africa.
Under the guidance of Mr. V. Sainath who is one of the Director of the organization, we have learned new skills to expand the market for our offered products. His vast industry knowledge and acquaintance in this domain has been the guiding light throughout.
Being a quality conscious organization, we make sure that the products are quality approved at the time of delivery. The products offered by us are manufactured using the best grade raw material and latest technologies in accordance with the set industry standards. We are assured to transport only qualitative product range to the customers and to ensure this, our quality controllers work in a capable manner.
Basile & Walker:
This Buffalo, NY based fragrance brand was created out of a combined passion for high quality, handmade products and a never-ending drive to explore the connection between raw materials, incense, perfumery, and experience.
Basile & Walker is my second personal foray into the world of fragrances after successfully co-launching a niche perfume house based out of Brooklyn, NY that I unfortunately do not get credit for. Sadly, the other part of the brand ended up being an upper echelon chiseler, so on I went in a new direction that connects more to my roots and interests and not the parasitic dreams of others.
Named after my both of my grandmothers as they were enormous creative and artistic influences in my life, Basile & Walker is an exploration of olfactive expression, a creative journey, and a triumph over adversity.
Each stick of Basile & Walker: No. 1 is individually handmade from some of the finest woods, resins, spices, and botanicals.
Drikung Charitable Society:
The Drikung Kagyu Order is one school within the Kagyupa Tibetan Buddhist sect (which dates to Milarepa, the famous teacher). The order is unusual in that the lineage is carried by two heads simultaneously. In the early 1960s one of the heads, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, left Tibet for India. Unable to leave Tibet, His Holiness Chungtsang, the other head of the order, was separated from his colleague for almost twenty-five years, their first meeting being in India in 1985. The first American Drikung center was founded under the auspices of the Drikung Kyabgon in 1978.
In 1985 H. H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang founded the nonprofit organization Drikung Kagyu Institute (DKI) in Dehra Dun, India, which strives to preserve, promote, and develop Buddhist philosophy and culture. The institute is made up of four institutions: Jangchubling Monastery, Samtenling Nunnery, Songtsen Library, and Kagyu College.
The Drikung Order is noted for its teachings on meditation, particularly the Drikung Phowa Meditation, a meditation intimately connected with the experience of death. Traditionally the Phowa Benediction was given every 12 years.
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