Thanks to Claire for this idea, a place where you can review incenses you like or dislike, particularly those we’ve not touched on here. – Mike
Thanks to Claire for this idea, a place where you can review incenses you like or dislike, particularly those we’ve not touched on here. – Mike
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Hamid said,
November 4, 2009 at 7:30 am
My memory kicked momentarily into action and I remembered that I had bought the black sandalwood sticks I mentioned from Travellers online store. They are based in Seattle. I also bought from them a very distinctive rose. I see however that their online store is currently closed for a revamp.
Hamid said,
October 29, 2009 at 3:29 am
My two semi-obsessions in incense sticks are Rose, and Sandalwood. I came across an excellent sandalwood stick recently from Incenses From India called Sandalwood Supreme, its a beautifully balanced thin stick. Creamy sandalwood is rounded out with a citrusy/piney note. Very good.
It would not be in my top five, which are more or less the same manufacturers as my five top Roses. i.e
Pure Incense Connisseur
Jivada Sandalwood
Pure Incense Absolute Black Sandalwood
Shroff White Sandalwood
and an intriguing black stick that i bought online and now cant find…It was more or less pure sandal oil on a thin stick of sandalwood powder.( The perils of buying a wide selection of sticks and not taking notes…)
But Sandalwood Supreme would be in my top twenty for sure.
Mike said,
October 29, 2009 at 9:57 am
Incense from India used to have a charcoal stick called White Sandalwood. A very skinny punk dipped in what is probably now a very expensive sandalwood oil, even at the time (10 years ago) each small stick was 50c a piece unless you bought them in bulk. It was one of the few charcoal incenses I really liked at the time.
Hamid said,
October 21, 2009 at 6:14 am
Thanks for fixin’ it Mike.
An honourable mention if I may for Mystic Temples Green Rose and for their Yellow Rose. Both good sticks with a long finish as they say in the wine trade, with quality oils and a clean aroma. The Yellow Rose is similar to the Primo stick of the same name. The Green Rose is intruiging. Clearly its not an attempt to reproduce the smell of an actual rose species, unless there is an actual green rose that I am unaware of. It is rosy but with a real green herby , satiny , undernote. There is a hint of an apricot or peach top note as well. I like it a lot.
Hamid said,
October 20, 2009 at 6:57 am
Well that one went into cyber space to be lost forever….what I said Janet was that a while ago Mike or Ross mentioned a Japanese incense that they said had a good rose scent. Unfortunately I dont recall the name.
Mike said,
October 20, 2009 at 8:11 am
Hamid, fixed the commenting issue for you. I’m not terribly fond of most of the Japanese rose incenses I’ve found so far, the Indian masalas are usually much better, but there is one exception, the Rose in the Shoyeido Floral World / Royal set. My review is here:
http://olfactoryrescueservice.wordpress.com/2008/08/08/shoyeido-floral-world-royal/
The Xiang Do version mentioned in the review is also quite nice. You may notice, however that the reason these work is because they’ve got powerful perfume oils, which tends to be the key. A lot of other Japanese rose incenses often don’t out perfume their wood bases, which is often why they don’t work as well. And of course these two are much more expensive than their Indian equivalents. I agree with a comment Hamid made earlier, I generally want my rose incenses very potent to the point where they linger after burning.
Janet said,
October 21, 2009 at 10:44 am
Well, fortunately I got to see the thread before Mike fixed it!
Thanks for all the feedback, Hamid and Mike, I’m still a ways from being *too* willing to put myself out there on florals (unlike woods and such, where I will voraciously try anything!), so recommendations really help.
I have purchased both the Soll and Pure rose sticks, and will be trying them soon….I’ve heard so many good things, I am looking forward to it.
I think the only Japanese rose I’ve tried is Daihatsu’s Chyo-Sin.
Hamid said,
October 20, 2009 at 6:51 am
What I know about Japanese Incense could be written on a small match book Janet….I do remember some time ago Mike ( or was is Ross ? )mentioning a Japanese rose incense that he rated highly.
Pinjie said,
October 19, 2009 at 11:40 am
Hi, Janet,
I hope you find this post here. Since our conversation had nothing to do with Encens Du Monde any more, I thought it would be better if we “talked” here.
Here is how successfully I tried to curb my enthusiasm:
To start out, I really like Jinko Reiryo Koh, Shoryu Koh, and Ka Cho Fu Getsu. They are all under $10. The latter two can be found at Koshi as divided little bundles. Shoryu Koh is online at http://www.japanincense.com/km-0026.html, but Ka Cho Fu Getsu is only available at Koshi in Japantown, and it costs the same as Shoryu Koh, I think.
I thought Reiryo Koh could not be improved until I came across Jinko Reiryo Koh. I just can’t get enough of it.
Pinjie
Janet said,
October 19, 2009 at 11:51 am
Hey, Pinjie –
I actually have tried Jinko Reiryo Koh, our conversation lately must have put us on the same wavelength, because I burned it this morning! And I *own* boxes of Shoryu Koh and KCFG…but I was “saving” them.
I’m not too disciplined either, as you see.
I haven’t managed to stay entirely out of the Aloeswood arena, I have tried Kai Un Koh, Minorien Aloeswood, Tokusen and Kaden Kobunboku, Onkun Koh, Shorin and Renzan, um……I have some of Beth’s samplers, but – again – am saving them while I concentrate on loving on my sandalwoods (and Indians and Tibetans and domestics and others…..)
haha.
I did want to ask you, since I saw you posted something about this – which of the body incenses have you tried, and which would you recommend?
Pinjie said,
October 19, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Scent of Samadhi is really amazing. It sounds strange for a person who is afraid to try Indian incense to recommend this, but it is truly a very rich, powerful scent. You mentioned Rose here in your previous posts. To me this one has a great rose scent. Samples can be found here http://www.sensitiveplanet.com/category.jhtm?cid=88 You only pay a small shipping fee for the samples.
Shoyeido Tokusen Zukoh is also wonderful, but completely different. I haven’t really used it enough to comment on it, but compared to the other Japanese Zukoh I have (not available here), it has the shoyeido “powdery-ness” to it. Minty and Chocolate-y. Quite pleasant in its own way.
Yes, I see that we share a lot in common. “Boxes” of Shoryu Koh and KCFG! Wow! I don’t blame you, though.
Janet said,
October 21, 2009 at 10:50 am
Okay, Pinjie…..
I’ve got some goodies just sort of sitting there, waiting for me to break down….including the ones I mentioned in my last post. I’ve actually also got the long stick version of Heian-Koh and Yoshino No Haru coming from JI as a birthday present to myself, but I’m still hanging on to the idea that they will all wait.
When I finally break down, I’ll keep you posted as to your suggestions – anytime you want to throw a recommendation my way, I’m here, probably with wallet in hand!
Still have lots of things I have hardly touched on, including sandalwoods and Indians – mostly new pure incenses, since that line is so large, and Solls and Tibetans…..
Janet said,
October 21, 2009 at 11:04 am
Have you tried any Indian incense at all?
Pinjie said,
October 21, 2009 at 12:46 pm
No, I have never tried any Indian incense because of the amount of smoke, the possible synthetics, the strength of the aroma, and bamboo cores. Whew! Do you think I can list more points against it? I’m willing to try them, though, if I can get samples somewhere, because there is a big possibility that I can only put up with only one or two sniffs. Of course there is a also a possibility that I’ll totally fall in love with a new thing.
Heian-Koh and Yoshino No Haru are both wonderful! Lucky you to get such a great birthday present! Have you tried Minorien Kyara? To me it’s way above Minorien Jinko (aloeswood) which many poeple seem to like just as much as the Kyara. Minorien Kyara Ryugen is even more of a wonder, although like all the other true kyara incense, it is too expensive for everyday use.
So for everyday use, I find Tokusen Syukohkoku, Sei-fu, Kuukai, Jinko Hoen, Jinko Yomei, and Jinko Yozei to be very satisfying. I used to like En-mei a lot, but now it seems a little too powdery. The three Gyokushodo -Hoen, Yomei, and Yozei are especially worth checking out. They are excellent for the money.
I really should send you samples before you plunk down wads of green money. Although a few sticks won’t show much of their brilliance, you will at least get a general idea of these scents. Some people may find Hoen and Yomei unusual (odd to some westerners?), but when you burn more and more sticks, you may find them to be very addicting!
Then there are the new Yamada matsu incenses…
Ah…the world of aloeswood incense.
Janet said,
October 21, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I have tried the Minorien Kyara – a long time ago, the sampler from JI was one of the first purchases I made, months ago….
I still have that stick of Kyara Ryugen, untouched. I didn’t want to burn it until I was reasonably sure I could somewhat appreciate it.
I have En-Mei and Sei-fu, En-Mei is actually my favorite, because of the patchouli element – you may have read around these parts that I’m a bit of a patchouli nut. I *have* tried the Jinko Hoen, I think Ecclecstacy sent it to me as a sample, and I really liked it a lot.
What you say about Indians is all true.
And I have to admit that there are a much higher percentage of Indians that are disappointing, and I don’t think I have ever found any Japanese incenses that I found completely unbearable, but have definitely found some of those with the Indians.
That being said, there are some lovely incenses to be found.
Many of them are stronger, but burning partial sticks is always an option if you like the aroma, but not the strength, and I *have* found the suggestion of burning a stick when out of the room and returning to the room shortly afterwards is another way to mitigate some of that. I don’t do that for myself, because I have a lot of tolerance and can take almost any level of smoke and fragrance…but my daughter is a different matter!
Pinjie said,
October 21, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Hi, Janet,
I still like to burn Enmei sometimes. I find it to be a very interesting Aloeswood incense. Actually when I first discovered it, I almost wanted to buy the biggest size.
So, you have your daughter, and I have my husband who will not put up with too much smoke, or much of the flowery, powdery scents. All he likes is kyara. Most aloeswood blends he’ll tolerate, but I’m quite sure I will only be able to burn Indian incense when he is not home, and will have to make sure to air out before he returns. My four-year-old daughter had asked me to put out only one particular incense, which I found very amusing.
Pinjie
Mike said,
October 21, 2009 at 1:28 pm
When I first started ORS and was discovering a lot of aloeswood incenses I barely could deal with Indian incense at all, it’s definitely a much higher degree of smoke and it’s a lot harder to get used to, so taking the step took me some willpower. However, I’m so glad I did take that step. For one thing you spend a lot less money so it was the right step at a time where the economy was tanking. But I can sympathize on the smokiness, however one of my wise readers suggested taking Indian incense and lighting it at a farther difference than where you normally sit or burning it outside and I felt the advice helped a lot in adjusting.
Secondly, you’re not going to find synthetics in the best of the Indian Incense we’re discussing a lot lately: Shroff, Pure-Incense, Purelands and at least the champas in the Mother’s line either claim to be 100% natural or I’m about that close to positive they are.
I can imagine Essence would send you samples if you asked in your next order…
Anyway that’s an amazing group of incenses you mentioned. Right now I’m particularly fond of Kunmeido Asuka, that one just knocks me out right now, kind of the higher harmonic of Heian-Koh.
Janet said,
October 21, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Mike,
Off-topic (but not really), I sent a message to as instructed in the About page, but didn’t feel too confident that I did the right thing.
Let me know if you don’t receive it, please?
Thanks!
Mike said,
October 21, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Will do Janet, I’ll let you know when I check my e-mail in a couple hours.
Mike said,
October 22, 2009 at 7:23 am
Janet, I didn’t see an e-mail from you, even after giving it some time. The way it works is when you go to my About page, there should be an E-mail Mike link which takes you to a page where you can write me an e-mail – be sure to fill it all out and if you did do all this in the first place, my apologies and will try to look into if I don’t get your second try.
Janet said,
October 22, 2009 at 7:59 am
That’s what I did, but I just tried again. Have you ever gotten any emails from me in the past, that you recall?
I sent one or two quite awhile ago, but they weren’t important enough to follow up on when I didn’t get a response.
I thought knowing there may have been a previous problem might be helpful.
Janet said,
October 22, 2009 at 10:00 am
Okay, Mike –
Email sent, so you can pull the post down anytime….thanks!
Pinjie said,
October 21, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Thanks, Mike, for all the suggestions! I’m glad to hear that all those lines are natural. I’ll remember to ask Beth for samples when I order from her next time.
Although I have only the five sticks of Asuka from Beth’s sample pack and have burned just one or two of them, I remember how fine a product it was. I was also trying Sho Ran Koh at the same time and found them to be equally exquisite.
Mike said,
October 20, 2009 at 8:02 am
I don’t think I did the Jinko Reiryo Koh justice my first review because I agree, once you get into that one it’s truly addictive, just fantastic for its price range.
Hamid said,
October 13, 2009 at 2:54 am
My current top five Rose sticks Janet would be;
Pure-Incense Connoisseur Rose.
Jivada Hanuman Rose.
Fred Soll Joyeous Rose.
Pure-Incense Rose Absolute.
Jivada Rose Absolute.
Janet said,
October 18, 2009 at 6:52 pm
I know you strongly lean towards Indian, Hamid, but have you tried any Japanese rose incenses you’ve liked?
My daughter – whose name is Rose – loves rose and jasmine scents, but prefers a mild aroma, so I’ve been trying to find some good ones for her, as well as increase my own appreciation for good floral scents, since I’ve come to them pretty slowly.
I do plan to order the Hanuman Rose on my next Jivada order.
Hamid said,
October 11, 2009 at 12:26 am
To my list of top Rose sticks , I would add Eygptian Rose from IncenceGuru.
Not perhaps in my top five..Pure lncence Conn., Hanuman Rose by Jivada , Pure Incense Absolute etc. but certainly in the top ten. It is a powerful, full , true rose smell with great staying power for those who like that in an incense. The aroma stays for a considerable time after burning. A real furniture scenter ! Which personally I like….but I know not everyone does.
Janet said,
October 11, 2009 at 11:13 am
I know you’re the resident rose expert…
I’m just working up to rose scents, with both Soll’s version and pure’s arriving this week. What WOULD your top ten (or even five) be?
Anne said,
October 16, 2009 at 12:17 pm
If you want to wander off the beaten path for a wonderful true rose scent, then you really, really, really must try “Duggat al-Oud Ma Ward Taifi” bakhoor. BTW, bakhoor is a middle eastern type of incense, generally containing aloeswood or oud.
I have Duggat al-Oud Ma Ward Taifi, and it’s an exquisitely true type of rose incense. It has a real tea rose scent. It’s also very, very potent. Many bakhoors are, btw. So a little goes a long way with this. Just a bit on your electric incense heater, or on a charcoal will do, and will scent a large room for hours, even days, maybe.
To purchase this bakhoor (and other good ones) go to Paradise Perfumes. Link is http://www.paradiseperfumes.com/bakhoors which is based in Vancouver, Canada. Altaf, the owner/opperator, will ship to anywhere in the world.
Mike said,
October 20, 2009 at 7:50 am
Thanks for the tip Anne. I know I’ve only barely gotten started on the bakhoors and will have to attend to them eventually. My problem is I still haven’t adapted a heater to my incense using patterns yet, I almost have to make an effort to get started.
Mike said,
October 12, 2009 at 11:32 am
Can’t remember if I’ve tried the Egyptian or not, but I will say some of the IfromI roses typify quite closely the issues I tend to have with poorer floral masalas, nearly all the ones I remember have a bitterness I find quite offputting. But given the company you’re mentioning it alongside, I’ll have to give it a fresh try some time.
Maharani said,
October 15, 2009 at 7:23 am
I’m with Hamid on this one-I love a strong rose incense because it DOES persist longer than most incenses do…..you go into a room after several hours, or next day, and it’s still there…….To date, I have only extensively tried the HEM Gulab, which is a dipped charcoal, but to my mind it is a good strong rose that lasts a long time. Id try some of Hamid’s recommendations. Personally I’ve never had problems with any rough edges or bitterness with rose scents and I wear pure attar of roses as a perfume. I love to Shroff Paneer, Amber Rose and Night Rose incenses.