IncenseInTheWind The Incense Hunter

Pleasant, sweet, floral, quite commercial.

Yamuna's Incense in Kaunas, Lithuania's second largest city, is a marriage of Indian and Lithuanian cultures.

Candy sweet on the stick - rose scented Turkish delight.

When I started this blog I created a page which listed incense brands such as Satya, Hem, and Happy Hari, but some of the companies on my list, such as Happy Hari, did not make the incense themselves - they either commissioned it, or bought it loose off t…

While hunting incense from Lithuania (in the Baltic States of Northern Europe), Daniela Coelho-Rodriguez of nature design website, Forest Homes, where I bought the Lithuanian related Smells Like Spells incense sticks, points me in the direction of Yamuna's

Rose Crystal is part of Shoyeido's Jewel or Gem series - originally four scents, but now increased to eight.

Blue Topaz contains green tea, sandalwood, clove, vanilla, and spices, and represents "Joy".

Obsidian is part of Shoyeido's Jewel or Gem series - originally four scents, then later increased to eight.

Mystic Jade is part of Shoyeido's Jewel or Gem series - originally four scents, then increased to eight.

Amethyst is the last of the "original" set of the Jewel series, and represents "Balance".

Ruby is part of Shoyeido's Jewel or Gem series - originally four scents, but now increased to eight.

There is an interesting cross-cultural blend in play in the incense sold by the retail brand Smells Like Spells.

An interesting aspect of Smells Like Spells incense is that each tube is marked with the phase of the moon it was made.

There is a pleasant note of sweet licorice on the cold throw scent on the stick.

Smells Like Spells in a British owned retail shop in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, which sells "Norse Magic" related candles, home fragrance, and incense under the Smells Like Spells brand.

Described by Nippon Kodo as "Spicy Sandalwood" with "various materials utilized in Chinese medicine for centuries" giving the keynotes of sandalwood and cinnamon.

I couldn't find a reliable website for Gyokushodo - information mostly comes from sales bling on various shop websites, so I have treated it with some caution.

Shorindo is based on Awaji Island, which has 14 incense makers, and has a claim to make 70% of Japan's incense.

Baieido (USA website) are a well known Japanese incense producer, who promote themselves skilfully.

Kameyama is a popular scented candle company founded by a carpenter in 1927 in the Japanese city of Kameyama, which has a reputation for candle making.

Violets have a sweet gentle scent that powers the evocative flavour of Parma Violets.

I am very interested in the resin-on-a-stick style of incense, and quite excited that the style is spreading around the world.

This is a sweet and very attractive Nag Champa which closely follows the original Satya Nag Champa.

Incense houses and dealers Anand Incense (Mumbai) Anand Products & Co are based in Mumbai, and were founded in 1973.

Very attractive Flora style soaked oil fragrance on the stick.