Indian incense features unique scents that are not found in any other part of the globe.  Incense has been used in India as part of ritual for centuries and there are a vast variety of different types.  Indian incense  can be divided into two main categories, masala and charcoal. Incenses of the masala group are made from dry ingredients and therefore are unlikely to diminish in quality over time.  They are made by blending several solid, highly scented ingredients into a paste which is then rolled onto a bamboo core stick.  They usually contain very little in the way of liquid scents, which is why they last for a long time.

Masala incense is further divided into Durbars, Champas, and Dhoops. Durbars are normally sweet and spicy in scent.  The sticks burn very slowly and produce very complex, exotic scents.  Durbars contain both solid and liquid perfumes mixed in a binder which doesn't quite dry, making the incense rather soft to the touch.

Champas, themselves a subgroup of Durbars, contain "halmaddi," which is a resin of the Ailanthus Malabarica tree that is indigenous to India.  It smells very much like flowers of the plumeria tree.  Nag Champa incense is probably the most famous of this Champa group.  Nag Champa incense is made from high grade resins and natural Mysore Sandalwood oil, and produces a sweet and earthy fragrance that is perfect for creating a sacred, meditative state and for stimulating spiritual work.

Finally, Dhoop incenses normally lacks a core bamboo stick and have very concentrated scents.  They are shaped like tiny logs and have a rather gummy consistency.  They burn for a long time, and produce extremely potent scents and a great deal of smoke.

Charcoal incenses, on the other hand, are made by dipping unscented base sticks into a mixture of essential oils and scents.  The sticks usually contain binding resins, such as sandalwood, which hold the ingredients together.  These charcoal incenses are usually black, and generally lose their potency over time due to the high amounts of liquid scent that is used in their creation.

Indian incense is generally very potent, spicy, and sweet in nature, and you will be surprised how quickly it can fill up a room, or an entire house, with its rich and earthy scents.  If you are looking to create a sensual and relaxing environment in which to do spiritual work or to calm the spirit, this sort of incense is sure to do the trick.

If you are not sure what sort of Indian incense you are looking for you, you may want to give our Nag Champa sampler set a try.  These amazing sets contain eight of Nag Champa's top selling incenses, containing 8-10 sticks per box, so that you are sure to find the perfect scent to suite every space and every mood!

It is important to keep in mind that most Indian incense is very strongly scented and therefore is not for the faint of heart or the sensitive of smell.  If you prefer very mild, light scents in your incense, then it might be better to explore our wide variety of Japanese incense.  If you are looking for scents which are even more powerful, but perhaps not quite as sweet as Indian incense, you may want to explore some of our Tibetan incenses.  Whatever type of incense experience you are looking for, Spiritual Scents is sure to have just the thing to fit your needs, and we have the experience to answer any inquiries!  So enjoy exploring the wonderful, exotic world of Indian incense, and don't hesitate to drop us a line with any questions you may have along your journey!