Pong: Woody and spicy - not sweet and maybe not to
everyone's taste - people who tend to go for the 'pseudo' Eastern idea of incense and sweet 'covering' odours may not go for this one but I find it very pleasant indeed and the perfume lingers subtly without smelling stale next day.
It is a genuine temple incense (one of the reasons it isn't just a sweet-smelling air-freshener; the ingredients used have religious significance which means its smell to the divine is in importance way way more important than how it makes the house smell.) and the smoke is meant to fill a temple, literally - the sticks produce a lot of smoke very fast, which, although the ingredients are pure and natural because it is designed for religious use, still may make someone with a breathing problem cough or whatever - an entire stick burnt in a domestic size room may well be too much. Outdoors they would be ok of course. The sticks can be lit, allowed to burn for a while then if the glowing part is touched with a wet cotton bud just sufficiently to put it out without soaking it, the stick will soon dry out and be ready for a re-light. Nowt lost. The ash tends to stay together too - no featherlight curls of stick-ash to drift off the catcher and onto the furniture.
The other thing is - the sticks, having a large burning area, do get hot. The burning end is the size of a cigar and it produces a hard hot coal which would give a child a nasty burn. I know you don't need telling - but there are those who do . . . .
Quite apart from the religious aspect (I am a Buddhist and fairly conversant with genuine incense and what passes for such in this country, especially since it has become a trend, I rate this one very
highly and consider it extremely good value. I hope you keep stocking it as it is good enough to use on my altar.
The rapidity with which they belt out smoke makes them pretty handy for quick de-ponging when all the boys have returned home, emptied out their sport bags on the kitchen floor - making everyone's eyes water - and the doorbell rings - mother in law or similar. Light one of those a bit sharpish, kick the trainers
etc. into the washbox and slam the lid and hopefully the lady won't have any excuse to give you one of those never-ending lectures on how she kept HER house odour-free without the aid of modern equipment . . . . . .
Probably more info than you wanted but hopefully you can pick out what you actually needed to know! ;-)
-Ali H, Bristol.
_______________________________________________________________
The initial reaction when you open the box is that it is quite potent, and the inital aroma can be off-putting. However when burned, it changes into quite a pleasant (full of eastern promise!) scent. It doesn't burn for very long, but the aroma lingers for a while afterwards and does tend to permeate throughout the house, which I quite like personally. For a small room I can quite see how it may appear a bit strong, I would suggest leaving the room while it is burning and returnng once it has finished (only 10 - 15 minutes). I would recommend to anyone interested in this one to give it a try with am open mind - and don't be put off by the smell of it in the box!
- Pete C, Wilts.