Spirit of Vinaiki – Ayurveda Blends (Sample Set)
This sample set was purchased in August 2022 at Kleinanzeigen for around €4.
It includes one stick each of the 10 varieties of this line. The sticks are very thickly rolled and weigh over 2 grams each.
As with the line of single scents Ayurveda sticks, these blends focus more on the assumed effects of the ingredients, understood as active substances, rather than on the fragrance. Below the list of Ingredients, I quote the descriptions of each variety, taken from dana-vinaiki.de.
I think one of my first reviews here was about the sample set of Ayurveda single scents from Spirit of Vinaiki. Although I couldn’t relate to most of the scents, I was somehow fascinated by them. Probably because they are so absolutely natural and primal in a way. It helped me develop a better understanding of how some raw ingredients behave in incense sticks. With most of the ingredients, I was only familiar with as loose incense, used on a heater, and that way their scent can differ significantly from how they smell if burned.
Agni
Ingredients: Sandalwood, Cinnamon, Agarwood, etc.
“Agni is the god of fire. He gives us courage, willpower, and enthusiasm. Agni also supports us in inner transformation on the spiritual path. The warming scent activates our inner fire.”
Agni smells relatively smoky and a bit harsh. I can recognize the agarwood by its profound aroma, which, however, appears somewhat crude here. In the middle, I perceive a warm, spicy, slightly sweet scent.
The sandalwood requires strong air dilution to reveal its characteristic sweetness.
In the after-scent, Agni blossoms to a certain degree. Then, the scent seems a bit more defined and no longer smoky.
Ananda
Ingredients: Sandalwood, Benzoin, Spikenard, Tulsi, etc.
“This delicate, sweetly fine scent opens the senses and makes the heart happy.”
Ananda smells spicy, sweet, and very warm. The scent has a musky aspect for me, which does appear animalic, but not in the sense of a pungent smell; rather, it evokes associations with animal fur, giving it a unique warmth.
Although the scent has a certain, piercing quality that comes from the spicy component, I also find something soft in it.
Kailash
Ingredients: Indian Frankincense, Lemongrass, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Clove, Spikenard, etc.
“A herb-aromatic scent reminiscent of the spicy mountain slopes of the Himalayas, which cleanses and clarifies the mind.”
Kailash has a robust scent but does not seem very refined. I can’t identify any of the listed ingredients. What I smell is a tart-resinous note that reminds me rather of Sal tree resin (Shorea robusta) than of Indian frankincense (Boswellia serrata). After a while, a general rooty scent appears.
Kundalini
Ingredients: Sandalwood, Vetiver, Jasmine, etc.
“This blend supports the connection with the universal life stream and gives you the opportunity to increase your personal power potential. It brings energy into motion and can enhance personal charisma.”
In Kundalini, I smell the spiciness of vetiver and an underlying sweetness. I suspect that Kundalini contains valerian or another root used as a herbal musk substitute. Sumbul (Ferula moschata) or costus root (Saussurea costus) would be other candidates. This would also explain the somewhat harsh note that builds up over time.
The scent has a strongly rooty character for me, going beyond what vetiver (a grass root) typically brings.
When the stick burns for a while, the sweetness disappears, and the scent becomes a bit sour and sharp. Additionally, the aforementioned somewhat funky note comes through, which I don’t like. Without this, the scent would be quite interesting.
Prana
Ingredients: Frankincense, Sandalwood, Orris Root, etc.
“Prana means life force. Prana is the cosmic life energy that flows through us and keeps us alive. The fresh and subtly fruity scent of frankincense, sandalwood, orris root, etc., supports this subtle energy flow. Energy blockages can dissolve, and life force can be brought back into flow.”
What I smell most prominently in Prana‘s blend is the frankincense. It is a fairly clear, resinous-fresh, but also rather dry frankincense note. Moreover, the scent of Prana is relatively smoky. However, the smoke only becomes a bot harsh when it isn’t given enough space to unfold.
When I let the smoke spread through the house, I can recognize hints of orris root. It is a fine, powdery, and sweetly fresh scent that, at least in its pure form, reminds of violets. It’s the rhizome of an iris.
I used the stick in three sessions, but I could smell the sandalwood only once, and that only in the after-smell, which does not last long.
Prema
Ingredients: Frankincense, Vetiver, Myrrh, etc.
“Prema is pure love, unconditional love. Prema is the love that connects humans with humans and humans with God. The tender fresh scent highlights frankincense as a heart-opener, supported by vetiver, myrrh, and other precious scents.”
Prema has a strong church-like scent for me. The frankincense is distinctly noticeable, with a dry, resinous note that strikes me as straight up dusty. This is the quality of frankincense scents that never fails to remind me of churches.
Old churches and items belonging to them absorb the scent of the burned incense over decades, and they develop this specific smell. The myrrh in the recipe surely further enhances this association, while also contributing to the tartness and woodiness of the scent. This aspect is strongly weighted in Prema, and a general smoke smell is also present.
Shakti
Ingredients: Agarwood, Cinnamon, and Essential Oils
“Shakti is the cosmic energy, the divine mother. Shakti is the source from which everything springs, the universal principle of energy, power, and creativity.”
Shakti has both a sweet and a sour component. Which one predominates seems to vary from day to day. Today, I find the sweetness quite intense, but they don’t seem ‘sweetened’; it’s a very natural sweetness.
The scent is deep and has a spicy component that I think partly comes from the agarwood. The scent evokes a faint association with Magenbrot; a recurring theme, which I started to think is specifically connected to Indian agarwood. Sometimes it is apparent for a moment and then seems balsamic. Depending on whether the sour or the sweet aspect is in the foreground, I find the scent either cool or warm.
Shanti
Ingredients: Sandalwood, Indian Frankincense, Indian Valerian, etc.
“For peace with oneself and ‘everything’ that is. The balsamic floral scent of this blend creates a peaceful vibration and space for more inner peace, serenity, and joy of life.”
Valerian is very dominant in this blend. A scent many people describe as the smell of feet or like worn socks. It is also a bit earthy and sweet, much like carrots are sweet.
I can’t really pick out the frankincense as such, but I do notice a distinct, tart resinous note in the composition.
It’s similar regarding the sandalwood, with I can sense at least in the after-smell. The scent is woody, yet not really smoky.
The aroma is very robust. Overall, I find the scent sweet-sour, tart, and very aromatic. A scent I can’t really appreciate, however, I must say that Shanti seems to have some effect on me: It makes me sleepy.
Surya
Ingredients: Costus Root, Styrax, Benzoin, Patchouli
“The power of the sun brings joy to life. The warm oriental scent of this blend brightens the mood and opens the senses to the beautiful moments of life. A warm, sensually stimulating blend that unites the oriental scents of India.”
I’m not sure if it’s due to the combination of costus root with two very sweet ingredients such as benzoin and styrax, or if too much costus root was used for my taste, but I find the scent of Surya rather unpleasant.
At first, I even thought I had the sweetish, smelly-sock scent of valerian in my nose.
When the smoke is really well diluted, the scent becomes more pleasant; it then has a pronouncedly warm softness and also seems less obtrusively sweet, but I still can’t really appreciate the scent.
Tantra
Ingredients: Sandalwood, Clove, Patchouli, etc.
“Oriental fragrances create a sensually stimulating atmosphere that inspires our imagination and helps to break through too narrow boundaries.”
For a short while after lighting, I find Tantra relatively soft and woody-warm, which probably comes from the sandalwood. But after a few minutes, the scent becomes spicier, soon intensifying into a pungent or sharp note, for which I blame the clove.
I think I just don’t get along with clove in incense sticks. Tantra doesn’t become overpowering, but after a while, the scent just smells like campfire smoke to me.
When I extinguish the stick, I briefly but clearly smell the sandalwood again.
It’s really a shame; I feel that Tantra has potential. Maybe they just don’t suit my home.
Conclusion:
The overall style of this Ayurveda line(s) isn’t really for me, but it was still interesting to engage with it.
I liked Ananda the best, followed by Shakti. Prema stands out with its church-like scent and is quite unique in the lineup.
As with the other Ayurveda line, I think these incense sticks are more suited for people who like Tibetan incense sticks or rope incense and powders from Nepal or Bhutan.
A little tip:
Due to this review by Steve on Incense in The Wind, I believe that the incense sticks from the Ayurveda lines from Spirit of Vinaiki are also sold by Gokula Incense in the UK. At least they could come from the same manufacturer.