Temple of Incense – Lavender Supreme

At the end of 2023, Sascha, the owner of Indiaroma.de, sent me a surprise package with samples from his private collection (which, coincidentally, are almost all available in his shop as well). Among them were several Temple of Incense sticks and other interesting items.
Lavender Supreme costs €12 from him; at TOI‘s shop, the price was raised from £10 to £12 in September 2024. A box contains 20 sticks, making it €0.60 per stick.

I find the scent of Lavender Supreme quite atypical for lavender. From the first moment, it has a surprisingly resinous quality and quickly develops in the direction of scents that aren’t exactly soapy but remind me of fresh laundry or detergent, giving a sense of cleanliness.
I detect a light powderiness that suits lavender, along with a slightly tart character, though it doesn’t come across as particularly herbal to me. Aside from a rather subtle floral tone, Lavender Supreme has little sweetness.
After a few minutes, an interesting, fresh note joins in that I can’t quite place. It has a volatile, top-note quality. Combined with the overall tartness of the scent, it reminds me somewhat of camphor. However, as this particular aspect builds up, Lavender Supreme loses some of its tartness, ultimately becoming almost sparkling and gaining an equally mysterious sweetness. I find that fascinating.
Unlike the calming effect usually associated with lavender, I actually find this scent quite invigorating.
In the background, I sense a complex of woody and earthy notes that blend with the resinous aroma. According to TOI’s description, Lavender Supreme is richer and heavier than their Lavender Fields, though I haven’t tried the latter. This aspect gives me an idea of what they mean.

In the after-smell, which is quite long-lasting, the volatile character of the fresh note becomes more pronounced, and unfortunately, it starts to annoy a bit.

The contrast between the tart, deep notes and the pronounced freshness gives Lavender Supreme an intriguing dynamic. Although the scent doesn’t quite match my personal taste, I find it interesting and largely pleasant.
I can imagine it as a good companion for mental activities such as studying, office work, etc. The clean impression the scent leaves behind would also make it a good refreshing boost after cleaning.