Shroff – Sandal K

These five sample sticks were sent to me by my friend Silver.
Along with this variety, there is also one called “Sandal K Special“.
Ashok from Padma Store told me he thinks Sandal K and Sandal K Special (which he sells) are the same. His scent description certainly matches what I detect in Sandal K.

I reached out to Shroff to ask for clarification on the matter. Mohith Shroff told me that they are actually two varieties, but with only a minimal difference in scent. Furthermore, he pointed out that the production of Sandal K Special had to be stopped recently due to unavailability of raw materials.

The sticks are 9″ (approximately 23 cm) long.

The scent of Sandal K seems to be more tart than the other sandalwood varieties by Shroff. It’s a very woody scent, distinctly recognisable as sandalwood, but leaning towards the darker, almost slightly earthy side of the spectrum.
Right from the start, I got the impression of a floral note that lightens the scent, and the more I use the sticks, the more sweetness I notice in the fragrance. However, this sweetness seems to come mainly from something other than the sandalwood. It’s a floral sweetness, with a slight balsamic touch. But it’s not the typically milky-sweet softness associated with sandalwood. If there is a softness to the scent, I would describe it as powdery rather than creamy.
Sandal K retains its tart, somewhat woodsmoke-like character throughout the burn, which can occasionally come off as a bit pungent but never truly unpleasant.

Of all the Shroff sandalwood varieties I’ve tried so far, I like these the least; however, I certainly don’t consider them bad.
The scent of Sandal K reminds me of some more affordable sandalwood sticks, or also those often found in fair-trade or wholefood stores. These are usually similarly woody and smoky smelling. What sets Sandal K apart from these, though, is the unmistakable sandalwood character, which is often hard to find in the aforementioned incenses.
Additionally, they have a pleasant, warm room note, and the after-smell is also nice.