Maroma – Aromatherapy – Stress Away

These samples are from my friend Silver in India; she sent me a huge package in early 2024. Alongside Stress Away, I also received a few sticks of the Recharge variety.

The brand Maroma is part of the Auroville project. There are two official websites, a general one and one specifically for the USA. The price for these sticks is €3.28, or $5.10. A pack contains 10 sticks, each 8″ (~ 20 cm) long. The burn time is around 45 minutes.

The ingredients listed on Maroma’s website are: bamboo sticks, wood powder, Machilus macarantha (tree bark); natural fragrances: essential oils of Pelargonium graveolens (geranium), Lavandula hybrida (lavandin), Pogostemon cablin (patchouli), Eugenia caryophyllus leaf (clove), Boswellia carteri (frankincense).
However, the packaging lists geranium oil, palmarosa oil, lavender oil, patchouli oil, clove oil, sandalwood oil, Himalayan cedar oil, ginger grass oil, myrrh oil, and rose absolute.
I emailed them (in Dec. 2024) to ask which ingredients were correct. They thanked me for bringing it to their attention and said they would review and correct it.
The images have since been replaced, and the ingredients are no longer listed on the new packaging. This could indicate a changed recipe.

The first notes that clearly stand out in these sticks are lavender and clove; a surprisingly good combination. As the smoke spreads, I slowly begin to detect patchouli and geranium. The other oils mentioned in the ingredients remain hidden to me.
The scent is spicy yet cool; I notice a citrus-like freshness that seems to come from the lavender, although ginger grass may also contribute to it. This is a scent I am unfamiliar with. A quick Google search reveals that ginger grass (Cymbopogon martinii) is related to lemongrass.

The fragrance is quite strong but doesn’t become overwhelming. The base material is pleasantly unobtrusive unless you get very close to the stick or the smoke has a chance to accumulate. In these cases, I detect a slightly woody, burnt note, which may also come from the bamboo stick itself.
I find the scent most pleasant when I place the stick in the next room and let the fragrance spread. The more the smoke disperses, the more of the individual components of the blend become obvious.
Interestingly, the patchouli oil comes through much more distinctly when I burn the sticks in our hallway compared to my living room or the adjoining workshop.

This type of dipped incense stick isn’t quite my thing, but I must say they are well-made.
The aroma of Stress Away is a modern composition with a clear, well-defined scent. It’s like a strong, fresh breeze that can help chase away the heat and rush of the day.
Based on the scent, I find the claim about the naturalness of the ingredients to be believable.