Monsoon Incense – Vetiver

In a way, this is “Compairing Vetiver Sticks (Part 3.1)”, as I originally intended to combine multiple reviews again, but I think a review this long is better left to stand on its own.

Here are the two previous articles:
Compairing Vetiver Sticks (Part 2)
Compairing Vetiver Sticks (Part 1)

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I purchased these Vetiver sticks from Monsoon Incense (formerly Good Incense) in May 2024. The review on ORS got me really curious about it.
The pack cost €2.50 at the time of purchase, but the price has since increased to €2.95. It contains 15g, which amounted to 11 sticks of 9″ (approx. 23cm) length. At the updated price, that makes about €0.27 per stick.

At first glance, one might mistake these sticks for a product from HMS, but upon closer inspection, the applied paste is not hard and dry but slightly sticky, which aligns with the shop’s description stating that they contain Halmaddi (a natural, viscous binding agent and fixative). In my experience, HMS sticks are hard and rather brittle. However, this manufacturer does produce Khus (vetiver) incense sticks that look similar.

The raw sticks have a very interesting freshness, somewhat reminiscent of menthol or wintergreen, but at the same time, the scent is quite sweet with a faint soapy nuance.
When lit, the freshness fades more into the background, and the sweetness of the fragrance becomes dominant. The soapiness is no longer noticeable.
Mike’s review, linked above, already strongly indicates that this is not a typical Vetiver scent. Vetiver roots contain a subtle freshness, which is more pronounced in the essential oil, but what I smell in these sticks goes far beyond that. It also differs significantly in character from the kind of freshness I’ve encountered in Khus (the Indian word for Vetiver) incense sticks. Those tend to smell fresher than incense labelled simply Vetiver; an observation my friend Silver shares. However, this could be coincidental.
Only in the far background do I detect faint hints of the woody, rooty notes I would expect from Vetiver.

Aafter a relatively short time, the sweetness of this composition becomes too much for me, though in cold weather, it takes a bit longer. I’m not entirely sure what exactly bothers me about it, but I feel like it’s more the type of sweetness rather than its intensity.
In fact, this composition strangely reminds me of Mattipal by Cottage Industries. That one left me similarly conflicted. In both cases, I find the scent interesting and ‘different’, yet I struggle with the sweet component of the blend.

This combination of freshness and distinct sweetness reminded me of something from the very beginning. Only gradually did a vague image form: those strongly staining chewable tablets you used to get from the dentist as a kid to reveal plaque. Did they have a similar scent or taste?

Vetiver has an interesting, unusual aroma that, unfortunately, isn’t for me.
Those looking for a natural, authentic Vetiver fragrance should probably steer clear of these incense sticks. However, for the adventurous, they’re certainly worth a try.