Vinasons: Special Hina, Musk Hina
I received one stick each of these two Vinasons varieties from the ‘Hand-Dipped’ category from Ashok Kapur, the owner of Padma Store.
Special Hina
Special Hina are available in 20g packets and cost €5.85. The charcoal-based incense sticks with undyed bamboo cores burn for approximately 80 minutes. They’re 8″ (about 20.5cm) long.
Ashok describes the fragrance as ‘exotic and typically Indian’ and mentions a certain similarity to saffron fragrance.
Although Special Hina have a certain sweetness, I wouldn’t describe the fragrance as primarily sweet.
‘Exotic’ actually fits it surprisingly well. It’s a form of spiciness, but not directly in the sense of spices. I smell a slightly pungent note that transforms in front of the open window into a peculiar freshness.
In stronger concentration, I associate rubber or car tyres. But it’s rather a suggestion, and not an off-note that dominates the fragrance.
I furthermore find a kind of waxy note and a smell similar to that which arises when ironing; both are connected to the softness of Special Hina.
To a certain extent, the smell actually does remind me of saffron.
Musk Hina
Available in 20g packets as well, Musk Hina cost €4.95 and burn for about 60 minutes. The bamboo ends of the charcoal sticks are magenta-coloured. The sticks measure 8″ or approx. 20.5cm.
I find Musk Hina considerably sweeter than Special Hina and the type of sweetness seems to me to have a certain similarity to that of the Kesar Hina sticks.
The fragrance is less spicy than Special Hina, but has a similar softness that’s notably enhanced here.
In Ashok’s description of Musk Hina the word ‘exotic’ appears again, and again I find myself reflected in it. Unfortunately, I find the smell cloying rather quickly.