Agāra – Kāma

Today, I’d like to introduce you to something special:
Hand-rolled dry masala incense sticks of impressive quality, made in France.

The incense artisan Alexandre Maël Armati (whom I introduce here) contacted me at the end of 2024 via Instagram and offered me samples of his 4 (at that point) existing varieties. It wasn’t about reviews; he simply wanted to share his work with a kindred spirit, and perhaps get a bit of feedback.

I was immediately enthusiastic about Kāma and have since re-bought them twice.

Kāma is available in his Etsy shop in packs of 10 (€8), 15 (€11) or 20 sticks (€14). Maël has told me that he’s planning to offer trial sizes and samplers in future as well.
The sticks are approx. 22cm long and weigh between 1 and 1.5 grams.
The burning time is given as approx. 40 minutes; I think they burn at least that long.
There’s a very detailed product description. 🙂

Besides Etsy, there’s also the possibility of ordering directly from him via email (encens.agara(at)gmail.com) or WhatsApp (+33601458883). Additionally, you can reach him via his Instagram and Facebook profiles.

Ingredients: Makko, bamboo, sandalwood, patchouli, black benzoin, white benzoin, Malaysian benzoin, Siam benzoin and djaoui.

The description speaks of a ‘hint’ of patchouli, but it’s really a bit more than that. Kāma are solid patchouli incense sticks, even if special attention was put on the selection and composition of the different benzoin variants.

The raw scent of the sticks promises an earthy, natural patchouli fragrance backed up with milky-soft sandalwood.

Once you’ve lit a stick, you’re immediately greeted by the unmistakably balsamic and vanilla-like sweetness of benzoin resins; the deep fragrance of patchouli as an earthy companion. I love sweet patchouli fragrances, and benzoin is a perfect partner for patchouli for me.

The earlier batch of Kāma from which the first sample came had a slightly higher content of patchouli. With the current (and final) recipe, the benzoin stands a little more clearly in the foreground.
The newly balanced ratio brings forth a cinnamon-like spiciness. I’ve encountered this in other incense sticks but have always found it too dominant. In Kāma it’s only a small, fine note that adds another facet into the fragrance.

I found both variants excellent, but what I specifically appreciate about the current batch is the underlying sandalwood fragrance.
Maël has told me that he was lucky to get hold of a limited amount of very high-quality sandalwood, which is used in current batches. He thinks his stock will last for about half a year.

The first samples of Kāma, from an earlier batch. The sticks back then were a little thinner than the current ones.

I was just as head over heels in love with the first version as I am with this one, and that although it hadn’t yet contained this particularly lovely sandalwood; I therefore have no doubt that future batches will be excellent as well, even if Maël should have to fall back on other sandalwood.
I regard this aspect of the current Kāma sticks as a little bonus, a cherry on top. It’s like a particularly good vintage of an already fantastic wine. (Which is why I’ve since reordered a second time.)

The fragrance of Kāma is simply beautiful. The patchouli unfolds its full character: dark and earthy, deep and calming. The resins seem meticulously dosed and stand in perfect balance to the other ingredients. The sandalwood delivers a soft, unobtrusive base, but still occasionally manages to step into the foreground, beguiling me with its unmistakable milkiness.
The individual components merge into a piece of fragrant art that is more than the sum of its parts.

Not too long ago, I reviewed the Patchouli sticks out of Fiore D’Oriente‘s Marco Polo’s Treasures line and announced I’d found my perfect patchouli incense sticks in them.
Agāra – Kāma are in no way inferior to them and deservedly sit at their side, as my favourite sweet patchouli incense sticks.