Shroff – Dry Masala Sampler: Amber Rose, Holy
The Dry Masala Sampler, compiled by Padma Store, currently sold out, costs €15.95 (in March 2022) for 2 incense sticks of each of the 12 varieties available at the time. Now there are 17.
Amber Rose is one of the varieties of this sampler for which I needed the most time to form an opinion. That means I’d actually need a bit more time and a few more sticks, as the last millimetres are burning away right now, and I’m still struggling to find the right words.
Strangely, the scent reminds me of orthodox rose incense (a mixture of frankincense and rose oil), as it has something fresh, although overall, it leans towards the dry-woody type of smell. I believe I perceive saffron, but somewhat differently than usual; it’s like with Suganda Bathi, more of an iodine scent that alternates with the ironing smell (which I mentioned in other Shroff reviews).
Despite this rather tart aspect, the scent has something soft, especially near the window. Occasionally, I find a note like rose water in it, but it soon disappears. The scent does have a restrained sweetness, but I wouldn’t associate it with amber at all, although the other two amber scents of the Shroff Dry Masalas were also very atypical in my opinion.
I would actually be inclined to buy a pack of Amber Rose just to find out if I like it or not because I’m still not clear about that.
I unintentionally saved Holy for last. The description didn’t appeal to me much, so I always reached for another variety until only Holy was left. I’m glad about that because this scent offered me a particularly nice experience at the end.
Holy falls into the line of sandalwood scents from this line, which I generally like very much. Its scent has the warmth of Mysore Sandal, with a hint of a very restrained musk note. What surprises me about the scent is a fresh, airy floral accord that reminds me of Pelargonium ‘citrosum’, also known as citronella geranium. The intense scent of this plant strongly resembles that of geranium, with a herbaceous, citrus-fresh aspect.
The pleasant sweetness in Holy is somewhere between floral, vanilla-y, and woody, and feels exceptionally well-rounded.
Holy appears serene yet cheerful, like a cold, clear morning when the sky shines in pastel colours and the sun quickly gains strength. It’s a light, positive, and invigorating scent; a gentle, bright pick-me-up for the morning.
Rating: 3-4
Update: 2024-06-03
Holy is one of the varieties that I repurchased at Padma Store at the end of 2023. This bundle contains 20g; I forgot to count the sticks, but I think there were short to 20.
The sticks from the pack smell much fresher and seem somewhat sweeter than the sample sticks. They are at least as good as those. 🙂 The current pictures in the Padma Store show newer packs, so it is nevertheless possible that my review no longer applies.