Faircense (farfalla | Pema of Tibet | claro)
I keep seeing this brand’s incense sticks in different health and organic food stores, and I thought for a while now that it would be a good thing to review them.
However, at 4 to 5 euros they are not exactly cheap, and I have made the experience with other fair trade brands that fair trade often does not equal high quality.
At the beginning of the year, I came across an offer at Kleinanzeigen that included almost the entire range, so I jumped at it.
Three different companies are mentioned on the packaging of the Faircense incense sticks:
farfalla, Pema of Tibet and claro. You will also find the inscription “Made with 100% natural ingredients in a fair trade project in Naturveda BIO / India”.
After looking around on the different companies’ websites, this is what I could piece together:
The sticks are made in Pondicherry, South India, by a company that is “integrated into the ethical tradition of Auroville“. This company is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization. The incense is produced for Pema of Tibet, a Swiss company founded by the couple Yangchen & Thomas Büchli. farfalla and claro, also Swiss companies, are cooperation partners.
Pema of Tibet writes on their website:
Since we cannot guarantee absolute naturalness with most incense sticks on the market, we developed a line of scented sticks in a partnership with farfalla essentials AG and claro fairtrade AG 10 years ago that can meet our highest standards.
Therefore, I assume that the Faircense line is specially made for Pema of Tibet and their partners, instead of plain rebranding.
Claro appears to be an importer and dealer for fair-trade products, farfalla is also a dealer for organic and fair-trade products. Faircense also carries the ICEA seal, which certifies the naturalness of the ingredients. I contacted Mr. Büchli by email to ask for some details. I was told that he would be happy to answer my questions, but that he would need some time.
The sticks from the Faircense line are all dry masala.
I have the varieties below, the reviews will be linked once I published them. I will also add a little summary, once all reviews are done.
![Faircense - Amber](https://blog.rauchfahne.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Farfalla-Amber_72-rotated.jpg)
Amber
![Faircense - Lavender](https://blog.rauchfahne.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Farfalla-Lavendel_72-rotated.jpg)
Lavender
![Faircense - Lemongrass](https://blog.rauchfahne.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Farfalla-Lemongrass_72-rotated.jpg)
Lemongrass
![Faircense - Patchouli](https://blog.rauchfahne.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Farfalla-Patchouli_72-rotated.jpg)
Patchouli
![Faircense - rose geranium](https://blog.rauchfahne.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Farfalla-Rosengeranie_72-rotated.jpg)
Rose Geranium
![Faircense - sandalwood](https://blog.rauchfahne.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Farfalla-Sandelholz_72.jpg)
Sandalwood
![Faircense - vanilla benzoin](https://blog.rauchfahne.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Farfalla-Vanille-Benzoe_72.jpg)
Vanilla-Benzoin
![Faircense - Vetiver](https://blog.rauchfahne.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Farfalla-Vetiver_72.jpg)
Vetiver
![Faircense - incense](https://blog.rauchfahne.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Farfalla-Weihrauch_72.jpg)
Frankincense
![Faircense - Ylang Ylang](https://blog.rauchfahne.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Farfalla-YlangYlang_72.jpg)
Ylang Ylang
![Faircense - cedar](https://blog.rauchfahne.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Farfalla-Zeder_72.jpg)
Cedar
![Faircense - cinnamon](https://blog.rauchfahne.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Farfalla-Zimt_72.jpg)
Cinnamon