Ispalla: Palo Santo & Copal CONNECTION, Palo Santo & Myrrh LOVE
I got these incense sticks directly from Ispalla Incense in Peru, you can find the backstory in this article.
My review explicitly refers to these new versions, in the new packaging design. I can’t say how they differ from the old ones, but Steve reviewed Palo Santo & Myrrh a while ago.
The new version with the revised recipe has now found its way onto the German market. There are 10 sticks per box. Indiaroma sells it for €3.10; However, of these two there is currently only CONNECTION. Ephra World now also has the new variants (alongside the old ones) in its range, for €2.95. I strongly advise against buying the old versions in the black boxes.
Palo Santo & Copal CONNECTION
CONNECTION is the name of the stick version of this fragrance. I was told that there is also a ‘tablet’ and a cone version of the scent, but I didn’t receive any samples of these.
Ingredients: Bamboo sticks, palo santo powder, copal resin (Bursera bipinnata), distilled water.
The botanical name of the copal is not on the package, I got the information about it from my contact at Ispalla.
CONNECTION are very intense, and the smoke development is a little stronger than with the other Ispalla varieties. Also, it seems to me like they burn slower.
If the smoke is still relatively concentrated, the scent experience is pretty close to copal burned on charcoal. The resinous smell has a very pungent appearance. With better air dilution, the scent becomes fresher and brighter.
My experience with incense sticks that contain a lot of resin is limited. The only somewhat comparable incense sticks I have, are the poorly burning Palo Santo + Black Copal, which I bought from Jeomra and that’s what I compared them with.
Even apart from the burning issue, I find CONNECTION more pleasant, if only because they produce significantly less smoke. This means they are also ok for me indoors. In terms of smell, I find CONNECTION more woody, the palo santo smell is stronger pronounced. But they also seem to contain less resin.
It is a strong, resinous, fresh smell that has a strengthening and invigorating effect. Certainly, suitable for lovers of intensely resinous scents.
Palo Santo & Myrrh LOVE
Ingredients: Bamboo sticks, Palo Santo powder, myrrh resin, distilled water.
I think it’s a shame that Ispalla doesn’t go into more detail about the ‘myrrh’ in their incense sticks. I use quotation marks because it is not true myrrh, i.e. Commiphora myrrha, but so-called ‘Peruvian myrrh’ or ‘mirra’, whose botanical name is Loxopterygium Huasango.
The botanical name Styrax Weberbaueri is also in circulation. I haven’t been able to figure out whether this is a synonym or simply a misidentification.
In terms of smell, mirra is actually reminiscent of resins from the Commiphora family.
My contact at Ispalla confirmed to me that the myrrh used is actually Peruvian myrrh.
LOVE seem to burn even slower than CONNECTION, having a tendency to go out, but not so often that it’s too annoying. I had to relight this one stick twice. As with the others, the smoke development is limited.
It quickly becomes noticeable that the mirra seems to neutralize the hot rubber smell of the palo santo wood. LOVE smells distinctly of palo santo, but is accompanied by a very soft, balsamic smell that also has a gentle, natural sweetness. This aspect gives LOVE an exceptionally warm and enveloping feeling.
I find the smell incredibly calming and relaxing.