Heera: Sai Baba Nag Champa, Khalija, Krishna Leela
I first read about Heera on Incense in The Wind, and my samples also all come from Steve, who sent them to me as part of our incense exchange.
Heera is a brand that is easily available in England, but can be only found sporadically in Germany. A pack usually costs under €1.50.
Sai Baba Nag Champa
This is a Nag Champa scent of the less creamy kind. I smell a peculiar, slightly piercing fruitiness, similar to what I found in NGR – Nag Champa, though much weaker. The scent as a whole is not particularly strong, and it’s somewhat smoky at first.
Over time, a certain waxy note develops, giving the scent at least a bit more softness. At the same time, another aspect increases, which sits somewhere between soapy, cosmetic, and perfumey.
Yes, it is recognizable as Nag Champa, but the scent profile seems washed out and unspecific. For just a few cents more, you can get significantly better.
Here is Steve’s review.
Khalija
The scent is rather weak, with smoke development typical of an average masala. I smell vague floral notes, something powdery, and it is slightly creamy-sweet. Furthermore, I find a cosmetic freshness that I’ve noticed in other varieties of the brand.
The scent of these sticks vaguely reminds me of Super Hit in the Satya Mumbai version. However, it doesn’t quite hold up in a direct comparison. There is a certain overlap, but Super Hit has more depth, is creamier and sweeter, and also has a vague woody note that makes the scent overall more attractive. In contrast, the cosmetic-fresh aspect is more pronounced in Khalija.
You can find Steve’s review here.
Krishna Leela
Krishna Leela has the most interesting and best scent of the 6 samples for me.
The scent is rather tart-fruity and subtly balsamic sweet. There is a certain overlap with Sai Baba Nag Champa, as I perceive a slightly pungent note in both. However, Krishna Leela has more character than these.
I also find a vague similarity to Pushkar Temple – Baba Flora, but these appear rather like a different shade within the same harmony. Additionally, my notes mention references to Meena Supreme.
I perceive some woodiness, and at least in my initial notes, I mentioned an oily sandalwood note. The fruity aspect sometimes reminded me of fully ripe honeydew melon, but sometimes also of hookah tobacco.
I find the scent quite attractive, but I don’t necessarily get the impression of having something high-quality in front of me. Additionally, the aroma of Krishna Leela has lost some quality since I got it.
Steve’s Review.