Bhagwan – Oudh Majestic

I received a few sticks of Oudh Majestic as a sample with my first order from Bhagwan at the end of 2023. I didn’t try them until a few months later, but when I finally did, was instantly so impressed that I bought another pack right away.
Oudh Majestic costs €4.95 for 15g, which is about 9 sticks. This makes €0.55 per stick. They are extruded 8″ (20.5cm) sticks with a burning time of 40-45 minutes.

Disclosure: Due to my history and friendly relationship with Eugene, the owner of Bhagwan Incense, I would like to point out that I cannot write reviews of this brand with complete impartiality. I write a lot of the Bhagwan reviews based on samples that were given to me – these are labelled accordingly.
All reviews are unpaid and reflect my honest opinion, but you are welcome to consider them as advertising.

Oudh Majestic has a fascinating scent. The fragrance is dense, lush, and heavy, yet at the same time, it has a lightness that contrasts strongly and gives the composition a remarkable dynamic.
Right from the start, I smell something fresh; a volatile, vaguely alcoholic, but also menthol-like note that always accompanies the scent.
This is carried by a complex construct of deep balsamic, spicy, and resinous-woody components. Once again, I smell Magenbrot spices, as I have noticed in several other Indian oudh incense sticks. Here, however, in a more subtle way, and this spiciness is so intertwined with the other aspects that I can hardly call it a sole note.
The sweetness of the scent is strongly entwined with the balsamic component, but also connects with the described spiciness and dissolves into a resinous aspect, which in turn merges with the balsamic part.
Somewhere in the in-between of this dense mélange, I find traces of an extraordinary freshness that I can only describe as watery. It is not a maritime scent, not an aquatic accord as known from some perfumes; it’s like a touch of crisp dew.
This unusual scent fascinates me in particular and contributes greatly to the perceived vibrancy of Oudh Majestic.

As is usually the case with relatively potent incense sticks, I recommend giving the scent plenty of air to unfold.
If the smell becomes too concentrated in the room, I start to catch a certain iodine note. However, this is a scent that I have come to understand as not unusual for Oudh fragrances. I don’t find it actually disturbing in Oudh Majestic either. It’s more of a feature that gives the scent some edges rather than a flaw.
The after-smell is long-lasting and retains a good portion of the facets of this fragrance.

Oudh Majestic made a lasting impression on me. The rich, complex scent is enveloping and just as sexy.
Of the “old” oudh or agarwood varieties from Bhagwan, I find this one by far the best. However, I should note that the actual oudh character is not particularly pronounced in this variety. But maybe that’s a reason why I like it that much.