Jallan – Boswellia

I received two sticks of this variety from Sascha, who ordered directly from Jallan via their Instagram.
Jallan is a relatively young and small company based in Mumbai. They currently employ seven workers who hand-roll the incense sticks.
These sticks are 12″ (approximately 30.5 cm) long and burn for about an hour and a half. There are two different packaging options, each including a matching holder: round tubes contain 60 sticks, while triangular boxes hold 30.

I was only given prices including shipping, meaning that a single small box would cost €20, while the larger one, containing 60 sticks, would cost €25. However, the price drops significantly when ordering in bulk: two small boxes cost €30, and two large ones €35. Sascha told me, he paid less than €40 and sampled all the varieties.

Ingredients: Frankincense, Jatamansi, Heena and other Ayurvedic herbs

The ingredients were shared with me by Shivam Jallan, the founder and head of the company. He mentioned that they initially used Boswellia papyrifera frankincense but have since switched to locally sourced Boswellia serrata.
The base for their incense sticks consists of a blend of Ayurvedic plant materials, about 30 in total for this variety.

While the frankincense in these sticks is distinctly noticeable, I find the scent of Olibanum rather unusual. This is undoubtedly due to the wide range of ingredients, which lend the aroma a complexity not typically found in frankincense incense sticks made in India.
I tagged Olibanum with the keyword ‘sweet‘, but it’s not the kind of sweetness you’d associate with benzoin or similar ingredients, commonly found in Indian ‘frankincense’ incense sticks. This sweetness is far more subtle, and in combination with the freshness and resinous quality of the scent, it creates an almost fruity impression.
However, that alone wouldn’t make these sticks particularly extraordinary. What sets them apart is this somewhat peculiar composition, which simply has a strange, unusual touch to it. Even after lighting these sticks for the fifth or sixth time, I still can’t decide whether I truly like them, as there’s an element in the scent that repeatedly catches me in an odd way.
Still, I’m fascinated by the aroma; I find it pretty interesting.

For curious, adventurous lovers of frankincense incense sticks, Jallan – Olibanum might be a welcome oddity. Personally, I appreciate the uniqueness of the scent in a world of incense that often feels repetitive.