Jallan – Camphor

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 in the picture below have a standard length of 8″ (approximately 20.5 cm), which at Jallan is only the sample size; regular Jallan sticks have an oversized length of 12″ (approximately 30.5 cm) 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.

As you can see in the picture, the sticks are coated with camphor. I’m amazed at how well the camphor holds up without evaporating over time, even though the sticks are stored in a simple plastic sleeve. Camphor is quite volatile, which is why the sticks burn with a fairly intense flame.

Jallan also sells jars of pure Bhimensi camphor in their now operational webshop. A picture, which has since disappeared from the shop, featured the text “100% natural camphor from Pine Tree“. According to our understanding, this would be synthesised camphor, as genuine, natural camphor can, of course, only come from the camphor tree. However, there is indeed fully synthetic camphor, which would also be labelled as synthetic in India.
Camphor can be derived from pinewood, just as vanillin can be synthesised from wood. Both processes are considered ‘biosynthesis’, and because they originate from natural materials, they can also be seen as ‘natural’.
I assume the camphor used in the sticks is the same.

These Camphor sticks smell classically of camphor, just as I recognise the scent from camphor purchased in Germany (labelled as derived from Cinnamomum camphora), such as this one.
For those who have never smelled pure camphor, it might be familiar from cold remedies like WICK VapoRub or ointments for arthritis or sports injuries. It is a vaguely menthol-like, fresh but tart scent.
Pure camphor can also have a slightly musty note, which I also find in these sticks, though not as pronounced as in Fiore d’Oriente – Kampuram.
My mother, however, seems to find it particularly intense in these sticks; she just came upstairs to tell me that the hallway reeks of mustiness, like patchouli, which she absolutely can’t stand.

Camphor have a strong, clarifying, and refreshing scent, in the background of which I detect a hint of the herbal base generally used in Jallan’s sticks. This is significantly more subtle in scent than the woody and dry aroma of the previously mentioned Kampuram. I prefer Camphor because they have a stronger, fresher camphor scent.

In my opinion, camphor incense sticks are primarily a useful tool for clearing unpleasant odours from a room, purifying the atmosphere, or clearing the mind. Camphor is also popular as an insect repellant.

At least in enclosed spaces, I would be cautious about using camphor as incense (in any form) if pets, small children, or someone pregnant is present. Camphor directly affects the central nervous system, kidneys, and, in high doses, the respiratory system. It doesn’t need to be ingested, as it enters the body through inhalation or skin contact, and the smaller the body, the lower the potentially harmful dose. However, there’s no need to fear touching these sticks with bare hands. 😉