Shroff – Saffron

This is one of the sample sticks I received from Ashok Kapur, the owner of Padma Store.

Unfortunately, Ashok no longer offers sampler sets for Shroff incense sticks.
Saffron is only available in 50g packs. These cost €12.45. The burning time is listed as 70 minutes. They are very long-lasting sticks.

It’s interesting to try the saffron incense sticks by Shroff, after having so often found scent notes in the sticks of the Dry Masala Sampler that reminded me of the somewhat trickier aspects of saffron. Especially since Saffron smell actually comparatively mild.

I don’t detect any iodine notes, but at least the first time (I split the stick into three sessions), I did pick up that distinct spice that reminds me of gunpowder.
The initial scent right after lighting carries something like an appealing sweaty odour and soon blends with a subtly resinous and slightly sour note, which I associate with resins like sal or damar batu.
Shortly after that, a sweetness sets in, which after a few minutes is caught up by the hot but subtle sharpness of saffron. As the scent progresses, the sweetness eventually tapers off again.
The smell indeed has (as mentioned in Ashok’s description) a pronounced softness that forms an interesting duality with the sharpness of the saffron.

Shroff – Saffron appears like a very approachable saffron incense to me. That makes it interesting for people who want to try saffron incense sticks, though the high price of the 50g pack may be less encouraging.