PremaNatrue
David Vandevoort from PremaNature first contacted me in September 2024, just before the end of my review season.
At the beginning of 2025 I then received some samples. These were two mini sticks per variety, about 10cm in length, much similar to those sold by Mother’s or Auroshikha.
They weren’t enough for proper reviews; moreover, some were badly labelled, which is why I received regular packets of the varieties somewhat later.
About the Company and the People Behind it
David is a trained pharmacist who comes from Belgium.
What was originally planned as a 1-year stay in India, during which he engaged in social projects, proved for David to be finding a second home; the Indian culture has deeply influenced him and made him stay.
A stroke of fate led to him beginning to concern himself with the production of incense sticks: During COVID times, a Nepalese friend asked him for help. She had begun making natural incense sticks at home, initially still with a traditional base of cow dung.
David threw himself into the project with her, whereupon months of laborious research work and learning by doing followed, since the industry in India is very secretive and there are no courses or similar.
This finally led to the founding of PremaNature, after the friend and initiator of the project had to withdraw for personal reasons.
Currently, David employs about 25 people, predominantly women, who roll or pack the incense sticks by hand.
He puts great value on good working conditions; alongside fair wages and free lunch as well as tea breaks, there are weekly yoga sessions and further benefits. A worker’s day begins between 8:30 and 9:00 and ends between 16:30 and 17:00 with a 45-minute lunch break.
Since PremaNature doesn’t only produce incense sticks and demand fluctuates, employees are flexibly called in.
Whilst I’m writing this article, PremaNature are in the process of completing WFTO fair trade certification.
I’ve taken a large part of this information from the OM Incense Show interview with David on YouTube. Dolly and David had to deal with considerable time delays, which unfortunately makes it a little exhausting to watch, but for everyone interested in PremaNature, I still consider it worth checking out.
David shows himself to be a likeable person who is genuinely socially engaged.
Here’s a quote that has particularly stuck in my head:
“I don’t want my products to be only available for export. Many good, natural incense products are almost exclusively sent abroad, and people here in India never see them or can’t afford them. It’s important to me that Indians also have access to high-quality, natural products — at prices that are fair and affordable.”
David Vandevoort during the Interview with Dolly Jha
About the Product
David sees his incense not just as a means to spread good fragrance; they also have an integral spiritual value for him.
The incense sticks are made with ‘Theertham’, which according to my understanding is basically Indian holy water. The marketing addresses primarily people who want to use incense sticks for rituals, meditation or yoga.
Each pack includes a ‘Wish Paper‘: a small, rectangular leathery paper with a distinctive, triangular cut-out in the centre of the upper edge. It’s part of a manifestation ritual that’s described in more detail on another slip of paper. This also carries a QR code, that promises a video tutorial in various languages; however, the link doesn’t work (yet).
Another small gimmick is a sticker with a wise saying or an affirmation.
The ‘Wish Paper‘.
It’s meant to write a wish on and light the paper at the notch when the wish has been fulfilled.
Not only for metaphysical reasons does David place importance on his incense sticks being made exclusively with natural ingredients.
Taking economic aspects into consideration, David ensures the quality of ingredients through regular checks of raw materials.
Essential oils are imported from Europe to be able to guarantee controlled quality.
Alongside the WFTO certificate, PremaNature are currently completing EcoCert certification as well.
A unique feature that I’ve noticed about the PremaNature incense sticks is the ingredient Tectona grandis, which appears in the ingredients list of all varieties, so it’s part of the base.
This is teak wood, or rather the bark of the teak tree, as David has revealed to me. He’s explained that it functions partly as an additional binder (alongside Litsea glutinosa), but is also used because of its ‘earthy balance’. “It’s a nod to traditional South Indian incense formulas” he said.
It’s worth mentioning that all current varieties except Floral Breeze (which contains honey) are vegan.
Each box has 12 approximately 8″ long, hand-rolled incense sticks that are packed in paper pouches. The essential oils are incorporated into the dough; the sticks are therefore not dipped and don’t contain any thinners.
The incense stick boxes are provided with batch numbers and both packing and expiry dates. (With older packets, however, this is sometimes not yet the case.)
Moreover, relatively detailed ingredients lists can be found on each.
A paper sticker about 7x5cm in size, with a wise saying, as included with every packet.
This says: “Anything that makes you weak, reject it as poison.”
To fit into the box, it’s folded in the middle.
Alongside the common Masala Agarbathi with bamboo core, PremaNature also sell dhoops.
Of these approximately 3.5cm long and 1.5cm thick cylinders, which are basically used like cones, I’ve received one per variety; some were broken.
I’m yet not sure whether I’ll review these.
There’s both an Indian webshop and a shop for the EU market. Currently, the EU site only says that they work together with a series of courier partners and shipping is free from €60 order value.
From David, I learned that there’s a distribution partner in Belgium for the EU; therefore, shipping for the international market doesn’t seem to happen directly from India.
Currently, much is still under development. David has assured me that there’ll soon be more detailed information about international distribution on the website.
Reviews
Here you’ll find the reviews linked after publication.
Amber Deluxe
Basil Bliss
Citrus Love
Floral Breeze
Forest Dew
Sweet Mother
Only tried their Amber deluxe and it’s lovely. It really makes my to try all of their ranges, and please do review the dhoops from Prema Nature.
There is one interesting product from them called Fragrance of the Cross- https://in.premanature.com/products/fragrance-of-the-cross
The incense is shaped in a christian cross which I think is very cool. Would love to try it.
I saw you recommending it on Reddit and there’s a link to your recent haul in my review, as I saw you haven’t reviewed it on your blog yet.
Regarding the dhoops, I made up my mind to at least do a brief review of them all together, as I tried some of them recently and found them worth mentioning (Especially the Classic Pooja is quite nice) but one single dhoop per scent is really not enough to base a proper review on, IMHO.
David told me about the Cross incense. I find it a bit gimmicky; but sure, it’s fun and something no one else has done before.
Yea, I’m about to review this incense. I’m just completing my review for Tulasi Navrathri Gift Pack.
Ah, then I’ll link to your review instead if you publish it before mine.
It’s planned for next week.
Wow. Finally a brand that respects and values Indian users as much as they do western users.
Would definitely love to try their products.
I am very fond of ylang ylang so equally disappointed that its the only one thats not vegan 🙁
Wait, their ylang ylang is not vegan? I’m just curious about how it is not vegan?
I have loved their Amber Deluxe. For me the fragrance is kind of reminiscent of wet kumkum and chandan tika, with nutmeg, sweet and earthy scent. It’s the only one I’ve tried and would love to try their citrus one
It’s the only one containing honey.
Ahh, thanks.
YES.
I don’t want to spoil too much, but to ease your disappointment: Floral Breeze is by far not my favourite from that line.