Vinasons: Kesar Hina, Kesar Chandan
I received these two sticks from Ashok Kapur, the owner of Padma Store.
Kesar Hina
A 20g packet of Kesar Hina costs €6.85; the 8″ (about 20.5cm) long sticks burn for approx. 45 minutes.
Kesar Hina are relatively sweet and have a pleasant balance of spice and softness.
The spicy aspect isn’t quite easy to describe. I find a subtle suggestion of iodine smell, which is typical for kesar (saffron), as well as its special heat. Added to this is a very subtle, slightly pungent tone, a kind of freshness.
The softness results partly from the creamy to balsamic sweetness, partly from a powdery-dry woodiness that forms the base of the composition for me.
The fragrance has something down-to-earth and simple; a straightforward, attractive fragrance.
Kesar Hina were also recently reviewed by Steve on Incense in the Wind.
Kesar Chandan
A 20g packet of Kesar Chandan costs €6.95; the 8″ (about 20.5cm) long sticks burn for approx. 60 minutes.
The fragrance combination ‘Kesar Chandan’ (saffron and sandalwood) is a classic that’s interpreted by many manufacturers. Vinasons’ variant is positioned on the milder, friendlier side of the spectrum.
I get relatively little from the saffron. Only a restrained spiciness, which, however, is familiar to me in its kind from fragrances of this genre.
The woodiness of these sticks has a distinct sandalwood character, with its slightly sweet, milky softness, and this aspect stands clearly in the foreground.
Kesar Chandan are very approachable, mild saffron-sandalwood incense sticks with a friendly, warm fragrance. For the curious who want to familiarise themselves with the fragrance genre, I consider them a good choice.