Shroff – Nag Champa

I got this stick from Ashok Kapur, owner of Padma Store.

At Padma Store, a pack with 50g of the sticks costs €10.95. The burning time is given as 90 minutes.
In Europe, they’re also sold by the Czech shop Rymer (25g/€5.38) and in England by LotusIncenseZen (50g/€11.67).

In his product description, Ashok reports that some of his customers are ‘true connoisseurs of Indian fragrances’ and highly value this Nag Champa due to its original fragrance.

What quickly strikes me after lighting the stick is that the fragrance reminds me of the general character of Shanthimalai – Nag Champa, which are considered an ‘insider tip’. Some incense enthusiasts who are old enough to remember the fragrance of the original Nag Champa say, that Shanthimalai have a very original smell.
I am too young to know the Satya – Nag Champa with the recipe from the ’70s to the end of the ’90s.

Shroff‘s Nag Champa is a good bit less sweet than many other Nag Champa. I smell a certain spiciness and, primarily, a strongly pronounced, waxy-soft note that I came to find quite classic for Nag Champa incenses by now.
Furthermore, I sense a rather tart fruitiness, perhaps a bit like in Guava, just without their acidity.

The typical florality is there, but not as ‘loud’ as is the case with heavily perfumed Nag Champa varieties. I perceive the character of this fragrance as calm and relaxing, whereas other Nag Champa fragrances often feel very lively to me. It’s a pleasant change.

Although the waxiness is strongly pronounced in this Nag Champa, I seem to get along with it better than in Nag Champa Gold, for example. I’m thinking it could be because Nag Champa by Shroff has a slightly deeper, more tart tone.

The after-smell I find floral, gentle and friendly.

The direct comparison with Shanthimalai – Nag Champa has been extremely interesting. I set up one of these in the hallway whilst I had Shroff – Nag Champa burning in the living room.
Although I generally find Shanthimalai sweeter than Shroff, the contrast did intensify my perception of the sweetness in Shroff – Nag Champa. The wax note in the Shroff stick felt warmer than taken by itself, while the tart aspect was almost cancelled out and instead a tangy fruitiness emerged.
Shanthimalai, in return, smelled a bit like shoe polish in comparison, similar to the note in Meena Supreme.

Shroff – Nag Champa don’t count to my personal top favourites, but are nevertheless an appealing and very classic Nag Champa that should be particularly interesting for people looking for the Nag Champa fragrance from the past.