Vrandavan Bazaar – Saffron

These sticks come from my friend Silver.
Vrindavan Bazaar isn’t actually a brand, but an online shop in India that ships worldwide. As the manufacturers aren’t named, though, I list them under this name.

Steve (Incense in The Wind) has also ordered from there, here is the overview of his reviews.

I currently can’t find the variety Saffron in the shop. They’re 9″ (about 23cm) long sticks.

These Saffron are strongly indolic and musky, which always reminds me of toilet smell. They have the same vibe as Pakeezah sold by Stamford, but these seem softer, or creamier in direct comparison. On the other hand, Saffron come with this special, sharp spice typical for the genre, in combination with a certain freshness; both not apparent in Pakeezah.
What they do share are the indolic, funky character and a sweet-sour aspect.

The smell is impressively intense and quite obtrusive. I’ve placed the burning stick in the adjacent room and have a window open next to me, but the smell still feels oversaturating in no time.
When I go into the room with the burning stick, I see the smoke hanging despite having a window cracked there as well, and the smell is pungent and overpowering.
At this point, the smell has notes of petrol and car tyres or hot rubber for me.
In my eyes (well, in my nose) Saffron exhibit characteristics that I know from ‘Fluxo’ incense sticks, which is why I put them in this category as well as into ‘Masala’.

Saffron is only for enthusiasts of intense, Indian incense sticks.