Incense In The Wind

Radiating Incense In The Wind - a painting by Hai Linh Le

Tuesday 15 May 2018

Balaji Agarbatti Company






The Balaji Agarbatti Company  (BAC) was founded in Bangalore in 1957 by a Mr Gupta, who had previously been involved with the Sri Srinivasa Agarbathi Company in Chintamani near Bangalore which had been formed in the 1920s.  They sell a range of incense sticks and dhoops, a mix of natural/masala and perfumed charcoal, as well as soaps and perfumes.  

Website: BalajiIncense.com   FaceBook: Balajiincense  YouTube: Balaji Channel

Reviews

[* = review is over five years old so may not be reliable]


Balaji Prashanth Herbal Flexo Sticks (M)
Feb 2024 - Score: 47


Balaji Red Premium Flora Sticks (M)
Oct 2023 - Score: 46↑


Feb 2024 - Score: 44


Balaji Bakhoor Premium Incense Sticks (PM)
Oct 2023 - Score: 41

  
Balaji Essentials Cinnamon (M)
March 2024 - Score: 40 


Balaji Pure Sandal Premium Dhoop Sticks (D)
Sept 2023 - Score: 40


Balaji Om Shree Sai Natural / Premium Sticks (M)
 Mar 2024 - Score:
 34↓↑




Oct 2023 - Score: 29


Balaji Musk (P)
Oct 2023 - Score: 28




Balaji Gem Premium Fragrance Sticks
March 2022 - Score: 26


  
Balaji Bindu Premium Incense Sticks (P)
Oct 2023 - Score: 26


Balaji Bel Phool Premium Incense Sticks (P)
Feb 2024 - Score: 24 


Oct 2023 - Score: 24↓

  
Balaji Holiday Premium Incense Sticks (P)
Feb 2024 - Score: 24

  
Balaji Rose Incense Sticks (P)
Mar 2024 - Score: 24


Balaji Chandan Incense Sticks (P)
Oct 2023 - Score: 23



  
Balaji Heroes of India Patriot Edition (P)
Oct 2023 - Score: 21

 
Jan 2023 - Score: 20


Balaji Passon Natural Incense Sticks Rose
Oct 2021 - Score: 19


Balaji Focus Herbal Sticks
May 2018 - Score: 10*


Scents: 23
Highest score: 47
Lowest score: 10
Average: 28 
Top five: 37 
Overall: 33

[Reviews over five years old are not counted in average score]

Conclusion: A pretty decent producer who makes heady and colourful incense for the Indian market, some of which I find delightful, though are probably too rich for most folks in the Western market, so I'm possibly in a minority.  They are, though, wonderfully inconsistent, and can make some rather dry and mean budget stuff along with the expansive and passionate premium stuff.  

2 comments:

  1. Everybody seems to love Balaji Red and while I can see why, it simply does not appeal to me. While I don't outright hate it, I might have had a higher opinion if it hadn't been so strong and intense.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes. Tastes differ. There is not going to an incense that appeals to everyone. An incense that has a wide appeal tends to be bland rather than interesting. Same with most products. My grandmother had a wonderful expression about bland clothing: "There's nothing in that to offend anyone." She meant it in a nice way, of course, but for me it has become an expression that sort of sums up popular appeal.
      Meanwhile, most of us like what we like, and that may mean liking what others dislike, or disliking what others like.
      Some people like strong incense. Some prefer it mild.
      Some people like single accent incense. Some prefer complex.
      Some like rich. Others prefer pure.
      Some like dark. Others like joyful.
      And so on. Each to their own.

      What you like is what you like. There is no absolute when it comes to something as subjective and personal and emotional as the pleasure of a particular scent. And none of us should feel obliged to like what someone else likes. Blogs which say: "This is what I experienced, and this is what I liked or didn't like", work better for me than blogs which strut and preen and pretend to know stuff, and say: "This is good. I know it's good. Buy it. That is bad. I know its bad. Don't touch it", don't work for me.
      I like your blog because you are honest, and giving us your experience.

      Delete

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