| One of the advantages of selling incense is the free | | | | smelling the smoke were (strangely) Al Stewarts |
| samples from manufacturers and distributors that | | | | "Year of The Cat" and a music store I frequented in |
| arrive now and then in my mailbox. Friday I received | | | | the late 1970's that also happened to sell incense and |
| a sample of Gonesh Sandalwood from Genieco's | | | | accessories. Scent has a powerful effect on memory |
| "Extra Rich" collection. I love the scent of | | | | and although I can't for the life of my fully explain |
| Sandalwood but I had never tried the Gonesh version | | | | why those two things would be the first things I |
| so I thought it would be a good idea to record my | | | | thought of, it did nothing to detract from the |
| first impressions here. | | | | positively wonderful scent now filling my testing area. |
| I have to admit that the moment I opened the inner | | | | The scent is warm, sensual and with a slight spicy |
| package the first thought that came to mind was | | | | note right at the end that makes this the most |
| "delicious". It is unmistakably Sandalwood, and yet | | | | pleasant Sandalwood incense I have experienced so |
| somehow more sensual and a bit less spicy before | | | | far. It makes me think of warm places and soft |
| ignition than other offerings. I was annoyed just a bit | | | | blankets. Summer nights and (inexplicably) well |
| at the fact that the sticks come in two bundles of | | | | dressed society women. I can only speculate as to |
| ten secured by paper tape on the incense part of | | | | why it would bring to mind the last. I think I am |
| the stick as well as the stick itself. I realize of course | | | | stereotyping because more expensive perfumes (the |
| that it has nothing to do with the scent itself and | | | | kind you are likely to find worn by wealthy women) |
| there is probably a very good reason that Genieco | | | | have less alcohol and other "sharp" scents associated |
| chooses to package them this way, but I like to just | | | | with them just as this incense has virtually no "sharp" |
| be able to pull out a stick without having to worry | | | | scent associated with it. |
| with any sort of securing apparatus. | | | | I find the scent to be warm, comforting and easy to |
| When I review an incense stick I always burn them | | | | daydream with. I am not sure I would choose this |
| in a vertical position in a small bowl of sand rather | | | | incense to meditate with as it stirs my scent |
| than in a box type burner or a boat style. I feel that | | | | memory so much. Perhaps after I have experienced |
| it is the best representation of the scent, free from | | | | it more than the one time it would be easier to keep |
| oils left in the burner previously or burning hotter due | | | | those memories from distracting me while sitting |
| to the horizontal position. So with the stick safely in | | | | Zazen. |
| the upright position I proceeded to light it. Wondering | | | | For now I have four sticks of it sitting unlit and |
| of course if it would be much different from lighting a | | | | vertical in a bowl of sand on my desk. It makes an |
| punk or pulp based stick since I have had that | | | | absolutely wonderful potpourri and more creative |
| problem in the past with other charcoal based sticks. | | | | people than myself could easily insert into a flower |
| Fortunately ignition of the stick was no problem at all | | | | arrangement. Overall I it to be a wonderful incense |
| and in moments the warm fragrance of Sandalwood | | | | and whatever debate I have heard about charcoal |
| began to permeate the air. | | | | versus pulp sticks has been laid to rest. Try as I |
| If my first thought was "delicious" upon initially | | | | might, I could detect no unpleasant notes from the |
| opening the package then my first thoughts upon | | | | charcoal in this particular stick. |