Satya Chakra: caramel sweet incense over resinous honey
Chakra belongs to Satya's aromatherapy line, made by the house behind Nag Champa. The scent heads in a different direction from the better known floral Satyas: caramel sweet, with a resinous note underneath that reads as honey. It comes across warmer and a little heavier than something like Jasmine, without the sweetness turning cloying.
At 22 centimetres the sticks are on the long side, and the burn time shows it: count on 45 to 60 minutes each. One stick therefore covers a whole evening or a longer session instead of half an hour. A box weighs 15 grams and holds 15 sticks. Everything is rolled by hand using the masala method, where a paste of resins, herbs and powders is wound around a bamboo stick and left to dry slowly. The fragrance sits in the stick itself rather than in a coat of oil sprayed on afterwards.
Where the name comes from
In Indian tradition the chakras are the energy points along the spine, running from the base up to the crown. Satya uses the name for this scent because the line is meant for quiet moments: meditation, yoga, breathing exercises. That is tradition rather than a promise, so by all means light one simply because you like how it smells. The long burn time makes it practical if you want to sit through an hour without relighting halfway.
About Satya
Satya is the brand of Shrinivas Sugandhalaya, with an operation in Bangalore. The house became known worldwide for Nag Champa and still rolls its sticks by hand. Light the tip, blow the flame out after a couple of seconds and stand the stick in a holder or a small pot of sand, on a surface that can take falling ash. Never leave a burning stick unattended. Alongside Chakra, Avalon Magic Plants stocks Satya scents such as Aastha, Jasmine, Sandalwood, White Sage and Palo Santo, Nag Champa varieties including Nirvana and Seven Chacra, and holders to stand your sticks in.
