Satya Musk: warm woody incense from India
Musk is the darker end of the Satya range. Where Jasmine and the other floral scents stay light and sweet, this one leans towards wood and resin: warm, slightly earthy, with the rounded musk note you would sooner expect in an old bookcase than in a flower garden. Manufacturer Shrinivas Sugandhalaya describes the fragrance as woody and reminiscent of open wilderness. In the tradition this incense comes from, musk is associated with calm and closeness, though you certainly do not need a ritual to enjoy it.
The sticks are rolled entirely by hand and made with natural herbs and flower extract. In that masala method a paste of resin, wood powder and herbs is wrapped around a bamboo stick and dried slowly, so the scent comes from the ingredients themselves rather than from a coat of perfume sprayed on afterwards. A box holds 15 grams, which comes to roughly 12 to 15 sticks. Each stick burns for about 30 to 45 minutes depending on the airflow in the room, and the scent lingers for hours after that. One stick is plenty for a living room; in a small space half a stick tends to be enough.
How to burn incense sticks
Light the tip, let the flame catch for a few seconds and blow it out. The stick keeps glowing and releases a thin ribbon of smoke. Set it at an angle in an incense holder or upright in a small pot of sand, on a surface that can take some ash. Keep the room lightly ventilated and never leave a burning stick unattended.
About Satya
Satya is the brand of Shrinivas Sugandhalaya from Bengaluru, world-famous for Nag Champa. Every stick is still rolled by hand, and the maker warns about counterfeits itself: check the hologram and the certification mark on the box. At Avalon Magic Plants you will find other scents from the same line alongside Musk, such as Jasmine, Palo Santo, Dragon's Blood and Californian White Sage.
