Satya White Sage: herbal sage incense from India
Satya still works with the masala method. Resin, wood powder and herbs are mixed into a dough, rolled around a thin bamboo stick by hand and then left to dry slowly. That paste never dries out completely, which is why masala sticks feel slightly soft. The scent therefore sits in the stick itself rather than in a coat of perfume applied afterwards. In this White Sage version the accent falls on sage: herbal and fresh up top, over the warm resinous base that runs through the Satya range.
One thing is worth knowing: this is Indian incense carrying a sage scent, not a dried bundle of Californian white sage. If burning the plant itself is what you are after, you want a smudge stick, and Avalon sells those separately. The box holds a net weight of 15 grams, which comes down to roughly 12 to 15 sticks. A single stick burns for some 30 to 40 minutes and the scent lingers for hours afterwards. Since every stick is rolled by hand, thickness varies a little from one to the next. That is simply part of the method.
How to burn an incense stick
Light the tip and let the flame catch for a few seconds, then blow it out so the stick glows and gives off a thin ribbon of smoke. Place it in an incense holder or a small pot of sand, on a surface that can take falling ash. Keep some ventilation going and never leave a burning stick unattended.
About Satya
Satya is the brand of Shrinivas Sugandhalaya, which became world famous with Nag Champa. These boxes come from the Bengaluru factory, marked BNG on the packaging, where every stick is still rolled by hand. At Avalon Magic Plants you will find other Satya scents alongside White Sage, among them Palo Santo, Sandalwood, Jasmine and Musk, plus the Nag Champa version with Californian white sage and loose white sage for smudging.
