HomeA journey to the source of happiness
It has been a long-established tradition for us to visit India every December-January, and this time we returned to meet both our old and new suppliers. The trip was both fun and a dive into history. We uncovered many previously unknown details about the old, happy times—long lunches and dinners with our esteemed suppliers were not only enjoyable but also informative and educational. Below, we’re excited to share our findings.
But first, I’d like to express my gratitude for the many spiritual gifts we received this time during our meditation at Sri Ramana Ashram in Tiruvannamalai, at the foot of the holy Arunachala Hill.
Many of you have seen our video from Meena Perfumery in Bangalore. If you haven’t watched it yet, please take a look here.
Padam Ji, the owner of Meena, shared a couple of amusing stories about their interactions with Paul Eagle of Happy Hari. Initially, Paul did not have direct contact with Meena Perfumery and was purchasing Meena Supreme from a reseller, who marked up the price by 20%. Paul, ever persistent in seeking direct contacts with manufacturers, one day showed up at the factory in Bangalore. He requested that Meena does not disclose his direct discovery to the reseller, thus beginning to buy the incense directly from the factory at a better price. Once, he ordered a large batch of Meena Supreme for the UK. Notably, the incense sticks’ tips are green, a feature not for aesthetics but to indicate the morning shift’s production; the afternoon shift’s sticks had no colour. A batch made by the afternoon shift was mistakenly sent to Paul, arriving with plain tips. Paul, upset, called Meena Perfumery, fearing customers would reject the incense without the green-tipped “trademark.” Eventually, both parties laughed over the misunderstanding. Paul’s attention to detail and customer perspective were indeed remarkable.
Another supplier, the maker of second generations of Nag Champa Gold and Oudh Masala, recounted how Nag Champa Gold was initially hand-made. As demand exceeded supply, they purchased 50 incense-making machines to meet the needs adequately. Paul was known for his generosity and timely payments, often sending money upfront, highlighting his trust in his suppliers. In those days, agreements between incense importers and suppliers were built on trust, without formal contracts.
Did you know the most recent version of Happy Hari Oudh Masala differed from the original? As noted by a customer from the Netherlands, who collaborated with Paul Eagle for local distribution:
“The same applies to Oudh Masala: the one we received from you in September had a dominant mint note and is truly as described on your website—although a bit too minty for our taste. However, we reordered because it reminded us of the original Oudh Masala from Paul Eagle from 10 years ago, which had more barnyard and ambergris notes; we only have a few sticks of that left.”
The good news is that we have managed to find that original Oudh Masala incense, which Happy Hari ceased selling due to the rising cost of materials. We are thrilled to announce that we will start selling this old legacy Oudh Masala in May. It closely resembles the current variant on our website but with less pine and mint notes and more pronounced agarwood notes. We invite everyone who has purchased Happy Hari’s old Oudh Masala to get in touch and confirm if it matches their memory. We will publish your review on our site. This will be fun! If you remember the old Oudh Masala’s scent, please email us, and we will send you a sample for free!
