What makes us different?

What’s the difference between an incense trader and a collector, a merchant and a purveyor, or even a curator of incense? A trader is someone who buys and sells incense for profit. A purveyor, on the other hand, is driven by a passion to find that perfect piece of incense — something that will inspire the world and bring joy to their customers. A trader is like a greedy beast, motivated by exploiting customer needs for profit. In contrast, a purveyor is driven by a pure desire for perfection itself. It’s the same difference between a trader and an investor: the trader seeks immediate gains, often ignoring the item’s true value, while the investor acquires assets for long-term appreciation.

Imagine an ancient scene where a king, seated on his throne, is presented with rare and exotic fragrances by his Royal Curator, freshly returned from a long journey. The king is awestruck, thrilled to discover such wonders exist in distant lands, and deeply appreciates the curator’s efforts in procuring them.

Now fast forward to the modern era, where wealthy individuals hire a skilled “nose” to embark on the difficult quest of finding rare agarwood pieces worth millions of dollars. These stories mirror our experiences today.

We are the curators and purveyors of our time, dedicated to seeking out rare and unique incenses for our customers. Unlike traders, who chase quick profits, we are collectors and connoisseurs, passionate about sharing only the finest incense. We offer only what we ourselves enjoy. If we wouldn’t burn it, it won’t be part of our collection.

He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.

Lao Tzu

A lot has been said about the different qualities of incense. Some brands claim their sticks are luxurious or for connoisseurs, but we proudly call ours Supreme. Why? Because we have complete confidence in our production process and know that our incense is crafted to the highest ecological, ethical, and production standards using the finest ingredients available.

Our production heavily relies on raw halmaddi, an exceptionally rare and expensive ingredient sourced directly from the forests of Puttur region in Karnataka. We source the best halmaddi from independent and licensed producers, who adhere to strict regulations set by the Indian Government.

Instead of using cheaper “agarbatti powder” from Vietnam, which is commonly used in commercial incense production, we utilize real sandalwood powder and genuine sandalwood oil. Both of these ingredients are precious and costly.

For our base material, we often incorporate coconut shell powder, which imparts a soft and creamy fragrance to our incense. Additionally, the coconut base emits minimal smoke, allowing the oils to fully manifest themselves.

To preserve the long-lasting aroma of our sticks, we exclusively use real essential oils (attars) obtained through distillation. We avoid synthetic or decomposed oils, as they do not meet our high standards. Although real essential oils are expensive, they ensure the fragrance of our incense endures for years to come.

You may have heard of the renowned Happy Hari brand and the legendary Paul Eagle, who extensively explored India in search of the highest quality incense. Like them, we have followed their path and established relationships with the same esteemed suppliers. We take pride in upholding their legacy by delivering the same exceptional quality.

And, finally, the price. We are trying our best to be as lean as possible, so we can pass on our savings to our customers.

We have managed to build a bulk of our wealth in other sectors of the economy, so there is no pressure for us to deliver. We are enjoying ourselves talking to our customers and discovering new fragrances on the way. We are enjoying being part of the TAO, this process of Life, Creation and Relaxation. Thank you for being a part of it with us.