Let me start by saying that I love the smell of patchouli.  A good patchouli is warm, earthy, slightly musky and rich.  A bad patchouli has sharp notes, is overly perfume-like or on occasion, bitter.  Genieco has knocked my socks off in the past with their Extra Rich Sandalwood.  It is an amazing version of that venerable scent that I would recommend to anyone.  It is also another of my favorite classic incense fragrances.  So I was excited to review their patchouli from the same extra rich line.

Fresh from the pack it smells enough like patchouli but it has that annoying sharp note that I suspect strongly is the charcoal and oils the stick is made from.  Not terribly unpleasant but the more I review Gonesh incense the more I am starting to realize it is a signature note among all of their products.  I am also starting to realize that the best way to enjoy most of their incense is from a distance.  Which is to say that none of them with the exception of the sandalwood I mentioned above should be too close to you when burning.  Distance mutes the sharp, unpleasant scent that seems to be a characteristic of their offerings.

Other than the sharp note I mentioned above this could best be described as a workman-like patchouli.  It gets the job of smelling like patchouli done, but it doesn’t expend any more effort than it has to in doing so.  It has a bit of a woody scent and is not warm and earthy enough for my tastes. I am sure that some people will love the take on patchouli that this stick provides.  I just prefer mine richer.

To its credit though it isn’t as thick as some patchouli sticks and not as warm or rich.  That could be a very good thing for people who enjoy the scent of patchouli but don’t like to feel they are being assaulted by it.

Click here to purchase Gonesh Patchouli Extra Rich Incense Sticks.