Regular readers will no doubt be aware that I am not the biggest fan of Hem incense. The fact that it is charcoal based and is (probably) dipped in fragrance oil rather than being made from finely ground ingredients gives it a characteristic odor that I find very distracting on occasion. Sometimes though, Hem creates something that defies my expectations and can truly be classed as something special.

One of the reasons that you burn incense is to relieve stress and take a short mental vacation from the world. So with a name like “Anti-Stress” Hem is aiming squarely at that target. I am happy to report they created a product that could live up to the name on the box. Now, incense won’t magically remove all of your stress and lower your blood pressure. You have to be an active participant and control your breathing and your muscles. Incense can help though and that is where this stick comes in.

So I was pleasantly surprised to find that the stick is quite good actually. Fresh from the box it is strongly scented of lavender. So strong in fact it would make a good addition to a lavender based potpourri. It isn’t perfect though because it has a perfume-y note that real lavender lacks. It isn’t unpleasant though and I think that maybe later I will put a couple of sticks beside the bed when I lie down to sleep.

The big Morning Star Incense Review Roundup is almost complete. I have but one scent left to review and there is a very good reason I saved it for last. I don’t like the smell of roses. I never have and unless a spontaneous genetic mutation causes them all to start smelling like sandalwood, I doubt I ever will.

Lavender is one of the few floral scents that I enjoy. I use it regularly to relax with, to settle down to get ready to go to sleep with and when meditating. I have tried virtually every lavender incense and fragrance under the sun so I feel pretty confident that I can recognize a good version when it comes across my desk.

The first impression I had when removing this stick from the package was “sweet”. Not “sweet” like in being presented with a Martin D-30 as a surprise gift, but “sweet” as in incredibly floral. Sometimes it drives me to distraction that you have to guess at the ingredients in Genieco’s Gonesh incense sticks.