Submitting Samples for Review: Guidelines

Generally speaking, I’m happy to receive samples for review, especially from small and hobbyist incense makers. But before you reach out, please read through the information below to set expectations:

Incense Types #

I am not picky about incense types, but I mostly burn Japanese sticks. I don’t mind if incense is natural or synthetic, rolled onto a bamboo splint, braided into ropes, extruded, coiled, pressed, powdered, or kneaded into balls, Indian, German, Tibetan, Japanese, Chinese, et cetera. But if your incense is dipped and/or contains saltpeter I’m probably not going to like it very much. Feel free to send it anyway if you think you’ve produced a banger, but don’t get your hopes up for a favorable review.

Ingredient Restrictions #

Samples must be vegan, or free of any animal parts or secretions. This includes:

• animal musks
• onycha
• ghee
• honey
• cow dung

I do make a couple of exceptions for animal-based ingredients that are exclusively foraged for, with no harm done to an animal, which are not a byproduct of animal agriculture:

• hyraceum
• white or grey ambergris

Incense processed using animal ingredients, such as woods steamed in honey water, are also not vegan. I do not accept non-vegan incense even if it is wastage. I realize that sometimes it’s impossible to know what is in incense, so I don’t necessarily need to know all of the ingredients when friends are sending me samples from major houses, et cetera. But I do expect producers and resellers to know what’s in their stuff and I’m pretty strict about it.

Publication #

Sending a sample is not a guarantee that I will publish an article on it. Published reviews may be positive or negative depending on my impression. If you do not want an article to be published on a sample, just let me know prior to sending the incense and I’ll keep my feedback between us. My blog moves slowly, so it may take some time for an article to be published, if I choose to write one.

Feedback Scope #

I am generally pleased to provide email feedback to small and hobbyist incense makers, as well as talk shop on technical matters with them. If incense is your business, I would be delighted to relay my impressions of your work, but if you want specific technical production or formula related advice, that falls within the realm of consulting, which I can provide for a fee.

Quantity #

Sent at least three sticks of each variety, please. It’s often hard to get an impression from one, or even two sticks, especially if they have a bit of a learning curve. Plus, it stresses me out having to pay close attention to a single stick in order to provide feedback or write a review.