Around the world, incense is burned to commemorate people and events, to give thanks, to worship, to celebrate joyous occasions, and to purify the air. Watching the glowing incense sticks and their gentle whorls of smoke, and inhaling the luscious aromas of the heated resins and fragrant oils evokes memory, far-away places and ancient rituals. The ‘art of incense’ combines the ceremonial with the sensual, contemplation with languor.
Terre D’Oc, based in Provence, produces incense sticks and cones in subtle floral, spice and wood aromas. They also manufacture room sprays, fragrant oils, and a wide variety of scented products: fans, vacuum “pearls”, and even pencils — may I suggest these as a means of indoctrinating a child into a life of scent addiction? Terre d’Oc’s incense sticks (20 sticks for approx. $10) burn for 40-50 minutes and are not too smoky or powerfully fragranced for even small rooms.
In Terre d’Oc’s Essence of Color Collection there are 24 scents to choose from. I can recommend Orange Blossom (true to the flower, heady, intense), Sun Rose (a “beachy” rose, with a slight whiff of sea and hot sand), Amber (a refined, clean-smelling amber, slightly dusty/powdery, not musky or too sweet) and Lavender (a refreshing blend of lavender’s herbal and floral qualities). Terre d’Oc’s incense leaves the air pleasantly scented, and you will not walk into the house after burning the incense and wonder: “Who’s been smoking cigarettes?”, as sometimes happens with rougher/cheaper blends of incense.
The Terre d’Oc line is sold in many home décor/gift shops, including Anthropologie, and is available online at bambuddhas, sarut and sensia.
9 Comments
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A, I thought they were cigars, looking at the photo! I love the smell of incense sticks, but I've developed an aversion to using them – my teenage daughter's long passion for them resulted in neat lines being burned in many wooden surfaces. Very important to makes sure the little stand thing is LONG ENOUGH to catch the ash as it falls. Sigh. Like the idea of those vacuum pearls, though.
The vacuum pearls DO work and are great if you have dogs in the house (the pearls “deodorize” all that fur you are vacuuming up). Kevin
Thank you for this review! I was just disappointed to learn that L'Occitane is no longer selling incense cones (although their sticks are lovely, I have a cone burner that I'd like to continue using), and these look like a perfect substitute.
Oh…I didn't know L'Occitane was not going to produce incense cones anymore! They still sell them at my local store and online…but in VERY few scents. (Their discontinued Cedar/Juniper incense was to die for). I think you will be pleased with Terre d'Oc's incense cones — their burn is identical to L'Occitane's…and in many more fragrances. Kevin
Terre d'Oc stuff is really nice. I've been trying to track down their sandalwood fan for the summer, but the main London store doesn't have it at the moment.
Bela: send me an email and I'll give you a good online source for scented-wood fans. Kevin
Sorry, Kevin…I misread you as Angela! Oooh this multiple poster thing is a challenge to the more sleepy among us!
Hello Kevin. I have also been trying to find this Perfume Fan – do you know where I can get it? Thanks Liz
I've never seen the fan for sale in the US (are we too “modern” for such an accessory?!) If you live in the UK, both London Terre d'Oc stores say they will carry the fans. You could order from London (their info is on the Terre d'Oc website)…or if a boutique in your city carries the incense, ask the buyer to get you a fan when they reorder. If there is a Chinatown in your city…you will definitely be able to find a sandalwood fan…they are ordered in bulk as party favors, wedding favors. Hope this helps…K