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. That is the case with their Rain Forest scent. I am not certain, but perhaps Hem has changed their formulation a bit. I do know that the inner packaging is not the familiar semi-opaque bag that I have known for some time. Instead is is clear and is sealed differently as well. Those things are clues to me that perhaps something has changed at Hem during the production of the newer scents.
In any case, the scent is floral but not overpoweringly so. It is slightly musky around the bottom notes and yet clear, sharp and a little spicy near the top. Although the scent is a bit too “bright” to smell exactly like a forest with fallen trees and wildflowers dripping with rain, that is exactly what the scent manages to evoke in me. If it had a bit of patchouli for a more earthy smell and to tone down the top notes just a but it would be a wonderfully sensual, warm, floral and yet clean scent with a touch of spice. Of course, that is my personal preference and penchant for earthy notes talking. Either way, this is a surprisingly good stick and one that I am certain will find its way into my rotation of incense scents in the near future.
On a more personal note, the memory that came to me in a flash when I lit this stick is one of being caught by an out of season thunderstorm while walking in Oak Mountain State Park. The air was cool and leaves were falling and the last of the summer flowers were just about gone. I huddled in the chilling rain underneath a granite outcropping and enjoyed an amazing barrage of scents released by the rain on the fallen leaves, the rocks and the few wildflowers hardy enough to have lasted this long. It is that combination of cool air, florals, spice and the tiniest bit of a musky scent that this stick does so well.
