Spikenard?

Nathan

Has anyone here used spikenard (the actual root) in combustible incense? I got some from scents of earth, and I found that there wasn't much fragrance in the ground root, and it didn't do anything but muddy up my sandalwood in the burn tests I executed. I'm wondering whether I just got a bad batch, or if it's just not great in combustible incense.

EspritDeLaNature

Nathan I buy mine from the online tcm shop, the Health Wisdom Shop. They are VERY pungent. Although some batches you have to clean the soil from them. https://healthwisdom.shop/products/gan-song-gen-nardostachys-jatamansi-roots-radix-nardostachyos-stems-xiang-song

SamsaSpoon

Looks like scents of earth is really quite a mixed bag, huh? :/

I got a tiny sample from someone I exchanged incense with. Just like 3 roots or so. They smell distinctly, even unground.

Nathan

SamsaSpoon Looks like scents of earth is really quite a mixed bag, huh? :/

Yea, it really does seem to be.

Nathan

EspritDeLaNature Thanks! It's so hard to know which suppliers can be trusted in the herb space!

Nathan

EspritDeLaNature ~~I just got a batch in: how do you recommend cleaning the soil from them? Do you wash them with water, or just brush them off?~~ Actually, I decided that brushing wasn't going to work as it was going to be too fiddly, so I did wash them off in water. I have just lain them out to dry:
They were super pungent, so hopefully they remain that way after they dry.

IncenseApprentice

Nathan I too have some stale spikenard from Scents of Earth. I haven't played with it much due to that. I've had ok luck with Mountain Rose Herbs for some things, but then again, the goldenseal and garden sage I bought from them molded very quickly when I made them into incense. It's enough for me to forgo buying herbs elsewhere and just focus on resins and woods.

EspritDeLaNature

Nathan I've order spikenard from them four times and always been happy. If there is any problems sending to the USA, let me know, you can send it to me, and I will forward the package to you. They have some other very interesting aromatics. Search using the term "Xiang". I also really like their Thuja suchunensis wood powder and the Lysimachia foenumgraecum, which is a classic in Asian incense sticks, that you might have smelled many times without knowing what it was...think curry...

Nathan

EspritDeLaNature Lysimachia foenumgraecum

Is that golden coin grass / reiryo-koh? If so, I've been keen to try it also haha

Nathan

EspritDeLaNature If there is any problems sending to the USA, let me know, you can send it to me, and I will forward the package to you

Thanks for the offer; I may need to take you up on that depending on the state of this insane tariff situation.

EspritDeLaNature

Nathan Yes indeed, there are a few candidates for that common name but I believe this is the one, as the others are not noted for their fragrance.

Nathan

IncenseApprentice Yea, it's tricky when herb quality varies so much.

EspritDeLaNature

IncenseApprentice Have you ever heated or burned kava root?

IncenseApprentice

EspritDeLaNature I've drunk plenty of it! But no, I've never tried heating it. I can imagine it's very earthy! What's your take?

EspritDeLaNature

Nathan If you washed them with cool water, I am sure they will be fine. Even with water that is warm is good, You just don't want to leave them in a long time and make a "Tea". Yeah, they are POWERFUL!

Nathan

EspritDeLaNature I have had them grinding little by little all day: the powder almost smells like fruit candy now. It's insane! Definitely a lot better than that peely-wally stuff from Scents of Earth.

EspritDeLaNature

Nathan Its so good in blends. You will love it burning, I am sure!

Nathan

EspritDeLaNature I have just discovered that N. jatamansi is critically endangered and requires a permit to import and export (assuming that your country is a CITES signatory). Apparently, the plant is hard to cultivate, and most of it is still wild harvested.

Naturally, I'm not delighted to discover this. Really going to have to investigate what I'm buying before pressing the button on any plants from abroad again. Going to feel pretty guilty using the stuff now, but I suppose that's better than letting it go to waste.

EspritDeLaNature

Yeah, its sometimes difficult to decide which hills you are going to stand on. Most of the over harvesting around the world has to do with the rise in popularity of essential oils over the last decade. Did you buy from the Health Wisdom shop? I saw they get their roots from in country, Yunnan province.
I always read that spikenard is hard to grow. I grow it and do not find it that persnickity, considering my conditions. I would think that in the Northern Appalachia mountains or Rockies in the USA you could make a go of it.

Nathan

EspritDeLaNature

Most of the over harvesting around the world has to do with the rise in popularity of essential oils over the last decade.

I've heard this. Still, I'm not keep to be a part of the problem, you know?

Did you buy from the Health Wisdom shop? I saw they get their roots from in country, Yunnan province.

I did. Do you think they are cultivated in that case?

EspritDeLaNature

Nathan Yeah, I understand and agree about not being part of the problem. It has become a difficult call for many of the botanicals that we use in incense. I really do not know regarding their cultivation. My experience just caused me to reflect on this point because of how often I have read that they are difficult to cultivate. Sometimes, used in conjunction with the justifying for a high price. The plants naturally grow very remotely, so cultivation could occur, and the harvesters just don't want to reveal it. Once you formulate with your roots, you will see why it is so prized for incense.