• A lit candle in a black glass holder with a metallic gold label. The label features three wavy lines above the text "BEFORE COMMON ENCENS D.S. & DURGA." The background is a soft gradient from cream to light beige.
  • A black packaging with elegant gold lines and text. It reads "Before Common Encens" by D.S. & Durga. The bottom half shows upside-down gold text, reflecting the upper portion. The background is a subtle gradient from light beige to white.

Before Common Encens

7 oz Candle

Afterpay Available

Old world gum resins rise releasing spiced smoke of myrrh, balsams, saffron, and other aromatics for a fragrant festive flame.

Top Notes

  • myrrh
  • galbanum

Heart Notes

  • cassia
  • costus root

Base Notes

  • balsams
  • spikenard

Afterpay available on U.S. orders $50+

A lit black candle labeled "Before Common Encens" by D.S. & Durga, placed on a gleaming golden surface, with a blurred red and black background.

Burning incense is a holy practice all over the world. The variance in materials of a certain preparation is one of the most interesting studies for the aromatically inclined.

Recipes from scripture using plant, mineral, and animal sources reflect local ingredients as well as the those from distant cultures. It shows us a dynamic old world where goods passing along ancient routes played a vital role in OPR (other people’s rituals!). Many materials are lost to antiquity with disputing ideas of what a cool sounding ingredient like “Onycha” actually was.


This candle uses aromatics that have been used since before The Bible, for an exciting throw of sacred levant resins, and rare materials that came from India and Africa.-D.S.

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