Nag Champa is a fragrance from India. It has a high concentration of sandalwood. It is most frequently found in the form of incense sticks and cones, but soap, perfume oil, scented candles, and massage oil are also available.
Nag Champa belongs to the "Champa" class of Indian incense, originating from the Champa flower. Champa incenses contain a natural ingredient indigenous to India called "halmaddi", which is a semi-liquid resin taken from the Ailanthus Malabarica tree. It is what gives Nag Champa its characteristic grey color. Halmaddi is hygroscopic which means it absorbs moisture from the air. This can cause Nag Champa incenses to have a wet feeling to them.
Nag Champa-scented items are usually easy to find in shops selling Indian goods and many health food stores, as well as metaphysical and New Age book stores, liquor stores, gas stations, music stores, and head shops.
Bob Dylan burns Nag Champa at his concerts, and as such it is popular among Bob Dylan enthusiasts. The Grateful Dead and more recently The Black Crowes have also been found to burn Nag Champa at performances. Other musicians have cited their understanding of mood and spiritual alteration due to burning this incense that is also burned in Hindu temples and Ashrams.
