Bali is often referred to as a spiritual hub and is the only Hindu-majority province in Indonesia.
Evidently, Balinese Hinduism deeply influences the daily lives of its locals, and visitors of all lengths are almost guaranteed to have come across canang sari at least once—small offerings placed throughout the island. A key element of these rituals is incense, an essential component during temple prayers and daily offerings. However, incense isn’t limited to spiritual use; it also serves other purposes.
Lately, in an effort to refresh the ambience of my home, I’ve dabbled in various perfumery options: reed diffusers, scented candles, automated sprays—you name it. While they work well depending on the brand or ingredients, a recent conversation with my sister made me consider exploring incense as a fragrance option. Known for their potent aroma, I’ve always loved how rich and distinct it is, though I’ll admit it’s not for everyone—it’s definitely a niche, maybe even an acquired taste.
Curious to explore further, my sister and I visited Gopala Incense & Religious Goods Store in Jimbaran. This charming little shop boasts an impressive array of incense options—some I never even knew existed! As we browsed, a small, bubbly woman approached us from the cashier’s desk. Ria, is a very humorous shopkeeper who was all smiles with a surprising balance of nonchalance.
I was genuinely impressed by Ria’s extensive knowledge of every product in the shop. It may seem like a given requirement for shopkeepers, but you’d be surprised how often they fall short of providing proper guidance in my experience. She could explain everything—from the variety of incense holders, different shapes, forms, and sizes of incense, to their burning durations, and even the array of scents. Some were intriguingly named after manifestation intentions like “for business and money” or “peace in meditation.” Can you believe that? Her expertise made me curious—did she use incense regularly herself? Was she Balinese? Or perhaps Hindu? Surprisingly, none of the above! Though she does enjoy using incense occasionally, it’s not a big habit or part of her daily practice.
Ria has been living in Bali and manning her station at Gopala for six years. Originally hailing from East Nusa Tenggara, she’s the eldest of three siblings; one sister and one brother. Though she hasn’t started her own family yet, she shared how much she loves her life in Bali, particularly in Jimbaran. My sister bonded with her over the shared struggles of being an eldest daughter. They laughed together as they reminisced about how they practically raised their younger siblings. As the youngest in my family, I couldn’t help but wonder if any of Ria’s siblings had ever been jealous or desired to follow in her footsteps, living on Paradise Island. “My younger sister actually does!” she said with a smile. “She often talks about how fun it would be for her to live in Bali, but she’s doing great on her own. She’s moved out too—she lives in Surabaya now.” It was fascinating to learn as she shared that her little brother, too, had moved to another province. So all of the children in her family had ventured out and started new lives away from home.
Since I’d never purchased incense before, I found myself both curious and a little overwhelmed. There were just too many options! Ria patiently and jokingly answered all my questions, making the process feel much less daunting. When I asked who her typical customers were, it was interesting to learn that it wasn’t just locals but plenty of foreigners as well. “Locals usually opt for plain incense with shorter burn times, as they mostly use it for prayer rituals or offerings,” she explained. “Foreigners, on the other hand, tend to prefer scented incense with stronger notes—probably for fragrance purposes.”
Ria was both witty and informative, even candidly advising me on which brands to avoid, as some falsely advertise longer burn times. For someone like me, just starting to explore the world of incense, having a knowledgeable guide made all the difference. If you ever find yourself in Jimbaran and looking to start your incense journey, Gopala is definitely worth a visit. Ria is the go-to expert—chat with her, ask about her life, share a laugh, and don’t hesitate to quiz her on her seemingly infinite incense knowledge. Trust me, you won’t regret it!