Jason Chaney
So, not only did these beads arrive about two weeks before their earliest estimated delivery date, which floored me, but they're better than I expected! They look cool, they smell AMAZING (my teenage sister can't stop smelling them when she sees them around my neck, which has become problematic), they have a great feel to them, and they make it easier to focus when meditating. Definitely satisfied with what I bought, and the low price doesn't hurt either. I'd recommend them to anyone in the market for some meditation beads, and if I ever need any more, I know where to buy them!EDIT: Upon further thought, I thought I might add that unlike other reviewers, it doesn't loop around my wrist four times for a perfect fit, but my wrists are on the small side, so if you have a small wrist (like if a 6-inch bracelet is still a bit loose on you like they are on mine) then you might want to just wear them around your neck.

Joseph Jackson
I have been under a lot of stress lately and have been seeking a number of ways to divert some of that negative energy that is driving bad health. I decided based on previous reviews to purchase the sandalwood meditation beads. Now I am not Buddhist, nor follow any of its tenets. However, much like a rosary for Catholics, or other beads, I just wanted something to use while I mediate on scripture and my own thoughts of calm and relaxation.It only took about 8 days to be delivered from Hong Kong, packaged in a small padded mailer. It is well constructed and smells wonderful! My only concern is the small greenish decoration.. It looks a bit like a swastika. (And I do understand the true origins).Overall I am quite pleased I am sure after a lot of use the elastic will break or loose its elasticity. I will just restring it.I could not find any real reason to give it less than 5 stars. The cost was minimal and the product was a very good value and quality.

Norma Foster
I love these beads. They're made of actual sandalwood (they smell!, a good smell), and there's a beautiful knot made of thread. A word of warning, though, there is a crystal swastika under the guru bead. It bothered me for a while, but I researched and found that in the East, a swastika doesn't mean what it does to people in the West. It continues to mean something good. I don't pay much attention anyway, I mostly use the beads to help me get through the day. I suffer from depression, so a simple positive mantra repeated over and over again helps quite a bit. They're of really good quality for the price and they come in a pretty little bag with moons and stars. (My mom loved the bag, I gave it to her.) I take them with me wherever I go.

John Williams
I am enjoying using this lightweight mala. The fragrance of the sandalwood gently scents the air around me during meditation. It is so light, it is not distracting. I've been using a natural stone mala for years and there are two reasons I like this one better: my thumb gets sore using the heavier natural stone; my thumb is comfortable going through these wood beads; and second, the 8 mm bead is more comfortable to work than the 6 mm of my stone mala.This is a very inexpensive mala, but I don't think that should be equated as 'cheap' or of less worth than others. It is strung on heavy, elasticized cord, suitable for winding around the wrist as many monks do while they are doing other things so that it is handy when they want to use it. The tassel is very pretty. I hope I can salvage it and rework it as part of the mala when this mala needs to be restrung.Where the ends of the cord were brought through several beads after the knot before being clipped, the cord end is visible/sticking out a bit from the bead where it ended. Someone experienced with beading knows that this doesn't affect the stability of the knot. If it poked out any more than it does, I'd simply cut a bit off the end, but I don't find it a problem in how the mala looks or its use.If you haven't had much experience with using a mala regularly, you should know that all malas, no matter how costly or inexpensive must be restrung from time to time because of the abrasive nature of using them. This cord is very sturdy, so I doubt I'll have to restring it for at least a couple of years (I use my mala 6-8 times a day).

Barry Martinez
I'm ecstatic about these beads in every way. They're much prettier than in the photo and the color is exactly what I wanted which was a little hard to tell in the photo. The medallion is a beautifully sewn piece, not just some hanging threads like some.The thread the beads are held together with is stretchy. The sandalwood smell is very, very slight which is good. The size and number of beads is perfect for counting mantras. It's actually make new favorite piece of jewelry as well. Inexpensive to boot.

Jessica Roth
I got them just today. I ordered two of them for both of my daughters. When I opened a package I like these beads sience very first minute that I decided to leave one for myself and I will go ahead and order one more for my daughter. They are so beautiful, and smell is amazing! The size of beads is just right for me-I can hide them easy under my uniform. I had such bad pain in my arms for last three days that I could not sleep at nights but I can tell you for sure- this mala works for me pretty good-I do not have pain anymore! And smell of them is very RELAXING!

Amanda Luna
I've recently learned that you're not "supposed to" purchase your own mala beads. Like tarot. This one smells wonderful but is too loose or too tight on my wrist depending on number of wraps, 4 or 5. I have a small wrist but not miniature.Update: I bought this 2 years ago and since then have bought many Malas. This is one of my favorites & I think I'll order it again. It has stretched out to be large enough to wrap 5 times although it's still slightly tight. It still smells amazing!Update - Still one of my favorites nearly 4 years later. It really does hold up & I'm finally looking at ordering another. I like it over stone because it’s softer & less cold.