Mostly just smokey with very little star anise notes at all. I tried burning it two different times to give it a fair chance. The star anise scent is there in the packet, but very little of that comes through when the stick is burning.
I will be trying this one outdoors to see if there is a diffrence. If so, I will update my review.

This one lingers,, but in a welcome way

I love anise and all it's decisive forms, this doesn't have an overpowering licorice candy smell, and misses the sometimes medicinal notes, what you are left with here is a robust and spice sweet smell that is inviting and cozy...like toasting spices or a baked good, not saccharine or fake, very natural and nuanced

The first stick I burned lingered and took about a day to fade, I enjoyed coming home to the faint warm sweet smell in my apartment.