Earlier this week I met with a rep from one of my Japanese vendors. She specifically wanted to discuss why my customers like Japanese incense so much. This conversation coincided with a shop restock of Hibi Incense, one of my all time favorite incense to come out of Japan. Seemed like a good time to make a post to ponder this question: why do we all like Japanese incense so much?
The first thing that attracted me to the Japanese incense that I encountered was the packaging. They are usually packaged in boxes that have beautiful imagery. Sometimes the packages are plain but they still have pretty colors and a simple elegant design. There are even those that are packaged in little wooden boxes which means that you get to have a cute wooden box afterwards to do something fun with.
Whatever the packaging is it is made with intention. Take the Hibi matchstick incense for instance. They are packaged in a little matchbox with each incense stick resting in its own little spot. There is something maybe unexplainably satisfying about this idea that packaging can evoke joy.
The second thing I noticed about the Japanese incense that I continue to encounter is the scents. For one thing there are a lot of different scents. I think that most of us in this country grow up smelling Nag Champa. There is nothing wrong with it really. But if you desire a wider range of scents you might find yourself eventually drawn to the myriad of Japanese incense available on the market. The Japanese incense tend to lean in one of two directions: earthy or floral. But in either case they are complex and not overbearing.
The Japanese incense bear uncommon scents such as flowering olive (Osmanthus) and Ambergris. Many of the scents leaned towards the earthy musky side like the Japanese Cypress, Matsu Pine, and Oak Moss scents. There are fresh clean scents like Green Tea and Yuzu. And the flowery scents are often layered with more grounding scents like Sandalwood which makes them smell more complex than an overbearing flowery scent can sometimes be. One of the most popular scents in the shop is Mijikayo which translates into something like Short Night, or Summer Night.
As I was chatting with Noriko I pulled out some incense that we had at home. The package that I opened was from India and I have to say that I was instantly accosted by the smell. It was just soooooo strong. I didn't even have to light it to smell it. Does anyone out there remember going into record stores back in the day and seeing those incense displays with 50 or more different scents? They were so colorful and you could truly find any kind of smell you wanted from patchouli to strawberry. But they were all nausea inducing. I can honestly say I have never put a stick of Japanese incense to my nose and had an impulse to vomit.
The third element of Japanese incense that I find so lovely is the short burn time. A lot of them are made to a length that burns for 15-20 minutes. The Hibi matchsticks burn for 10 minutes. I am certain this is one thing that appeals to many of us because frankly, the long sticks of incense that are commonly made in the US and India burn for way too long in my opinion. By the time it goes out your house is so dang smoky. It's super obnoxious.
Before I continue I wanted to take a moment to admire this lovely little set of incense made by Kousaido. It is a travel kit. So you can take your incense on the go. It comes in a metal case with a little holder which you can set on the lid as you burn one of the delightfully smelling sticks.
The last quality that is maybe my favorite one to share with customers as it isn't so obvious is that Japanese incense are low smoke. Most of the incense we are used to in the US are incense that require a stick of bamboo or other wood as a holder for the scent matter. This adds an extra smoky quality to the incense. Japanese incense consist only of the aromatic woods, resins, and herbs as well as a natural ingredient binder. This means that you are only burning the scent which naturally reduces the amount of smoke.
Something fun about Japanese incense that I quite enjoy is the variety of holders that can be used. You can see here that we have used a product called Incense Burner Ash. This ash can be used in any small pot to hold incense upright while burning. Due to the airy ash the incense burns all of the way down as air circulates around the stick through the ash. The burner ash can be used until you decide you need to replace it with a fresh batch. You can even lay down a thin layer on a tray or small plate and lay the incense stick down on its side while burning. It's a great way to utilize different beautiful pieces of pottery.
As with most Japanese products there is a rich history of incense making in Japan that spans over 1,400 years. Early on it was used as a purification and meditation, often in the context of a spiritual practice such as Buddhism. According to the ever so helpful Wikipedia page on the history of incense of Japan:
Currently, 70% of all of Japan's incense is manufactured on a small island south of Osaka called Awaji Island. The history extends back to 1850 in Ei of the city of Awaji in 1850 when Senshuu Sakai manufacturing technology was introduced. At the time, Ei was a military run trade port for the Tokushima Clan, which opened the door to the import and sale of raw materials used in making incense. Over time, the incense made in Awaji Island became renowned throughout Japan. The main reason incense manufacturing took root in Awaji Island is because of its nishi-kaze (west wind). This strong seasonal wind hampers the fishing industry, giving rise to the necessity for cottage industries such as incense making. This wind is also great for drying incense.
Sometime soon I am going to introduce a new line of incense that is made in Awaji Island that I am really excited about. The team of incense makers consists of 11 men who each design a personal fragrance for each series released by the brand. A fun approach that no doubt results in a wide range of scents that we will get to experience.
In short, we love Japanese incense because of the scents, the low smoke, the packaging, and the short burn time. There is probably room in one's life for all kinds of incense but personally I am hooked on those coming out of Japan for now! Check out our collection of Japanese Incense here!