Incense Poll Time: What do you like?

Posted by Winston Smith (A) on February 23, 2015 at 20:25:53

Many people absolutely despise incense. Others adore it. Most don't care that much, as long as it doesn't stink like really cheap perfume or smell like, well, sickeningly sweet olfactory-destroying crap (i.e., really, really cheap perfume.)

I want to hear from those who LOVE incense, not from those who despise it or don't care. This is a simple poll about what incenses you love/like and why you love/like them. I am interested because I will investigate what others regard highly from personal experience, and likely make some purchase decisions based thereon. Likewise, I hope what I say herein gives good guidance to anyone interested in incense.

I'll get the ball rolling with my faves and why.

Both of my current fave incenses are from Japan: Nippon-Kodo and Shoyeido. It seems those Japanese really know about subtleties and nuance and don't go for nostril obliteration and olfactory full-spectrum-dominance like so many of the wooden stick incenses I've tried.

N-K incense was founded in 1575 and Shoyeido in the 1700s as I recall, so no fly-by-night operations here! I suspect they know what they're doing by now.

With the Nippon-Kodo "Morning Star" line you have a wide variety of fragrances to choose from in their entry-level selections: eighteen very nice offerings, including Fig (yum!), Yuzu (sweet) and the ever-popular Sandalwood (a favorite). All the N-K fragrances go for adherence to the natural smell of their titular main ingredient, meaning they aren't special house 'blends' with funny titles that produce wild mixtures of smells rather than relatively pure scents of the named ingredient. Instead, the N-K incenses try to capture the smell of their name: "Rose", "Gardenia", "Cedarwood", etc. How well they capture those scents varies. With some, they really nail it. Like with "Fig", or better yet, "Mimosa". "Cedarwood" is spot on (if you like cedar), and "Patchouli" is, well, patchouli. But that "Mimosa" fragrance is really nice.

With "Mimosa", you really smell that mimosa scent that you get on hot summer days when the wind whips through a mimosa tree and sends those sweet smelling red blossoms floating their pollen all over you to enjoy. We have one nearby, it is now summer here in New Zealand, and I can say the folks at N-K really nailed it with their "Mimosa" incense. Delightful!

Every one of the 18 fragrances in the N-K line-up is nice, with no losers or 'stinkers'. But what I like most is that you can select the fragrance you like and you'll get an incense that is not too terribly off the mark. Not every one is a bull's eye, but I doubt you'll be disappointed with any. I certainly have not been. They've all been wonderful.

And best of all, Nippon-Kodo incense is relatively inexpensive on Amazon, with boxes of 200 sticks (with base) going for around $8-9 a box. These are stick incense with no wood, about 5" long, and burn about 20-25 minutes each. They do NOT leave a smell that lingers and lingers. One open window and the beauty slips away, for better or worse. But never any lingering long. It won't be there the next day (or week.) And to be honest, probably not more than an hour or two, even with a closed up house. But open a window and "SHOOM!", it's gone. Which is nice.

The other brand I really enjoy is Shoyeido. Again, this is a non-wooded 5" long thin stick incense (like the Nippon-Kodo) that also lasts about 20-25 minutes per stick. Shoyeido's introductory line of Joss-Sticks includes "Nokiba" (Moss Garden), "Ranka" (Orchid), "Kyo-nishiki" (Autumn Leaves); and "Baika-ju" (Plum Blossom). No bases are included.

These Shoyeido incenses are the exact opposite of the N-K line. The Shoyeido fragrances go for that mixture approach I discussed above, but they do it very well, indeed. These blends are deeply satisfying and more subtle than the N-K, as these scents literally unwind and disentangle and float separately on the air, so you catch the fine smell of sandalwood, or aloeswood, mixed with cinnamon and wee bit of this or that. Each constituent part both blends wonderfully with the other scents in the mix, as well as holding their own individually as they dissipate throughout your living space. Delicious!

The Shoyeido sticks are only a tiny bit pricier than the N-K, but nothing shocking. But they are both well worth the investments if you enjoy incense.

I will be shortly trying out the slightly more expensive lines at Nippon-Kodo, including some Ka-Fuh (Scents in the Wind) "White Plum" and "Cypress"/Hinoki and some stuff called Kayuragi with "Pomegranate" and "Wisteria" fragrances. I will also try their Mainichi-Koh Kyara Deluxe line, with "Aloeswood". Should be an olfactory orgy! (At least I hope so.)

I also ordered incense from another Japanese maker, Baiedo, from whom I have bought some incense called, "Kobunboku".

We'll see how these newest additions turn out. They should be here in about a few weeks. Looking forward to it. :-)

FYI- Some incenses are simply ridiculously expensive and seem to touch the high bar set by audio products in the "WTF?" category of expense/item. I've seen some stuff going for over $70, $80 and even $100 a box! Anybody rich/crazy enough to try these out? Please let us know how it went.

TIA for all who participate and share.

Smell well!

Cheers,

WS

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Topic - Incense Poll Time: What do you like? - Winston Smith 20:25:53 02/23/15 (30)

Pure Sandalwood resin incense... - Djhymn 19:59:07 02/25/15 (1)

Cool! I'll check into it and see what I can find. Sounds good. (Nt.) - Winston Smith 20:20:58 02/25/15 (0)

HEM of India, two scents - bullethead 15:14:07 02/25/15 (3)

Okay, bullethead, I ordered some HEM incense..... - Winston Smith 23:32:58 02/27/15 (1)

RE: Okay, bullethead, I ordered some HEM incense..... - bullethead 04:46:30 02/28/15 (0)

Good man, bullethead....... - Winston Smith 19:48:31 02/25/15 (0)

Conifer resins only. - J.R. 07:19:13 02/25/15 (3)

Sounds very cool, J.R...... - Winston Smith 19:50:40 02/25/15 (2)

It's called "copal." - J.R. 19:58:52 02/25/15 (1)

Thanks, J.R. Very cool. I'll check it out. (Nt.) - Winston Smith 20:22:06 02/25/15 (0)

Aromatherapy my dear chap …. - three_sox 18:08:45 02/24/15 (3)

Who said we don't practice EO-based aromatherapy as well? - Winston Smith 01:35:50 02/25/15 (2)

Is this a trick question? - three_sox 18:47:45 02/25/15 (1)

Not at all! I agree completely with you.... - Winston Smith 19:53:53 02/25/15 (0)

I actually prefer the smell of incense before it's burned - Green Lantern 15:21:30 02/24/15 (3)

These Japanese brands I have referred to..... - Winston Smith 20:19:16 02/25/15 (2)

not totally against it - Green Lantern 05:13:49 02/27/15 (1)

Go for it! I find it very relaxing and mood shifting. - Winston Smith 23:30:26 02/27/15 (0)

RE: Incense Poll Time: What do you like? - YRY 15:08:52 02/24/15 (1)

I agree with you on that..... - Winston Smith 20:00:53 02/25/15 (0)

This is very interesting. Thank you so much! - JoshT 14:17:59 02/24/15 (1)

You're very welcome, Josh. Hope it helped in some small way. (nt.) - Winston Smith 20:01:59 02/25/15 (0)

Thank you - Craiger56 20:42:11 02/23/15 (7)

You're welcome, and...... - Winston Smith 21:06:24 02/23/15 (6)

We smell the cheap stuff.... - LWR 04:14:55 02/24/15 (5)

What we want to know is....... - Winston Smith 11:00:11 02/24/15 (4)

Of all the senses we have - LWR 11:20:37 02/24/15 (3)

"Get out the Ozium!" Hah, what a memory... - Djhymn 20:06:16 02/25/15 (0)

I had to look that one up. Why "munchies"? Jusy being nosy here.)MT( - J. S. Bach 11:27:06 02/24/15 (1)

After we inhaled in a car - LWR 11:29:52 02/24/15 (0)

Incense Poll Time: What do you like?

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