While they do not take the main stage in Japanese incense, aromatic plant materials are incorporated in incense for their fragrance and positive effects.

Kakkoh - Patchouli

Patchouli is one of the most well known fragrant plant materials in the fragrance world, from popular western perfumery to ancient recipes. Its history is rich and spread all over the world in places like China, ancient Egypt and ancient Rome where it was used both as a medicinal and fragrant plant. At one time, it is believed to have been considered as a commodity akin to gold.

The aromatic material is harvested from the dried leaves of Pogostemon cablin plant, native to tropical Southeast Asia. With its growth in popularity, this bushy evergreen perennial is now cultivated in South America, Indonesia, India and China. It is harvested by hand and left to dry in stacked bundles.

Its fragrance is known to be earthy, deep with slightly musky undertones; with a woody fragrance that is often described as damp. When used in incense, it is used for both its scent and its fixative properties. It serves as a solid base note to build balancing, grounding and relaxing accords.

Reiryokoh - Gold Coin Grass

Known as Gold Coin Grass, the minty herb Reiryokoh comes from the Lysimachia genus of the Primulaceae family (of which there are close to 200 varieties). This perennial plant is cultivated in Southern China, with coin-shaped leaves that are harvested from May to July. The leaves are harvested and dried to produce the fragrant material.

Its fragrance is both sweet and cool with slight bitter tones. The fragrance of Reiryokoh varies greatly depending on the variety of the plant, varying between sweet, spicy, cool and minty. In incense, it’s used to add herbal tones to the scent; resulting in a grounding and relaxing experience.

Benibana - Safflower

Safflower is a relative of the bright Sunflower and has been historically cultivated as a dye producing plant. The plant’s botanical name is Carthamus tinctorius and it thrives in arid climates. It grows in Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East.

Its dye has been used through Europe, Egypt, India and Japan. Nowadays, it’s used as a food coloring known as Natural Red 26.
Safflower is not very aromatic as a compound, however it’s oil is used as a fragrance carrier due to its ability to diffuse fragrant ingredients. This property helps fragrant materials shine brighter and wider; which is why it you’ll find it used in Japanese incense.