Aromatic resins are some of the oldest known fragrant materials to man, some of them dating back to the oldest spiritual texts. Japanese incense uses many of them for different reasons which we will explore below.

Nyu-koh - Frankincense

Known as luban in Arabic or olibanum, frankincense is one of the oldest fragrant materials; recorded to have been used for well over 5000 years.

This aromatic resin is gathered from different species of the Boswellia tree which thrives in arid climates in the Arabian Peninsula, Somalia and Northern Africa. The most used tree for the resin is the Boswellia sacra, also known as the Olibanum tree; known for its intense, fragrant resin. These trees can grow in the harshest of conditions, sometimes even growing off rocky soil.

To harvest the resin, the bark of the trees is stripped off with a sharp knife. The tree will then start its process of gummosis, a natural defense mechanism that produces a while milky sap to patch up the injury. This is a delicate process that has the potential to permanently harm the tree. Its sap is then collected over several weeks, during which it hardens and forms droplets of resinous residue to be harvested.

Frankincense can vary greatly depending on its region and season of harvest, which leads to great complexity in its scent. It’s known to have a rich scent with sweet, woody and fresh notes and sometimes even bright balsamic green notes and sparkly citrus. The scent promotes feeling of relaxation, reduced anxiety and acts as a mild sedative; making it perfect for profound meditation.

In Japanese incense, it is used not only for its scent but also for its fixative properties which helps preserve other aromatic ingredients.

Myrrh

Originating from the Arabic word “bitter” (murr), myrrh has been a priced material throughout history. Widely used for its antiseptic, anti-fungal and its rich fragrance; it has been documented to be used by humans for millennia in ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and even the far East.

Myrrh is produced by several species of the Commiphora genus of the Burseracaea family, native to the coast of the Arabian Peninsula and Northern Africa. Commiphora myrrha is the most common tree used for harvesting; a small deciduous tree with few leaves and thorny, short branches. Similarly to frankincense, myrrh is harvested by stripping the bark off the tree with a sharp knife. The defensive sap that is produced is then left to dry into droplets and harvested by hand. Myrrh resin that is slightly sticky when broken apart is a mark of quality since it contains high levels of essential oil.

Much like frankincense, myrrh’s fragrance can vary greatly on the species and the region. However, the scent is generally spicy, bitter, semi-sweet and can even have musky, medicinal notes. In Japanese incense, it is used as a fixative akin to frankincense.

Its fragrant smoke has been used for millennia for purification and it can help establish a calm, focused and collected mindspace while also invigorating the body.

Ansoku-koh - Benzoin

Known in the Arabian peninsula for thousands of years as “luban jawi”, benzoin has been used as an ingredient for incense and as incense itself for as long as we can remember.

This fragrant material is native to the Indonesia (in particular the island of Sumatra) and Malaysia, harvested from the trees of the Styrax genus. Similar to other resins, the bark is stripped with a knife and the white sap is left to harden up to six months. It is then harvested by hand and further dried and cleaned.

Benzoin is found in Japanese incense both as a fixative and fragrant material. Its ability to easily mix with other ingredients like aloeswood and sandalwood makes it a favorite among incense makers. It has a warm, creamy and almost vanilla-like scent. Sumatran benzoin can have notes of warm spiciness which can shift the perception of the scent towards a subtly floral and caramel-like accord.

The scent of benzoin is known to be relaxing, ground and calming; making it a favorite for evening time meditations.

Ryu-no - Borneol

One of the most refreshing and cooling fragrant materials out there, Borneol is an aromatic crystalline resin that forms from wounded Dryobalanops aromatica (Camphor) trees. It is native to Borneo, Malaysia and Sumatra, where it grows up to 40 meters near coastal lowlands. Historically, the tree was traded to the Middle East since the sixth century for its timber and resin.

Borneol’s scent is intensely refreshing, sharp, cool and medicinal. It is impossible to miss in a stick of incense as it tends to announce itself loudly. In Japanese incense, it is used to uplift other fragrant ingredients with its camphoric coolness.

Its scent heightens awareness, promotes alertness and improves focus; making it perfect for both meditative and productive purposes.