Many of you are probably already familiar with the typical incense stick; a strongly scented stick with a thin bamboo core sticking out of it. You may also remember the initial blast of fragrance when you open this type of incense and more often than not, the scent can be picked up without having to open the box itself. These sticks are created by using a non-fragrant binder material which is then dipped into fragrance oils to scent it. A lot of these oils are petrol-chemicals and can often include chemical preservatives. This is what gives these sticks their strong scent which can often overpower spaces.

Japanese incense however, is different in a few ways. The most important ones being that it uses natural ingredients, both for binding and aromatics.

First, it does not have a bamboo core. The entire stick is made of aromatic compounds and there is no unnecessary material being burned. This is why Japanese sticks will be thinner and shorter than your typical dipped stick. The binding material for the incense is equally important as the aromatic compounds used (spices, roots, herbs etc.); which is why Tabu-no-ki is used.  

Referred to as Makko, Tabu-no-ki is the powdered bark of the Japanese Bay tree. This powder not only serves to bind the fragrant woods and aromatics together, it also ensures a consistent burn. This is what results in the clean burn of Japanese incense which releases very little smoke compared to dipped sticks.

Japanese incense uses natural fragrance sources; building on a base of koboku (fragrant woods such as sandalwood, aloeswood, hinoki) with natural aromatics such as roots, spices, plants and resins.  

When you light your first Japanese incense stick, you will notice that the smell is subtle and there is minimal smoke. It will not be loud, it will not be overpowering, and it will not be in your face. The sticks burn slowly and will gently fill the space with their fragrance. Due to the natural ingredients of the incense, you will find that after the stick is burned; the fragrance will linger in your space. The scent will become a part of your space and will not overwhelm any aspect of it, it will be fully present when you listen to it, and out of your way when you don’t.

So if you are looking for a different way to scent your space, one that does not overpower it and fill it with a smoky haze; Japanese incense might be the right choice. You’ll find that your space will have a cleaner atmosphere and there will always be a subtle, deep fragrant accord lingering in the background.