Incense of the Day

[-Renton-]

Just put Maunamoku's Mysore Sandalwood sticks, they are very light in smoke, and the fragrance tends to come on quite slowly, you sometimes even get no notes, but, as KyaraZen has said about incense in the past, its like music, sometimes music (especially classical) gets quiet on the notes, or stops altogether then plays back up. These are lovely sticks to just put on and chill with every once and a while, I have used 3 full stick so far today and just got them today lol, this is the 3rd time. I broke some in half so that I can do "Stick Kodo" and really listen to the sticks (and I will before doing another stick as I am doing things on the PC, makes it easier to pick out notes from artisanal sticks, unless they particularly loud). The Mysore used in these sticks is sublime, it has those lactonic (milky) notes, dry woodiness and sweetness so that the dry woodiness doesnt take over, I smell notes of a citrus nature but very faint, this is usually sign of good materials IMO, the butteriness is quite quiet, it is there and comes and goes and makes the milky, lactonic notes quite creamy. It is definitely more dry, sweet, creamy wood than buttery, although like I said before, the butteriness is there and I believe that it will come on more and more as this stick burns, and they burn for so long for how skinny they are.

I just put one on there so lets see if they get really buttery or if the butteriness of the sandalwood used is just there to make the lactonic note nice and creamy. I like both sandalwood variants, either heavy on the butter and its kinda creamy but mainly milky or the butteriness mixes in perfectly with the lactonic notes and brings a creamy, gourmand vibe to the sandalwood stick. As I am writing this the butteriness and creaminess are coming together and making the full vibe of the sandalwood extremely gourmand, lovely sticks, artisanally done!!!

Oh forgot to add, you get that nice sandalwood, woody note as well. I love that note dearly, dry and sweet, with a tint of citrus.

Also @Maunamoku, I wouldn't be surprised if you used black meat Mysore in these sticks tbh. 😀

After doing, "Stick Kodo", with these, I will be able to pull more notes out, more clearly.

 

[-Renton-]

Fresh room, fresh nose, another day to burn another incense. The incense of right now (I burn multiple incenses so I cant just say "for the day or night" lol) is Maunamoku's Mysore sticks. I have opened my bedroom windows, left the bedroom door open and living room door open, they are right next to each other, I cant have my living room doors open as the wind is reaching 42km/h winds (26 mph winds), so I left another room windows open to let oxygen in more and a little bit of wind so that the incense can "breathe" and the smoke can fully disperse and give me more of a scent. The stick in its full glory is showing me, woody sandalwood notes, warm, slightly (every so slightly) nutty, dry and sweet, with some creamy and buttery notes. I said in the previous post that I saw more cream than butter, but now I can see that its full bodied milky notes and creamy notes with a nice full bodied note of butter. It definitely has a tint of citrus, and the nuttiness is all to familiar with extremely good Mysore material, and it is now stronger than when I first started writing this.

@Maunamoku is this black meat sandalwood from Mysore? It has that feel to it.

 

[Maunamoku]

Fresh room, fresh nose, another day to burn another incense. The incense of right now (I burn multiple incenses so I cant just say "for the day or night" lol) is Maunamoku's Mysore sticks. I have opened my bedroom windows, left the bedroom door open and living room door open, they are right next to each other, I cant have my living room doors open as the wind is reaching 42km/h winds (26 mph winds), so I left another room windows open to let oxygen in more and a little bit of wind so that the incense can "breathe" and the smoke can fully disperse and give me more of a scent. The stick in its full glory is showing me, woody sandalwood notes, warm, slightly (every so slightly) nutty, dry and sweet, with some creamy and buttery notes. I said in the previous post that I saw more cream than butter, but now I can see that its full bodied milky notes and creamy notes with a nice full bodied note of butter. It definitely has a tint of citrus, and the nuttiness is all to familiar with extremely good Mysore material, and it is now stronger than when I first started writing this.

@Maunamoku is this black meat sandalwood from Mysore? It has that feel to it.

They are made from old bead scraps, I am so happy that you are enjoying them!

 

[-Renton-]

They are made from old bead scraps, I am so happy that you are enjoying them!

Ohhh. This means they are highly fragrant chips that these sticks are made from. Lovely. They are fantastic, and especially good to cut into quarters and halves and use as a stick Kodo session, listening to them 😉 .

 

[Mr.P]

I am happy to say I just found my tube of this incense and I’m lighting a stick at the moment. it got put into the wrong drawer and I was wondering what happened to it…. As I said, before, I get a kick out of just sniffing these dry. There are many facets of sandalwood that I love and they show up at different times and to different degrees in different woods and oils. These sticks have this kind of clean dry woody scent almost like what Iso-e-super wishes it could be.

i’m reluctant to light it, honestly.

(Obviously all sandalwood has a “dry woody scent” but I’m talking about a particular scent that not all wood has - powdery, very dry, very clean appealing woodiness without too much butter or floral or heavy wood notes.

 

[Ahmaoud]

Probably my fifth time burning this, though haven't mentioned it here yet, mesOud's Smart Oud Incense. Pressed cultivated Crassna sticks, super potent and once you get them lit, you won't need to keep them lit for very long, because they do their job remarkable well. Sometimes I want a heavy oud aroma to my surroundings, it's at those time these sticks fit the bill. I have yet to consume the single stick I was given as a sample, and the after burn is a pleasing aroma, subtle enough to sit in the background, but perceptible enough to enjoy.

As should always been mentioned, the profile of oud only incense sticks is slightly different to heating chips, and compared to mixed incense sticks (even those just with spices added) these are always more subtle.

 

[Olfactory Nomad]

Probably my fifth time burning this, though haven't mentioned it here yet, mesOud's Smart Oud Incense. Pressed cultivated Crassna sticks, super potent and once you get them lit, you won't need to keep them lit for very long, because they do their job remarkable well. Sometimes I want a heavy oud aroma to my surroundings, it's at those time these sticks fit the bill. I have yet to consume the single stick I was given as a sample, and the after burn is a pleasing aroma, subtle enough to sit in the background, but perceptible enough to enjoy.

As should always been mentioned, the profile of oud only incense sticks is slightly different to heating chips, and compared to mixed incense sticks (even those just with spices added) these are always more subtle.

I'll have to check those out!

 

[mesOUD]

Probably my fifth time burning this, though haven't mentioned it here yet, mesOud's Smart Oud Incense. Pressed cultivated Crassna sticks, super potent and once you get them lit, you won't need to keep them lit for very long, because they do their job remarkable well. Sometimes I want a heavy oud aroma to my surroundings, it's at those time these sticks fit the bill. I have yet to consume the single stick I was given as a sample, and the after burn is a pleasing aroma, subtle enough to sit in the background, but perceptible enough to enjoy.

As should always been mentioned, the profile of oud only incense sticks is slightly different to heating chips, and compared to mixed incense sticks (even those just with spices added) these are always more subtle.

I'll have to check those out!

This is what i enjoy too much,bougjt for myself first,then sent gifts to friends,butbwhom received it,wanted more,soni added to my web,i noticed it is burning till 45 minutes and as u said,just 5 minutes burning is enough for a good season,so 1 piece is enough 1 week with daily burn

 

[Oudamberlove]

Shoyeido Sho-kaku

I can’t get over how much I like this blend. I even wrote Shoyeido and asked them to make a perfume oil version of Sho-kau’s aroma, of course they probably won’t do it.

 

[zahir]

Shoyeido Sho-kaku

I can’t get over how much I like this blend. I even wrote Shoyeido and asked them to make a perfume oil version of Sho-kau’s aroma, of course they probably won’t do it.

I was able to grab a few sticks from a private seller after they had sold out everywhere. The blend is truly phenomenal but I can't help but honestly think that some of the sticks sold by KZ and Ken are superior as far as the quality of agarwood aroma goes.

And this is truly one of those products, if not the only one, where I wish I had bought it when it was in stock and at low price! Even I can't believe that I had purchased the sample pack many years ago when I was just starting out and not only did I never even try Shokaku from the sampler, I didn't try any of the other ones too lol I was waiting to learn the other aromas before I burned a stick which had the legendary, revered kyara!

 

[Oudamberlove]

I was able to grab a few sticks from a private seller after they had sold out everywhere. The blend is truly phenomenal but I can't help but honestly think that some of the sticks sold by KZ and Ken are superior as far as the quality of agarwood aroma goes.

And this is truly one of those products, if not the only one, where I wish I had bought it when it was in stock and at low price! Even I can't believe that I had purchased the sample pack many years ago when I was just starting out and not only did I never even try Shokaku from the sampler, I didn't try any of the other ones too lol I was waiting to learn the other aromas before I burned a stick which had the legendary, revered kyara!

You’ve tried Ken’s Ambon right? It’s like agarwood on steroids.
Some days I prefer straight agarwood sticks, but at other times I gotta have a nice aromatic blend, sometimes I need a fix with a blend that contains clove.

 

[Maunamoku]

You’ve tried Ken’s Ambon right? It’s like agarwood on steroids.
Some days I prefer straight agarwood sticks, but at other times I gotta have a nice aromatic blend, sometimes I need a fix with a blend that contains clove.

I was discussing this with someone very recently. Sometimes that aromatic blend is just required and nothing else will suit.

 

[zahir]

You’ve tried Ken’s Ambon right? It’s like agarwood on steroids.
Some days I prefer straight agarwood sticks, but at other times I gotta have a nice aromatic blend, sometimes I need a fix with a blend that contains clove.

I've tried almost all of his high end sticks except those from last few months. He has sold too many extremely high quality treasures! Ambon. Jayapura. In the Agarwoods. Leyte. But yes, the clove spiciness takes the spiciness of agarwood/kinam to a whole new level if/when done right. Even the shokaku stick smells so heavenly. Is myokaku worth it?

 

[Oudamberlove]

I've tried almost all of his high end sticks except those from last few months. He has sold too many extremely high quality treasures! Ambon. Jayapura. In the Agarwoods. Leyte. But yes, the clove spiciness takes the spiciness of agarwood/kinam to a whole new level if/when done right. Even the shokaku stick smells so heavenly. Is myokaku worth it?

I like Myo-kaku, the aromatics are toned down compared to Sho-kaku. I think Myo-kaku uses Vietnamese agarwood. I didn’t get a whole box because I already have a bunch of the other Shoyeido premiums. I don’t think it’s worth it at USA prices, but you can email [email protected] to buy it directly from Shoyeido at a much better price.

 

[Oudamberlove]

I was discussing this with someone very recently. Sometimes that aromatic blend is just required and nothing else will suit. Some of my all time favorite sticks are Ken’s most resinous creations, the ones that exude pure oud.

I like Ken’s binder formula, it is well suited to bring out that resinous goodness.

 

[-Renton-]

Tokusen Kobunboku by Baieido... again? Yes, again, I love this stick so much I have got to the point where I dont need a lot of sticks like I do with a lot of Japanese sticks I have, I usually take some if they are big I half them and do stick Kodo and then when I am burning them while doing other activities the scent is stronger after listening to the stick or "stick Kodo" for a bit, I didn't have to do that with these sticks as I went through an entire box with lighting like 4 or even 6 some times, and now I am half way (rough, very rough, estimate, could be more or less) through this 2nd box. I have also looked at reviews from Kikoh's blog on this particular incense, and I like to read the other reviews they have on that blog/store and it gives me a better insight into notes... so this was also a big help (I have also read the other reviews on that site for Tensei for example and sometimes Tensei is super noticeable and "loudish" with 2-3 sticks, then other times I can't perceive it with anything less than 4 sticks, so I took a few sticks and halved them, and 12 full sticks into my bed room where I will do varying lengths of stick Kodo with Tensei as they are lovely sticks and I want to feel them).

Back to the incense I am burning, Tokusen. It is such a good incense stick, it smells really aloeswoody (I say aloeswood when burning Japanese or Japanese style sticks, out of respect), I can really smell the aloeswood blending with the sandalwood now (and this has been a while since I have read the review) the sandalwood that I initially thought was of poor quality is actually quite decent, not Byakudan Kobunboku GREAT but, decently good. The aloeswood, that Indonesian aloeswood they use, they definitely use that like Russian Adam uses his oils all over his body (if you know you know 😂😂😂), the stick has a dryness to it, this could be the sandalwood and not the Indonesian aloeswood, or both, but I think its the sandal, and the aloeswood brings in the dark, juicy, jungle, camphoric resin that makes it sweet with a nice oof of clarity behind it (the "camphorness") nice and crystal clear but also muddy by the jungle notes, notes of almost musk, sweet dark chocolate cake, and a nice dry sweetness all round, like candy, woody candy, jungle candy, berries? Possibly. The more these sticks reveal to me (I had to use 1 and a good portion of another box, this one, to get it to fully unravel) the more I will pick up, these sticks are just mind boggling good for a price of £11.99 for 80? C'mon, this is seriously insane low price for something of such quality.

EDIT: I feel I left the sandalwood out, to be quick, there is definitely a dry, creamy, sandalwood (wood) notes come in and out dancing with the other ingredients and the aloes, some butteriness is present and when it is, IT IS!!!

 

[Oudamberlove]

Tokusen Kobunboku by Baieido... again? Yes, again, I love this stick so much I have got to the point where I dont need a lot of sticks like I do with a lot of Japanese sticks I have, I usually take some if they are big I half them and do stick Kodo and then when I am burning them while doing other activities the scent is stronger after listening to the stick or "stick Kodo" for a bit, I didn't have to do that with these sticks as I went through an entire box with lighting like 4 or even 6 some times, and now I am half way (rough, very rough, estimate, could be more or less) through this 2nd box. I have also looked at reviews from Kikoh's blog on this particular incense, and I like to read the other reviews they have on that blog/store and it gives me a better insight into notes... so this was also a big help (I have also read the other reviews on that site for Tensei for example and sometimes Tensei is super noticeable and "loudish" with 2-3 sticks, then other times I can't perceive it with anything less than 4 sticks, so I took a few sticks and halved them, and 12 full sticks into my bed room where I will do varying lengths of stick Kodo with Tensei as they are lovely sticks and I want to feel them).

Back to the incense I am burning, Tokusen. It is such a good incense stick, it smells really aloeswoody (I say aloeswood when burning Japanese or Japanese style sticks, out of respect), I can really smell the aloeswood blending with the sandalwood now (and this has been a while since I have read the review) the sandalwood that I initially thought was of poor quality is actually quite decent, not Byakudan Kobunboku GREAT but, decently good. The aloeswood, that Indonesian aloeswood they use, they definitely use that like Russian Adam uses his oils all over his body (if you know you know 😂😂😂), the stick has a dryness to it, this could be the sandalwood and not the Indonesian aloeswood, or both, but I think its the sandal, and the aloeswood brings in the dark, juicy, jungle, camphoric resin that makes it sweet with a nice oof of clarity behind it (the "camphorness") nice and crystal clear but also muddy by the jungle notes, notes of almost musk, sweet dark chocolate cake, and a nice dry sweetness all round, like candy, woody candy, jungle candy, berries? Possibly. The more these sticks reveal to me (I had to use 1 and a good portion of another box, this one, to get it to fully unravel) the more I will pick up, these sticks are just mind boggling good for a price of £11.99 for 80? C'mon, this is seriously insane low price for something of such quality.

EDIT: I feel I left the sandalwood out, to be quick, there is definitely a dry, creamy, sandalwood (wood) notes come in and out dancing with the other ingredients and the aloes, some butteriness is present and when it is, IT IS!!!

I had to revisit Tokusen Kobunboku, definitely a lot going on but yet still quite agarwoody….. so Baieidoesque. Then I compared it to Tokusen Kokonoe which also uses Indonesian
agarwood, and I noticed how the base scent is similar, and that the Tokusen Kokonoe does not have the certain aromatics that give Tokusen Kobunboku more character.

 

[iori]

Nipponkodo Kyara Fugaku
Majestic stick!

 

[Ersel]

Got this new incense holder from lotuszenincense.co.uk

https://imgur.com/c0jd4IC

So, now, I can use my Horin sticks with only this much of the stick being wasted by using the second thinnest hole

https://imgur.com/swM0RZH

So, I haven't burned Shoyeido's Genroku in their Horin line for ages, and same for Tenpyo. So, I decided to burn Genroku (now with these sticks it is pretty much a necessity to actively listen to them, or tune into the scent as if you are burning wood IMO). I am back to the start of understanding the complexities of these sticks, but, not quite. If I tune in and listen to them, and take in each scent and note actively in my mind without it wandering (it is kind of like meditation, same with burning wood, and wearing oils for personal reasons, give us a way to meditate in a "non-traditional" way). First note I got as I lit it was the aloeswood woodiness, the nice kind of woody smell, and sweet resin, I also got earthy notes as well that was mixed in (as if it was joined to the hip) with the woody note. These are the only notes I could describe then when nearly half of the stick was done, popped up was a floral note, it interweaved with floral+earthy notes, and floral+sweet resinous notes, and wood+earthy+floral notes and resin notes as the, so called, "base note". These sticks are amazing, and I am happy with this new incense holder because as you can see, basically 0 of it get's wasted, no nubs!! 😀

If you have a subtism heater, you can heat the residues. If not you should still keep them, maybe you will get one in the future.

 

[-Renton-]

If you have a subtism heater, you can heat the residues. If not you should still keep them, maybe you will get one in the future.

I have a ZhengLong ceramic heater, I dont mind losing some nubs of incense especially ones that small. The ones I will collect are KZ's, and other artisan incense which I have quite a lot of powdered KZ Black Meat + ambergris special incense he came out with end of last year because I broke a few by accident and crushed them and put them into a glass container, small glass container thing lol 😁