Incense of the Day

[-Renton-]

I'm positive the Shoyeido Peaceful Sky bought in Japan smells different to the small box I bought online. The Japanese box has VERY clear kinamic notes whereas the online box just smells kind of powdery sweet now that I compare the two. They are so different that I would be inclined to now only buy this particular scent from inside the country.

I would be quite surprised if the ingredients are different, to be quite honest (as the products you get online are just exported from Japan anyway, I would definitely email Shoyeido USA and Shoyeido Japan and ask the question, "Are these sticks ingredients different in Japan than the exported product?", please do give it a shot, I am keen to know). Not saying that it is impossible, but it is not that likely. Although, who knows. The thing is, you have only tried CK, so what do you mean by clear Kinamic notes? Like mintiness? Florals? Spiciness? Bitterness? Sweetness? Strong Oudiness, maybe? With the Peaceful Sky I got off of a fellow Ouddict member that bought them years ago, they are definitely a STRONG malaccensis stick, but can sometimes have those bitter, sour notes of Kyara.

I would like to hear what notes are different (in detail of course) from the box you bought online and the box bought in Japan?

 

[-Renton-]

Would be worth checking what the folks are japanincense and others have to say about this as they would know better. Or even asking Shoyeido directly. Because I'm curious about this myself.

This is an old review of all of the Horin range and they did used to have Kyara in them: https://olfactoryrescueservice.wordpress.com/2008/01/07/shoyeido-horin-series/

Now JapanIncense says it is just an aloeswood blend. The aloeswood in it now is definitely malaccensis or hirta, most likely malaccensis. It was never a "strong" Kyara stick to begin with, it had a decent amount in it, I believe, but not a crazy amount like some real expensive ones like Enju or Tennendo's anniversary sticks, or Yamadamatsu's world class Kyara sticks. Although, they probably had around 10-15%, maybe 20-25%? Maybe more or less, though, these are just figures from a semi - educated guess.

 

[Olfactory Nomad]

I would be quite surprised if the ingredients are different, to be quite honest (as the products you get online are just exported from Japan anyway, I would definitely email Shoyeido USA and Shoyeido Japan and ask the question, "Are these sticks ingredients different in Japan than the exported product?", please do give it a shot, I am keen to know). Not saying that it is impossible, but it is not that likely. Although, who knows. The thing is, you have only tried CK, so what do you mean by clear Kinamic notes? Like mintiness? Florals? Spiciness? Bitterness? Sweetness? Strong Oudiness, maybe? With the Peaceful Sky I got off of a fellow Ouddict member that bought them years ago, they are definitely a STRONG malaccensis stick, but can sometimes have those bitter, sour notes of Kyara.

I would like to hear what notes are different (in detail of course) from the box you bought online and the box bought in Japan?

Alright, you are correct in saying at this point I have only experienced CK. I have tried a few though now from various sources and the Peaceful Sky carried some of these notes that were recognizable to me. They wern't a constant kynam scent, just an every now and then fleeting scent. Still, I don't get this from the online box.

 

[-Renton-]

Yamadastu

Alright, you are correct in saying at this point I have only experienced CK. I have tried a few though now from various sources and the Peaceful Sky carried some of these notes that were recognizable to me. They wern't a constant kynam scent, just an every now and then fleeting scent. Still, I don't get this from the online box.

Weird. Shoyeido don't have any Kyara stick anymore, though. Their Kyara stick box that they had is now discontinued and goes for a hella of a lot (like 350 for 35 sticks). So, I don't think it Kyara, but maybe old stock Peaceful Sky? What I wanna know is what are the notes on the Japan ones and the ones you got online? Which do you get on the 80 box that you dont get on the 20?

 

[Olfactory Nomad]

Yamadastu

Weird. Shoyeido don't have any Kyara stick anymore, though. Their Kyara stick box that they had is now discontinued and goes for a hella of a lot (like 350 for 35 sticks). So, I don't think it Kyara, but maybe old stock Peaceful Sky? What I wanna know is what are the notes on the Japan ones and the ones you got online? Which do you get on the 80 box that you dont get on the 20?

I'll get back to you on that later today.

 

[Olfactory Nomad]

All I can say is that the online box of 20 smells as you know it to smell. The Japanese box of 80 also smells like this but has a clear kynam scent that does not come through in my smaller box. It's rather one dimensional on it's own. There are no complex notes that you would expect by heating straight kynam other than the one that you would automatically recognise as being kynam. Does that make any sense?

 

[-Renton-]

All I can say is that the online box of 20 smells as you know it to smell. The Japanese box of 80 also smells like this but has a clear kynam scent that does not come through in my smaller box. It's rather one dimensional on it's own. There are no complex notes that you would expect by heating straight kynam other than the one that you would automatically recognise as being kynam. Does that make any sense?

Okay, Kynam smells arent 1 thing, they are all different, just like different agarwood... even different CK. So what I am interested in is the actual Kynam note. Minty? Sweet? Cooling? Bitter? Sour? Spicy? Because people can order straight from Japan, which I might do to see what you mean lol. But I dont wanna be disappointed 🙁 , hence the questions 🙂

 

[Olfactory Nomad]

Okay, Kynam smells arent 1 thing, they are all different, just like different agarwood... even different CK. So what I am interested in is the actual Kynam note. Minty? Sweet? Cooling? Bitter? Sour? Spicy? Because people can order straight from Japan, which I might do to see what you mean lol. But I dont wanna be disappointed 🙁 , hence the questions 🙂

All good. Well, the word I would use then is sweet.

 

[-Renton-]

All good. Well, the word I would use then is sweet.

Yep, I get sweet from Peaceful sky too. I would describe it more as a type of Malaccensis note. Like, is it a sweet resinous smell? I think a sweet kinamic note is also followed by floral notes (that is my experience with Enju).

 

[-Renton-]

First incense I burned today was Tokusen Kobunboku by Baieido. I put on my last 1 stick and 1 stick with 3 quarters instead of a full stick as for some reason it wasn't a full stick. I lay in bed listening to the final sticks I had of this current box (my second box, this is an incense that I will purchase for the rest of my life, I wont order it constantly, but atleast every couple of months or so of an 80 stick box for £11.99). as I have said before, the Indonesian Aloeswood in this stick is of plentiful amounts, I do wonder though, "what species is it likely to be?", and "what rank is it in the Japanese ranking system?". Anyway, it is a very, very nice aloeswood stick, I am almost sure it has more aloeswood in it than, Kaden Kobunboku, but that is probably because Kaden is wild Vietnamese Aloeswood, which (I believe) is much rarer, or Baieido have more of the specific Indonesian wood than the Vietnam, which is likely.

The notes are just beautiful, and for the price, everyone can experience high quality aloeswood because of these sticks, heck, because of this range of sticks by Baieido, even though only 2 boxes in the range have aloeswood in them (Tokusen and Kaden), they are made with love and master craftmanship, and agree with me or not, these are artisanal sticks, for sure.

Notes of a sweet, dry oudy woodiness, with a dry sandalwood note at the start, slowly developing into a resinous aloeswood note that is very sweet, but also sour (in a good way), sweetness from both the aloeswood and the sandalwood, and sourness from the aloeswood in a beautiful dance. Notes of camphor (with no camphor mint), clove (just to boost the woodiness, and maybe sweetness), and the unmistakable oudy, resinous, soft, sweet, and spicy. It has this dry, sour-sweetness that I love, and it is just, amazing. Lovely stick, that is a true love affair of mine when it comes to aloeswood sticks.

I wonder, can you get larger boxes of Tokusen that are still 5.5inches but with more than 80 sticks? If so, I will ask Luke, from LotusZenIncense if he can start stocking them. Because I would love to have a 100+ stick box.

 

[-Renton-]

All good. Well, the word I would use then is sweet.

I get exactly what you mean now. I just burned a Peaceful Sky stick, and it had this Kinamic sweetness and floral notes at the near end, with a cooling note. It felt like a green kinam note. Then I put the tiny nub on fire with a torch and it was burning more and I got a vanilla note, then when it was done burning my bowl had some oil on it, some golden oil, so I wiped it with my fingers and it has this bitter taste. They could have a small amount of Kynam, but I doubt it, the profile was more of a very, very high quality aloeswood, like a high quality malaccensis.

 

[Ahmaoud]

I wonder, can you get larger boxes of Tokusen that are still 5.5inches but with more than 80 sticks?

You totally can! I purchased a box of 400 sticks from Japan on Amazon, I'm sure it'll be available in the UK as well, you just have to choose the specific shop, it's usually these sellers who offer free shipping and it says it comes from Japan. Just make sure to pick the one with some review before jumping on the purchase but I think I got my box for about 70-80 ish USD

 

[-Renton-]

You totally can! I purchased a box of 400 sticks from Japan on Amazon, I'm sure it'll be available in the UK as well, you just have to choose the specific shop, it's usually these sellers who offer free shipping and it says it comes from Japan. Just make sure to pick the one with some review before jumping on the purchase but I think I got my box for about 70-80 ish USD

Oh thank you. I will definitely look at this!!!

 

[Olfactory Nomad]

I get exactly what you mean now. I just burned a Peaceful Sky stick, and it had this Kinamic sweetness and floral notes at the near end, with a cooling note. It felt like a green kinam note. Then I put the tiny nub on fire with a torch and it was burning more and I got a vanilla note, then when it was done burning my bowl had some oil on it, some golden oil, so I wiped it with my fingers and it has this bitter taste. They could have a small amount of Kynam, but I doubt it, the profile was more of a very, very high quality aloeswood, like a high quality malaccensis.

Now I'm totally unsure of myself with these. It's weird because I just wasn't picking up this scent with the online box but I went straight to it with the Japanese box. Now I have compared the two that note is more prominent in the online box. Perhaps I simply wasn't listening hard enough? Is strange though.

 

[-Renton-]

Now I'm totally unsure of myself with these. It's weird because I just wasn't picking up this scent with the online box but I went straight to it with the Japanese box. Now I have compared the two that note is more prominent in the online box. Perhaps I simply wasn't listening hard enough? Is strange though.

Lol. Japanese incense is like that.

 

[-Renton-]

Kaden Kobunboku by Baieido. I love the Kobunboku range, and I get so confused sometimes with what my favourite aloeswood kobunboku stick is. Is it Tokusen, is it Kaden? I think it really depends on many things, mainly my mood, and the way the fragrance develops in the room, and the amount of sticks I need for a strong scent, I honestly don't understand how people can put on 1 Japanese stick and smell it potently, I am not meaning for all Japanese sticks, but for majority of them I need atleast 2-4 in my living room of most of them, even Kaden or Tokusen, but 1 stick if I was in my bed and listening to the stick lying down.

Anyway, Kaden Kobunboku is a really nice stick, I really don't burn it that often, but a 170 stick box still doesn't last me too long. Couple months, maybe? The notes are very complex, after all it has 20+ ingredients that are aromatic in the sticks. The aroma I get from Kaden is one of, camphor, semi-sweet, sourness, red berries, dry woodiness, with some resin notes, and a really dark, spiciness. The sandalwood in the stick is very dry, woody, and slightly creamy, with it being more on the buttery side when it shows itself. Notes of chocolate too, I like to describe that note as a "chocolate cake", since it does smell like that, a "semi-sweet, sour, chocolate cake with red berries" (😆 imagine having that for your birthday). Notes of strong camphor that, instead of making it a crystal clear picture, it muddies it up a bit and gives it a feel of forestry, and rain (slightly).

I like Kaden, at specific times. Tokusen is also another really good aloeswood stick,heck, not just "for the price", in general. Both Kaden and Tokusen are really, really good aloeswood sticks, and the price point the have them at is so good that it is almost too good to be true. Although, I have seen the Vietnamese aloeswood they use for Kaden and it isn't exactly super high grade, but it is still relatively decent, and the way they obviously blend the aromatics in a very artisanal way (agree with me or not, but they are artisanal, like mot Japanese sticks) that shows the best qualities of it.
I will put the picture of the Vietnamese aloeswood used in the attachments, but here is the link to JapanIncense if you want to buy it (sadly I cant buy from this website on my own, so someone is kindly helping me buy things from this website) - https://www.japanincense.com/be-0065.html .

EDIT: And I have a feeling this is the Indonesian aloeswood Baieido uses for Tokusen: https://www.japanincense.com/be-0064.html but I am probably wrong as there is a stick with that name of the wood already out. I really wanna know what Indonesian Aloeswood Baieido does use for their Tokusen and why they can put, SOOOOO much into it.

 

[sabahan]

Shoyeido Horin Tenpyo, old stock a few days ago. Incredible value for price point.

 

[Olfactory Nomad]

KZ limited edition Mysore "Black Meat" and Ambergris sticks. I burn these very sparingly as once they're gone they're gone but thought I should make a comparison with some other Mysore sticks I've received recently. They truely are an incredible incense and a real treasure.

 

[Oudamberlove]

Seijudo Kyara Horen

I smell agarwood, I smell kyara.
I like it every bit as much as Enju and Seiran.

 

[Zazu]

Dr. Incense - Emperor Li's sleeping incense
It's a wonderful incense but I think Shoyeido's nankun is better to focus. Emperor Li's requires more attention so I'm a little distracted at the start of the week. 😅