Incense of the Day

[language scent]

WOW factor x 100! The aroma at room temperature is so explosive I could smell it lingering in the air after a couple minutes being out. Burned an inch and the aroma is just incredibly gorgeous sweet and bitter elegance with some spicy sour aspects. It has been 1hour later and my house smells like a couple monks lit up a bunch of kyara outside in a spring day with flowers everywhere drifting through the air. In love. Never had the best experiences with incense sticks as they all give me some burnt wood barbecue like aroma…these are absolute 💎 and I dare say at least 5-10x better kyara and overall composition than the new batch sticks. Grateful for being this lucky with woods and sticks and stuff.

 

[FreeSoul]

WOW factor x 100! The aroma at room temperature is so explosive I could smell it lingering in the air after a couple minutes being out. Burned an inch and the aroma is just incredibly gorgeous sweet and bitter elegance with some spicy sour aspects. It has been 1hour later and my house smells like a couple monks lit up a bunch of kyara outside in a spring day with flowers everywhere drifting through the air. In love. Never had the best experiences with incense sticks as they all give me some burnt wood barbecue like aroma…these are absolute 💎 and I dare say at least 5-10x better kyara and overall composition than the new batch sticks. Grateful for being this lucky with woods and sticks and stuff.

What name and brand are these sticks?

 

[-Renton-]

WOW factor x 100! The aroma at room temperature is so explosive I could smell it lingering in the air after a couple minutes being out. Burned an inch and the aroma is just incredibly gorgeous sweet and bitter elegance with some spicy sour aspects. It has been 1hour later and my house smells like a couple monks lit up a bunch of kyara outside in a spring day with flowers everywhere drifting through the air. In love. Never had the best experiences with incense sticks as they all give me some burnt wood barbecue like aroma…these are absolute 💎 and I dare say at least 5-10x better kyara and overall composition than the new batch sticks. Grateful for being this lucky with woods and sticks and stuff.

Great score mate!!! How much did you get in total? Would you be willing to sell 2-3, for a high, but good, price? I would really love to try these sticks and I would probably snap the sticks into quarters if they are long, which they do look around 7-8.8 inches, or is that just the pic and they are around 5.5? Thanks!!! Plus 2-3 sticks would last me definitely 3-4 months because I wouldn't use them alot at all, just like with my Kyara Enju, I still have a quite a few quarters, halves and 2 full sticks.

I love sticks hehe.

 

[-Renton-]

What name and brand are these sticks?

I think the brand is an old Shoyeido Kyara stick <<< EDIT: Yes they are, shoyeido “translucent path” (shokaku). Very old sticks that are impossible to find, but @language scent always finds a way !!!

But, they are the old version, with more Kyara in them I think? @language scent can correct me on if I am right or wrong. I think they still sell these sticks, but this is the original formulation, a rare gem.

This is the new formulation, I think: https://www.japanincense.com/sh0199.html

 

[language scent]

Great score mate!!! How much did you get in total? Would you be willing to sell 2-3, for a high, but good, price? I would really love to try these sticks and I would probably snap the sticks into quarters if they are long, which they do look around 7-8.8 inches, or is that just the pic and they are around 5.5? Thanks!!! Plus 2-3 sticks would last me definitely 3-4 months because I wouldn't use them alot at all, just like with my Kyara Enju, I still have a quite a few quarters, halves and 2 full sticks.

I love sticks hehe.

sorry bro 9 people messaged me asking the same question. i said yes to 2 people and then it rained down on my inbox for that reason i will not be sellinng any. i shouldn't have posted them lol

 

[language scent]

What name and brand are these sticks?

Shoyeido name "shokaku" aka "translucent path"

 

[language scent]

I think the brand is an old Shoyeido Kyara stick <<< EDIT: Yes they are, shoyeido “translucent path” (shokaku). Very old sticks that are impossible to find, but @language scent always finds a way !!!

But, they are the old version, with more Kyara in them I think? @language scent can correct me on if I am right or wrong. I think they still sell these sticks, but this is the original formulation, a rare gem.

This is the new formulation, I think: https://www.japanincense.com/sh0199.html

I am no one special, i just had a little stick of the new batch gifted by a good friend i loved it and then got lucky as the sticks just presented themselves as if a magical universal granting lol

without a doubt they are very different from the new batch. as far as composition is concerned i know for sure the kyara used is way better but the rest of the composition whatever it may be i do not remember it and I need to do a side by side with the new batch stick because i dont have any but if my memory serves me they are very different. i will buy a box of the new composition soon as i liked that also.

i will crush a tiny bit of the sticks and heat them both on the kinam heater first to see the kyara more clearly, and then i will burn some of both. in time i should know.

the room temp of these sticks is ridiculous i could just put it in a bottle and smell it forever. they need to make perfumes of these things

 

[-Renton-]

I am no one special, i just had a little stick of the new batch gifted by a good friend i loved it and then got lucky as the sticks just presented themselves as if a magical universal granting lol

without a doubt they are very different from the new batch. as far as composition is concerned i know for sure the kyara used is way better but the rest of the composition whatever it may be i do not remember it and I need to do a side by side with the new batch stick because i dont have any but if my memory serves me they are very different. i will buy a box of the new composition soon as i liked that also.

i will crush a tiny bit of the sticks and heat them both on the kinam heater first to see the kyara more clearly, and then i will burn some of both. in time i should know.

the room temp of these sticks is ridiculous i could just put it in a bottle and smell it forever. they need to make perfumes of these things

Damn, even Kyara Enju has not much scent at room temp!!!

 

[-Renton-]

Okay, so I burned the Tenpyo, Peaceful Sky new composition/batch that I have, after using, and familiarising myself (somewhat) with the old batch I got from a kind member. They are 100% different. The old batch, like my last post about them on this thread, definitely has some sort of Kyara in them, or maybe just a small amount with a VERY high amount of high grade aloeswood, possibly close to Kyara grade (if you want to know what the last experience I got with the old stock it wasn't too long ago I wrote it in this thread, so for more details go back and look, if you want). The new batch is literally completely different. It is much more regular aloeswood scent, high grade aloeswood that is, but it has this smokiness to it that isn't TOO unpleasant, but it is definitely filler + some aloeswood, but this scent only comes and goes and lasts for short amount of time, the new batch Peaceful Sky IS still decent.

The notes from the new batch I got were of, a woody, soft dark resin, oudiness, red and purple berries, sweet and bitterness (that turns into straight sweetness as the stick progresses), vanillic notes, agarwood/aloeswood notes, slightly leathery, and, as I mentioned, smokiness, sometimes the smokiness was actually quite pleasant in a way that you agarwood smokiness with oils, strange I know.

Anyway, this is what I gathered from memory, so must be the most defining notes if the memory is sticking.

The old stock sticks I have , IMO, are much, much better, as an aloeswood and mild kyara stick.

They are definitely different, and now just a high quality aloeswood stick, with more filler and not as much aloeswood as the old stock and 0% of kyara.

 

[Maunamoku]

Shoyeido, “Myo-kaku”. Blissful, triumphant agarwood.

Shoyeido, “Myo-ho”. Powerful, nuanced Kynam.

 

[-Renton-]

Gyokushodo - Saidaikoh 3 sticks.

Again, I have these sticks on next to me and I was just intently listening to them doing their dance, they are still burning.
It seems like the aloeswood, Vietnamese type - oudiness (woodiness, basically) is always there, as a back bone, as well as the earthiness from the spikenard, and when the aloeswood comes out to dominate and play a little, I think the earthiness of the spikenard and the other "curry" like spice is making it seem like a Vietnamese soil wood used, which I think is caused by the crafting of this incense with the spices, or they might have used soil wood? But at this price I dont think they would have. The aloeswood note is always there, lurking in the background, then it comes out and dominates, and the spikenard gives it this earthy, dirty scent, and the Reiryokoh in the stick gives the stick a similar smell to something like Misho by Shoyeido especially, and Pride of Kyoto, to a point. It does smell somewhat similar to those sticks. The sandalwood is quite quiet, but when it comes out it comes out seriously, and ofc as the aloeswood-oudy note is always there, it dances together between each other giving a creamy, sandalwood-y, almost buttery perfection along side a nice Vietnamese, dirty, almost soil-like, oudy note.

You also get notes of aloeswood resin, but it is somewhat, "dried" up. This is still an early on look at these sticks. For £28.99 for 150 sticks of this complexity, craftmanship and completely masterfully, artisanally done, with generations of techniques handed down for this range of sticks to still be here, is something else. I hope people dont look at the price per stick benefit and start off with these sticks in their Japanese incense journey as they will just boggle their mind, as it does mine, and I am quite versed in Japanese sticks... I think I burn the most here to be honest 🤣😂🤣.


EDIT: And yes, Kyara Enju boggles my mind the most. Lol. But those are just another level.

 

[Olfactory Nomad]

I think I've decided I'm really not into much of anything from Baieido. They're just so dry! I've got a bunch of different boxes now and to be honest some of them just smell like burning wood, quite acrid even. I've been reading reviews of them all from Olfactory rescue service etc and they apparently have plenty of agarwood and sandalwood etc but I don't like them and a couple have actually given me headaches.

 

[Olfactory Nomad]

I am prepared to sell a bulk box of Baieido for cost if anyone wants them?

 

[-Renton-]

I think I've decided I'm really not into much of anything from Baieido. They're just so dry! I've got a bunch of different boxes now and to be honest some of them just smell like burning wood, quite acrid even. I've been reading reviews of them all from Olfactory rescue service etc and they apparently have plenty of agarwood and sandalwood etc but I don't like them and a couple have actually given me headaches.

Not for everyone, brother. They are quite heavy on the aloeswood and spices. Although, you may like the Byakudan one, so atleast give that one a try. That is way lighter on the spices and they just prop up the quality sandalwood. It is a really nice sandalwood stick, and possibly the best sandalwood stick in the price to stick ratio.

Also you cant say you don't like ANYTHING Baieido, I think the more accurate thing to say is that you don't like anything from that range from Baieido, the Kobunboku range. 😛

 

[-Renton-]

Talking about Baieido. Not burned this stick in a while. Got 3 Kaden Kobunboku sticks on. Very nice, resinous aloeswood, with a nice sandalwood creamy, buttery dance, with a very dry woodiness. Some notes of red berries and typical oudiness too from the Vietnamese agarwood (most likely crassna, which explains the red berry note). Notes of chocolate and spicy chocolate, kind of similar to fresh black cultivated Kynam note, but spicier. Nice camphor notes that make the stick quite earthy and dry, sourness, and sweetness at the same time, sometimes I do actually get some good amount of sweetness, it is like a sweetness that is also sour. I think I have explained that before. Camphor also gives a medicinal sort of scent, I would say this stick is quite medicinal, too (this could be both the Borneol and Camphor). The semi-sweetness (sour/sweet) is really nice when you get right into the aloeswood - chocolatey-ness, with some red berries on top. I also get some powdery notes and the notes of the stick are quite clear from the camphor. Very sharp, bitter, earthiness too, with a sweetness and bitterness of morning coffee smell.

These sticks, as evident by Nomad, aren't for everyone. But they are definitely not BAD sticks, so if you do want to try them, I suggest everyone at least try them, they are good and most people rate them really well. Some people like Tokusen more than Kaden and vice versa. I like both, quite equally because they are quite different as Tokusen uses plentiful amounts (apparently quite alot) of Indonesian aloeswood and Kaden uses Vietnamese and also more spices, up to 20 ingredients!!! The Kaden stick is most likely a crassna aloeswood. Not sure what species Indonesia has most of, and would most likely be used in Tokusen, could anyone answer that one for me? As in, just the most likely species Indonesian aloeswood that Tokusen uses? Since I do think the Japanese use the native species of each aloes.

 

[-Renton-]

Part of a Seijudo, Kyara Enju stick. I got immediate psychoactive, physical effects as soon as I started wafting this stick in my face, even though it was less than half of a 4.5inch stick it lasted a whilem, and the psychoactive effects were of stimulation in the body. The notes weren't just smells either, I could feel the spiciness in my chest, the bitterness in my mouth, the cool soft (sometimes piercing) mintiness in my nose and sinuses etc. Amazing stick, with those notes I mentioned as well as creamy, oudiness with some spicy, minty, florals, minty florals, creamy florals, florals and bitter, spicy, minty florals. Lovely after smell of exquisite soft, powdery florals, with a fresh, clear, high quality oud note.

So, so, SOOOO hard to describe. Cant wait to get some raw wild Kyara and start comparing, learning more about Kyara etc.

 

[Olfactory Nomad]

Not for everyone, brother. They are quite heavy on the aloeswood and spices. Although, you may like the Byakudan one, so atleast give that one a try. That is way lighter on the spices and they just prop up the quality sandalwood. It is a really nice sandalwood stick, and possibly the best sandalwood stick in the price to stick ratio.

Also you cant say you don't like ANYTHING Baieido, I think the more accurate thing to say is that you don't like anything from that range from Baieido, the Kobunboku range. 😛

Yes, you're correct. Those are the only ones I've tried. I mean, I don't have a problem with a complex incense, it's just these are clearly beyond my scope and I can't enjoy them as they are. Maybe I'll revist them again one day. But for now blurgh..

 

[-Renton-]

Tensei by Tennendo 4 sticks, beautiful aroma. High quality aloeswood(s), nice powdery, floral notes, as well as a chocolate note that is lovely, sweet and sour, "semi - sweet", from the aloeswood(s). An amber accord is definitely there with a vanillic note. And nice and woody, warm and soft, like fresh linen.

Lovely high grade (multiple, as multiple sources say, but not 100% sure) aloeswoods, as well as gentle spices and herbs, but they dont dominate at all. Aloeswood only stick!!!

Good job by Tennendo, time to try Renzan next then eventually Kukai.

 

[Kolalid]

Seikado - Shoun Aloeswood

More of a blended stick. The spices and sandalwood are prominent here. It is sweet, spicy, with a smooth agarwood note and to me a slightly animalic creamy musky scent. A nice burn before going to bed. 💤

 

[Oudamberlove]

Nippon Kodo Kyara Heian

Simply put……perfume and agarwood.