14 Ideas to Use Japanese Incense in Your Daily Life

Autumn has came and winter is coming so I think many of us will decide to stay at home and enjoy some nice, warming activities indoors. Without fail, one of these may be Japanese incense burning!

I`m sure you enjoy incense frequently but maybe you will find out some new ideas in this article that will make your everyday routine more pleasant and filled with fragrance!

1. Incense burner on your desk

Placing an incense burner on your desk is a great idea for many reasons. Your desk is a good place to display your favorite burner. There you have many chances to look at it often and to enjoy the beauty of  a Japanese ceramic – its lovely color, pattern or design. As you work hard, with no time for a break, it can be your companion that offers a calming fragrance to help you relax.

When your burner is handy just by burning one stick you will definitely feel better. If you`re curious, right now I`m enjoying the calming fragrance of Frankincense (Tennendo brand) which I`m burning in one of our Kohgen`s original incense burners.

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2. In the kitchen

Have you ever had the problem of unpleasant odors in your kitchen? Here in Japan the humidity is high, so even if you keep your kitchen clean you may smell unpleasant odors coming out from the sink`s pipe.

In that case incense is also handy. Of course it`s better to choose a fragrance which suits the kitchen, one with less smoke type and one that has a deodorizing effect. For me the best choice would be Kohien (Coffee Plantation) incense from Kunjudo, which combines all 3 advantages.

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3. In the toilet

Needless to say, unpleasant odors are also problematic in the toilet. Actually, this is a very good place to use up all those incenses you bought and don`t like that much to burn in your living space!

If you don`t have any of those, or prefer to have something more pleasant, then you can use incenses with a deodorizing effect that not only covers the unpleasant smells, but also, thanks to Japanese incense making technology, eliminates the odors in the air.  In this situation the Hanakaori Series comes in handy. You can choose from 5 fragrances: Lily of the valley, Rose, Lavender, Cherry blossom, Plum (Ume). You can also choose between two sizes: small packages of mini-sticks or bulk economical boxes.

There is one more idea to make your toilet a more comfortable and pleasant place thanks to Japanese incense.

Fragrant bags (nioibukuro) filled with raw incense materials are another kind of Japanese incense. They come in beautiful, colorful bags with traditional Japanese patterns. You can tie one to the door handle and pleasant fragrance will spread  throughout the room.

4. In the bathroom

Of course you can burn your favorite incense in the bathroom while taking a bath, but what about relaxing in fragrant bath water that smells like natural raw aromatic materials! Actually, it is very easy to achieve thanks to wonderful bath essences made by Osagawa Nisaburo Shoten. There are 3 different fragrances: patchouli (good for skin), cloves and fennel. All of them are made of natural ingredients and are shaped like big tablets, which easily dissolve in hot water.

bath-tablets

What is more, there is also an incense soap with natural patchouli extracts so you may be surprised how similar the fragrance is to traditional Japanese incense.

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If you are looking for more modern fragrances, then the essences of well-known Japanese maker – Nippon Kodo – may be perfect for you. There are two main series – Anming bath essences and nk pure bath powders.

5. In the drawers, wardrobe etc.

Probably you know that lavender repels insects from wardrobes. Maybe many of you have had enough of all those pungent insect repelling air fresheners you put in the wardrobe or drawer. Instead you can use the natural fragrant bag (nioibukuro) that  I mentioned before or if you want to choose something different from a traditional fragrance then try a small and handy fragrant sachets from Kunjudo maker. Those also belong to the Hanakaori Series I mentioned above and have the same fragrances to chose from.

You can also select more elegant bag, like Kakegou – hanging fragrant sachet and display it as part of your room decor.

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6. Make a good first impression

It goes without saying that the first impression you make when you meet someone is very important.

Sometimes you may attend an event where you meet many new people for the first time. You can easily make them remember you by using a small incense sachet that you keep in your business card holder. The fragrance is absorbed by the paper of your business card and, thanks to that, your card will be remembered for sure. You can make a very good, elegant impression in such a simple way. The well known incense series, Kayuragi from Nippon Kodo, also has small sachets to be kept in a business card holder. What is more, you can also put one into an envelope or place one in any other container or bag where you want the fragrance to be transmitted. You can choose among: Pomegranate, Aloeswood, White peach, Wisteria, Green Tea, Jasmine, Rose, Sandalwood or Osmanthus.

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7. For meditation, mindfulness practice

Probably you are familiar with meditation techniques or idea of mindfulness.

Actually, Japanese incense is great for both of those purposes. The calming effects and breathing exercises enhancement of incense are often mentioned in various articles.

Which incense is best for meditation? To be frank, the best incense is your favorite incense. If you like Sandalwood, burn Sandalwood; if you like Agarwood, go for it! If you like jasmine incense, it`s also fine! The best way is to follow your preferences and try many different incenses to find your favorites. If you are still exploring then you may find the Kohgen`s Original Trial Kit useful. It contains 20 different fragrances (2 sticks per each) and all explanations are in English, so after using the kit you will be able to easily find the incense you like best.

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Japanese incenses are made with a great care and ingredient selection, so even before burning you can take a while to smell them and enjoy their colors and shapes. Then, after lighting one, you can also admire watching how it burns, seeing the ash fall down, how the smoke and fragrance spread around. Burning incense may be a great mindfulness exercise indeed.

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8. While doing yoga or…

Lately, yoga courses on YouTube or in the sports centers have become very popular. If you are doing home yoga practice it is always very nice to enjoy your favorite fragrance while doing it. Ordinary incense length (approx. 14cm) burns about 30 minutes so it is perfect to have one stick during your daily exercise. Of course, there is nothing against burning while you are doing different exercises than yoga. You may also enjoy them while using some exercise machines at home. If you like running outside, you can take attaché one of the fragrant bags (nioibukuro) to your backpack.

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9. While enjoying your favorite food

Burning incense is a very nice way to wake you up in the morning while eating breakfast or drinking your morning coffee. You may be in a hurry, so you will need something what burns quite fast. In such situations the best choice is incense cones.

The feature of cone shaped incense is the ability to spread the fragrance well and fast. They burn from 5~10 minutes and produce more smoke than the sticks. They are a very good way to change the air around you quickly.

There is a very nice series of cone incense called Cafe Time Incense that is perfect for short breaks! Each package contains two different fragrances and is named according to the moods you may have. There are:

1.  Fresh Morning – Orange and Darjeeling tea
2. Refreshed Mood – Lime and Mint tea
3. Bright Afternoon – Cherry Blossom and Green tea
4. Relaxed Mood – Apple and Jasmine tea
5. Enchanted Mood – Lotus and Wine
6. Quiet Evening – Cassis and Mocha.

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10. Relaxation time

Burning incense while reading a book or listening to music is very relaxing. What about enjoying it also when you are playing your favorite games? During the games, we become very focused or we have a high level of adrenaline. Is these situations it`s very nice to burn the incense in the background. A good choice to induce relaxation is Japanese cypress (hinoki) fragrance.
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11. Inviting your friends

While having the quests at your home we always want to make a good impression. What about welcoming your friends with pleasant fragrance at the entrance? There are two ways to do this with Japanese incense. When you don`t have much time and need a fast effect then the best way is to use cones, as I mentioned before.

If you are waiting for your guests and you need the incense to produce the fragrance constantly it`s better to use incense coils. They burn for approx. 90 minutes (of course it depends on their diameters) and produce a regular amount of smoke.

To welcome your guests you can change the fragrances according to the four seasons. When the weather is nice you can pick up the refreshing flower fragrances of Hana-no-Hana series. You can choose between rose, violets or lily. When it`s cold it`s better to use some warming woody fragrances like Agarwood with a blend of raw aromatic materials. You may try to surprise your guests with a sweet and a bit modern Agarwood fragrance such as Heian Koh from Kunmeido.

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There is also another way to enjoy Japanese incenses with your friends! What about organizing a meeting during which you will play an incense game? You can burn the incenses selected by one of you and try to figure out which one it is without looking at the package. Or you can try to give them new names according to the impressions you have while enjoying them. If you are looking for some more hints on how to play incense games, I recommend reading a wonderful book called “The Book of Incense” written by Kiyoko Morita.

 

12. Insect repelling

Maybe this tip is not a perfect one for winter, but definitely, when you are having a party in your garden or enjoying being outside in the summer, the insects are not the most welcomed guests…

In those cases Japanese incense is also helpful. There is an insect repellent incense made of 100% natural ingredients such as neem and citronella oils. You can use it without worry as it does not harm people nor pets. You can use it outdoors and enjoy your BBQ.

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13. Buddhist practices

Japanese incense is burned in the temples, on the graveyards and at home before the Buddhist altar or photos of deceased family members. If you have Japanese friends or Japanese members in your family, you may want to follow Japanese custom of Japanese incense gifts. There are many incense series, ready for such occasions, that are beautifully packed in paulownia boxes or lacquered boxes. Of course, there are many sizes and kinds so you should choose wisely. If you are curious and would like to see how such gifts look, click here.

If you have doubts while choosing a Japanese incense gift, feel free to contact us (webmaster@kohgen.com).

 

14. Readers recommendations

What about your ideas about how to use Japanese incense in daily life? Do you have any suggestions?

Feel free to share your ideas with us in the comments or on our facebook fanpage.

We will add the most interesting ones to this article!

Let`s feel our life with fragrance!

Kohgen interviewed by Olfactory Rescue Service!

Dear Readers!

We are happy to announce that one of the most detailed blog about incense in English – Olfactory Rescue Service – gave us an opportunity to answer the readers questions regarding Japanese incense. We are very grateful to Mike, the owner of the blog for creating that opportunity. We hope you will enjoy the text and learn something new about Japanese incense!

You can find the interview here: https://olfactoryrescueservice.wordpress.com/2016/10/12/interview-with-anna-pach-from-kikuya-seishindo-and-kohgen/

Please enjoy!

ORS

Some basics about Japanese incense ingredients

We are very happy that you enjoyed our previous e-visit at our Kohgen Store in Nagoya on our blog! (If you haven`t read it yet, you can find it -> here!) This time we would like to introduce a bunch of basic and interesting information about Japanese incense ingredients in general. Let`s get started!

 

Do you know what are Japanese incense made of? In general, they are made of raw incense ingredients – some of them you probably know very well, as they are also used while cooking (for example cinnamon, clove or stevia).

There are also many others incense ingredients, which you probably haven`t seen or used before, so please see our infographic to learn more about them. ↓

 

incense ingredients

 

Of course, there are much more ingredients, but I believe those ones are the most basic and often included in Japanese incense.

Some time ago, I had a great opportunity to join incense making classes at our Kohgen store and make my own fragrant bag called nioi bukuro in Japanese.

 

At the beginning I added some raw sandalwood chips.

At the beginning I added some raw sandalwood chips.

 

While making a fragrant bag out of natural raw incense materials, you have a great chance not only to see how they look like in reality, but also enjoy all fragrances one by one.

 

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Variety of incense ingredients. What to pick up next? It`s up to you!

 

Making fragrant bag is very simple, you just need to add the ingredients you like and mix them while trying if you like its fragrance or not. Of course, there are some secret tips thanks to which you can make the fragrance stronger or spread the fragrance better! If you are interested, please visit our stores in Nagoya or Tokyo – we can arrange some incense making class! (contact us: webmaster@kohgen.com)

 

Mixing all the ingredients together. The last thing to do is to choose a colorful bag from the box next to the bowl.

Mixing all the ingredients together. The last thing to do is to choose a colorful bag from the box next to the bowl.

 

The bags which we use to make a nioi bukuro are usually made from gold brocade fabric, so they are very cute. What is more there a lot of traditional Japanese patterns on them, so each of them is unique and looks very Japanese.

 

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I chose my favourite bag! It has Japanese Cherry Blossoms (sakura) pattern!

 

During this incense class I realized a very important thing – obviously the fragrance is something very personal and each of us has different impressions, but it also depends on your culture, country and experiences!

For example, cloves. I like them very much and they are bringing me an impression of warmness during the cold winters in my homeland – Poland. I was studying in a beautiful city of Cracow, which is also famous from a wonderful spiced hot wine called Grzaniec Galicyjski. It contains cloves and much more wonderful spices like cinnamon etc. Knowing that you can just imagine my great surprise, when one of my Japanese coworkers told me, that Japanese people do not really like colve`s fragrance itself as it is included in a painkiller medicine used by the dentists!

Thank you very much for reading this short article. I hope you enjoyed and broadened a bit your knowledge of Japanese incense.

If you would like to purchase our handmade original fragrant bags, feel free to contact us via e-mail webmaster@kohgen.com or facebook here.

 

Kohgen original fragrant bags (nioi bukuro)

Kohgen original fragrant bags (nioi bukuro)

Our store in Nagoya has been rebuilt!

We are happy to announce that our main store in Nagoya has been rebuilt and it is already opened!

Today I would like to introduce you our newly rebuilt store. Our Dear Customers are spread in many countries, so unfortunately not all of you have a chance to see how the store looks like. Because of that I would like to invite you for a brief e-visit at Kohgen! Let`s get started!

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KOHGEN (Source of Fragrance) – our store name

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Front of Kohgen store in Nagoya

Our store is located in 4-47, Oaki-cho, Nakamura-ku in Nagoya city (Japan).

You can easily find the entrance as there is a huge o-juzu (buddhist prayer beads) displayed in the front along with big Japanese incense pictures. There are also small Japanese rock steps surrounded by small plants, which guides you into the entrance. It is similar to a Japanese garden path, bringing you the feeling of calmness from the first moments.

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Store front with display and rock path

There is also an incense burning in the entrance and inviting you inside, so you can discover a new fragrance each day just by coming around.

After entering you are surrounded by various kinds of Japanese incense. Here on the 1st floor we have incense sticks, cones, coils and many others of almost all Japanese incense makers displayed! If we are talking about the incense, in total we have over 4000 products!

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Various kinds of Japanese incense displayed

In the middle you can see two islands. One of them introduces Japanese incense to incense beginners through our original products and trial kits. The second one is perfect for those who are looking for seasonal fragrances recommendations.

Kohgen`s original products for incense beginners

(Island 1) Kohgen`s original products for incense beginners

Recommendation products for summer

(Island 2) Recommended products for summer

Vast variety of Japanese incense and our original Traial Kit

Brief glance at 1st floor

On the left side you can see a counter. There is also a place to sit down, relax and burn some incense while talking.

Sit, relax and burn some incense with us!

Sit down, relax and burn some incense with us!

There are small packages with incense samples, so you can take them and enjoy the fragrance before burning. You can also ask our staff to burn the particular one you are interested in.

Incense samples are displayed in front of the products. You can pick it up and check the fragrance!

Incense samples are displayed in front of the products

The next section is dedicated to incense burners and stands. There are many shapes and traditional Japanese patterns. You can also enjoy a small Japanese garden view outside the window!

Incense burners and stands corner

Incense burners and stands corner

Incense burners display with small Japanese garden below.

Incense burners display with small Japanese garden below

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Small Japanese garden

Incense stands for all incense shapes

Incense stands for all incense shapes

If you are looking for an incense stand, holder or plate like above, you can easily access them through our site: http://kohgenworld.jugemcart.com/?mode=grp&gid=53784

Kohgen`s original incense burners, available in 13 different colors!

Kohgen`s original incense burners, available in 13 different colors!

If you are an incense lover, then you may be looking for a Japanese-style incense burner. As you can see, we have plenty of them in different colors, shapes and patterns. If you are interested, please check our site or contact us for more details (http://kohgenworld.jugemcart.com/?mode=grp&gid=53785), as not all of them are posted yet on our English e-store.

incense burners

Colorful incense burners with lids

Next to the incense burners and incense stands corner, there is a section with Japanese incense gifts. There is plenty to choose, as Japanese people are giving them especially during Obon festival season (Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors held in July-August, depending on the region).

They are also good if you would like to buy an incense set with small packets and share them with friends!

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Incense gifts section

Incense gifts contain small packages of incense

Incense gifts contain small packets of incense sticks

If you are interested in Japanese incense gifts, please check the site here: http://kohgenworld.jugemcart.com/?mode=grp&gid=53780&page=1

The next section is Japanese candles and bath essences. Let`s check what do we have here.

Some calming and refreshing bath essences to make your body feel good!

Some calming and refreshing bath essences to make your body feel good!

Would you like to try? There is nothing better than having a bath with lovely fragrance after a busy day! You can find more details about those products here! → http://kohgenworld.jugemcart.com/?mode=grp&gid=54049

We also have Japanese candles and I can assure you haven`t seen similar before! Just look at the photos!

Japanese hand-made candles for each month!

Japanese hand-made candles for each month!

Candles in a shape of fruits, sushi and...

Candles in a shape of fruits, sushi and…

... even beer and edamame! (popular Japanese snack)

… even beer and edamame! (popular Japanese snack)

They look like real food, aren`t they! They are perfect for an original gift from Japan!

You can also find them on our e-store: http://kohgenworld.jugemcart.com/?mode=grp&gid=54048

There is also a 2nd floor, so let`s go and see what is there!

Just climb the stairs…

Stair guiding to the 2nd floor and...

Stairs guiding to the 2nd floor and…

... fragrant woods display!

… fragrant woods display!

And here we are on the 2ndd floor! There is a huge display of precious fragrant woods! There are also some cute items like…

... elephants made of sandalwood!

… elephants made of sandalwood!

Next to them there is an incense classroom! Here you can come and learn more about Japanese incense and incense making with us! For example you can learn how to make nioibukuro – Japanese fragrant sachet.

Incense classroom at Kohgen

Incense classroom at Kohgen

There are also many cute fragrant bags in animal shapes!

There are also many cute fragrant sachets in animal shapes!

In the classroom there is also a tokonoma – Japanese alcove which is a standard element of traditional Japanese architecture. There is a scroll, incense and sometimes flowers displayed suitably for each season.

Tokonoma - Japanese alcove with the scroll displayed

Tokonoma – Japanese alcove with the scroll displayed

Kodo - Way of Incense utensils

Kodo – Way of Incense utensils

If you are practicing Kodo – Way of Incense and you are in need of the utensils, feel free to contact us for more details.

There are also incense raw ingredients gathered in one place in the classroom. Thanks to that you can see what are Japanese incense made of.

Raw incense ingredients

Raw incense ingredients

Do you recognize some of them?

Do you recognize some of them?

Incense ingredients and fragrant woods hidden in small drawers

Incense ingredients and fragrant woods hidden in small drawers

 

In the next part of the 2nd floor there are plenty of o-juzu – Buddhist prayer beads and bracelets. They are made of woods or gems – all natural and high quality.

Ojusu - Buddhist prayer beads

O-juzu – Buddhist prayer beads

Gamestones bracelets

Gamestones bracelets

2016 year is a year of Monkey. Because of that we have a special seasonal display, which will change each year to create a unique atmosphere.

2016 - year of Monkey

2016 – year of Monkey

With this annual display our e-visit at Kohgen comes to the end. Can you see our maneki neko? It is a cat who welcomes you and is waiting for you to come back to visit Kohgen all the time!

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Our maneki neko is waiting for you!

I hope you enjoyed this e-visit at Kohgen! Feel free to come to our store while you are in Japan!

If you have any questions or need any items, do not hesitate to contact us!

Some of the products are not posted yet on our English e-store, so we will be more than happy to help you find them!

You can contact us through our facebook fanpage https://www.facebook.com/KikuyaSeishindo/

or

e-mailwebmaster@kohgen.com

It was a pleasure to introduce you our store! Thank you very much for your time!

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Evening view of Kohgen store

See you at Kohgen!

Aloeswood

In Japan, Aloeswood is believed to be a sacred and important. It is one of the most distinguished ingredients of Japanese incense.

During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Japanese began to use various fragrant woods such to prepare incense. It was used in a recreational way while others were used in the most important of religious ceremonies. This led to a classification system for grading the qualities of aloeswood. The very finest quality aloeswood is referred to as Kyara. Good quality aloeswood fetches very high prices and this is reflected in the prices of the highest quality aloeswood incenses.

Aloeswood is also an important wood in the Middle East and in many places is burned daily to accompany prayer. It is also known as agarwood, eaglewood, oud or gaharu. The wood itself has no significant aroma. Aloeswood is obtained from the evergreen Daphne genus tree. When a fungus infects the tree a resin begins to form. When the trees die this resin continues to harden and mature. This resin imbued wood is then collected for incense and burning purposes.

In Japan it is considered a great honor to receive a gift of fine aloeswood or Kyara. At our store you can find plenty incense sticks, cones and coils made from Kyara Aloeswood, make a wonderful present for your loved ones or… for yourself! Please, have a look at our website, click here!

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Skull talismans

 

Skulls are widely known as a symbol of death and danger. Only recently skull motif became popular in street fashion, previously being reserved for punk or emo subcultures. This deadly symbol is also ubiquitous in Japan as well. However, it conveys a different meaning than in Western cultures.

Human skull, from a Buddhist point of view, represents change –for example, the one from life to death, which for Buddhists is merely just another rite of passage after which one’s soul will be born again in another being through reincarnation.

Skulls are also often used as a talisman, based on a belief that evil spirits will be driven away if they see something scary. Makes sense, don’t you think?

If you would like to purchase a classy skull accessory, whether for a mere fashion statement or for spiritual purposes, please take a look at our original bracelets, which are available at out online store! -> HERE!

 

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Owls

Owls in Japan are a very popular symbol. They are ubiquitous – you can see them in front yards of houses, next to doorbells, on bags, foods and souvenirs. There is even an owl café where you can pet and take a picture with a real owl! But why are owls so popular in Japan?
The answer is very simple – they are one of Japanese symbols of good fortune. In Japanese, the word for owl, fukurou 梟, contains the word fuku, which, written using different kanji characters, means “good fortune” 福.
People in Japan have great faith in various talismans and symbols. This one is especially kawaii, don`t you think so?
If you would like to become a owner of (wooden) cute owls, please take a look at this bracelet!

 

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Birthstones

Each month of the year is associated with one or more birthstones. Since ancient times birthstones have been believed to possess healing powers and therapeutic influence.
According to 1st century historian Josephus, birthstones are related with the twelve stones in Aaron’s breastplate, twelve months and twelve signs of zodiac.
George Frederick Kunz, an American mineralogist, claimed that custom of wearing birthstones originated in 18th century Poland. It is believed that wearing stone associated with month of one’s birth brings luck.
Special birthstone bracelets like the ones seen on the photo will be soon available in our store!

Do you know which birthstone is yours?

January – Garnet
February – Amethyst
March – Aquamarine, Bloodstone, Coral
April – Diamond, Rock Crystal
May – Emerald, Jade
June – Pearl, Moonstone
July – Ruby
August – Sardonyx, Peridote
September – Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli
October – Opal, Tourmaline
November – Citrine, Topaz
December – Tanzanite, Turquoise

1-GARNET 2-AMETHYST 4-CRYSTAL 5-MAY 8-SARDONYX 9-LAPIS-LAZULI 11-CITRINE 12-TURQUOISE

Awaji Island

Do you know Awaji Island? It is also known as a “Flower Island”, since you can enjoy so many different types of flowers there.
Most of the traditional incense sticks “senkō” 【線香】are made on Awaji Island. Those incenses are known worldwide and valued for high quality of traditional production techniques. Currently Awaji Island is the leading manufacturer of incense in Japan, responsible for the production of 70% of all Japan’s incense.
The southern tip of Awaji lies a mere kilometer off the coast of Shikoku, at the other end of the island, the northern tip is close to the port city of Kobe on Honshu (around 50 kilometers away). Awaji is now connected to the mainland by the immense 3.5 km Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which is the world’s longest suspension bridge.

You can buy incense from Awaji Island in our online shop!a1 a2
http://kikuyaseishindo.trustpass.alibaba.com

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Yummy fragrance

Did you know that incense has various aromas, including not only flowers, but also fragrances that smell exactly like mouth-watering food or drink? Our store has many modern varieties of traditional Japanese incense. We are certain you will find your favorite one as well!
Our recommended “yummy fragrance” series (Nippon Kodo Cafe Time Incense) you can find here!

 

But you can also have a look at our incense sticks with yummy fragrance such as coffee, honey or strawberry!

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