This is my second try of BeckoningSpring from Shoyedo.
Incense Diary: BeckoningSpring
This time around the smell seems more gentle. Yes, there is a distinct fresh cedar-like smell, but it feels more muted than the first time I tried it. A couple of "cedar" sticks I've tried before had a much sharper tone than this, but the scent is so focused on that one particular character, that I can't even begin to detect other things. If feels like a right aroma for the winter. I won't be buying this one individually any time soon, but I just might do another round of the Premium Sampler as I am finding most sticks on it too complex for me to deal with at this time
{
rating: 5
company:shoyeido
ingredients:clove, benzoin,patchouli,borneo camphor
characteristics: yang, resin, cut wood
}
Monday, June 15, 2009
Misho(Gentle Smile)
Shoyeido Japanese Incense - Premium Incense
Got this stick from the Shoyeido's Premium Sampler. I can definitely detect lots of Alloeswood(it says Agarwood on the ingredient list and I am not sure if there is a distinct difference in terms). The aroma is very thick and somewhat tarry. This might be one of those sticks that should be tried by someone who is less of a novice. I can't get rid of the feeling that I detect the smell of burned plastic :). Surely that was not the intended effect. I've only burned half a stick and will try another half in a few days, to see if the effect is the same.
{
rating: 5
company: shoyedo
ingredients: agarwood, cinamon, benzoin, borneo camphor
characteristics: neutral, tar, thick
}
Got this stick from the Shoyeido's Premium Sampler. I can definitely detect lots of Alloeswood(it says Agarwood on the ingredient list and I am not sure if there is a distinct difference in terms). The aroma is very thick and somewhat tarry. This might be one of those sticks that should be tried by someone who is less of a novice. I can't get rid of the feeling that I detect the smell of burned plastic :). Surely that was not the intended effect. I've only burned half a stick and will try another half in a few days, to see if the effect is the same.
{
rating: 5
company: shoyedo
ingredients: agarwood, cinamon, benzoin, borneo camphor
characteristics: neutral, tar, thick
}
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Essence of the Ages - Imported Incense from Around the World
Essence of the Ages - Imported Incense from Around the World
This site seems to have the widest range of products with the best descriptions. I haven't bought from them, so I won't vouch for the service, but it's worth a look.
This site seems to have the widest range of products with the best descriptions. I haven't bought from them, so I won't vouch for the service, but it's worth a look.
BeckoningSpring
Shoyeido Japanese Incense - Premium Incense
Even though cedar is not listed as an ingredient, that's what I think I keep smelling on this one. Maybe I am mixing my scents. I don't dislike it, but it almost reminds me of a smell in a woodworking shop or a fireplace, i.e. I find it nothing special and probably won't buy it as a regular stick. I am only burning a half a stick(from the Premium Sampler) for now, and hoping that the second half will surpise me.
{
rating: 5
company:shoyeido
ingredients:clove, benzoin,patchouli,borneo camphor
characteristics: yang, resin, cut wood
}
Even though cedar is not listed as an ingredient, that's what I think I keep smelling on this one. Maybe I am mixing my scents. I don't dislike it, but it almost reminds me of a smell in a woodworking shop or a fireplace, i.e. I find it nothing special and probably won't buy it as a regular stick. I am only burning a half a stick(from the Premium Sampler) for now, and hoping that the second half will surpise me.
{
rating: 5
company:shoyeido
ingredients:clove, benzoin,patchouli,borneo camphor
characteristics: yang, resin, cut wood
}
Thursday, May 28, 2009
En-Mei (Circle)
Shoyeido Japanese Incense - Premium Incense
(Shoyeido categorizes it as both "classic" and "premium daily" incense)
If my late grandfather were Japanese, this is what his office would smell like. It's a perfect incense to sit in a very warm place and look at old photographs. It's the olfactory version of the word "cozy". Not really sure what gives it a distinct spicy, mossy, old-wood feel. Its not sandalwood. Maybe it's that mysterious..."and spices" ingredient that Shoyeido lists at the end of the label. I actually like smelling the unlit stick. It's almost like a concentrated version of what the room smells like after you light it. I got the 35 stick package, but seem to be running though it pretty quickly, so I might have to shell out $48 and get the 150 stick one. This stick produces just enough odor without the smoke becoming too invasive, so I tend to burn this stick more often.
{
rating:9.0
company:shoyeido
ingredients:sandalwood,patchouli,clove, spices
characteristics: cozy, comfortable, quiet, yeng
}
(Shoyeido categorizes it as both "classic" and "premium daily" incense)
If my late grandfather were Japanese, this is what his office would smell like. It's a perfect incense to sit in a very warm place and look at old photographs. It's the olfactory version of the word "cozy". Not really sure what gives it a distinct spicy, mossy, old-wood feel. Its not sandalwood. Maybe it's that mysterious..."and spices" ingredient that Shoyeido lists at the end of the label. I actually like smelling the unlit stick. It's almost like a concentrated version of what the room smells like after you light it. I got the 35 stick package, but seem to be running though it pretty quickly, so I might have to shell out $48 and get the 150 stick one. This stick produces just enough odor without the smoke becoming too invasive, so I tend to burn this stick more often.
{
rating:9.0
company:shoyeido
ingredients:sandalwood,patchouli,clove, spices
characteristics: cozy, comfortable, quiet, yeng
}
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Awesome incense blog - Olfactory Rescue Service
Olfactory Rescue Service
Finally, by total accident(searched for Minorien on Google) I found this incense blog. They might have all the answers.
Sweet.
Finally, by total accident(searched for Minorien on Google) I found this incense blog. They might have all the answers.
Sweet.
Morning Star - Pine
Nippon Kodo | Catalog&Online Shop
Morningstar is a "basic"(aka. cheapest) line from Nipponkodo. My living room smells like a bathroom in Chinatown...which happens to be where I bought it. Not the bathroom, but Chinatown. Well, not Chinatown, but Clement street, which is sort of a second Chinatown in San Francisco. Unless, Irving street past 19th avenue is the second Chinatown, in which case Clement would be the third Chinatown in San Francisco. The main point, of course, being that the incense smells like a bathroom and not that the bathroom is in Chinatown.
I bought several Morningstar 50 stick boxes from this place on Clement and 4th or 5th, called Tokyo...something. Got myself a Pine, Yuzo, Vanilla, Lavender, Musk, Rose and Cinnamon. They were $1.89 each - a $1 cheaper than at most other places, which made it way to easy to follow the impulse. I tried Yuzo, didn't like it, but didn't feel like writing about it right then and there. With this Pine(sol?) flavor, Morningstar line is 0 for 2, as far as I can tell. I am really not looking forward to trying these and others from this line again, even though I have to in the spirit of learning.
I give it 1.5 stars and not zero because this line has contributed to making the world a better place one Chinatown bathroom at a time. Maybe I'll try these outside...
*ingredients: not listed to avoid shame*
*1.5*
Morningstar is a "basic"(aka. cheapest) line from Nipponkodo. My living room smells like a bathroom in Chinatown...which happens to be where I bought it. Not the bathroom, but Chinatown. Well, not Chinatown, but Clement street, which is sort of a second Chinatown in San Francisco. Unless, Irving street past 19th avenue is the second Chinatown, in which case Clement would be the third Chinatown in San Francisco. The main point, of course, being that the incense smells like a bathroom and not that the bathroom is in Chinatown.
I bought several Morningstar 50 stick boxes from this place on Clement and 4th or 5th, called Tokyo...something. Got myself a Pine, Yuzo, Vanilla, Lavender, Musk, Rose and Cinnamon. They were $1.89 each - a $1 cheaper than at most other places, which made it way to easy to follow the impulse. I tried Yuzo, didn't like it, but didn't feel like writing about it right then and there. With this Pine(sol?) flavor, Morningstar line is 0 for 2, as far as I can tell. I am really not looking forward to trying these and others from this line again, even though I have to in the spirit of learning.
I give it 1.5 stars and not zero because this line has contributed to making the world a better place one Chinatown bathroom at a time. Maybe I'll try these outside...
*ingredients: not listed to avoid shame*
*1.5*
Monday, May 11, 2009
Nokiba - Moss Garden
Shoyeido Japanese Incense - Premium Incense
I have no idea how they do it - How do Shoyeido people name the incense so accurately. If I just closed my eyes I'd think I am standing close to a small fire in a damp meadows. The odor is light and slightly sour with a some spicy(cumin-like) tones. The distinct smell of smoke could be a little lighter, but still a great stick. Super relaxing.
*company:shoyeido*
*ingredients: Sandalwood, Benzoin, Patchouli*
*8.5*
I have no idea how they do it - How do Shoyeido people name the incense so accurately. If I just closed my eyes I'd think I am standing close to a small fire in a damp meadows. The odor is light and slightly sour with a some spicy(cumin-like) tones. The distinct smell of smoke could be a little lighter, but still a great stick. Super relaxing.
*company:shoyeido*
*ingredients: Sandalwood, Benzoin, Patchouli*
*8.5*
Friday, May 8, 2009
Kyara Taikan
Kyara Taikan / Premium Aloeswood (150 sticks)
Company: Nipponkodo
"Great Prospects"
Very heavy almost "sticky" aroma. You can almost feel the heavy black resin bubbling. I just used half of a stick as the whole stick completely engulfs my entire room in the smell that is both pungent and delicate at the same time. I can't seem to find the "right" way to burn it. If the windows are closed, the smell becomes too thick, yet if the windows are open, it goes away too quickly. For those few minutes that the concentration and distribution is "just right", the smell is perfect. I'll have to experiment with this one a lot more.
{free assoc
color: reddish brown
time: summer evening
energy: yen
}
*9.0*
Company: Nipponkodo
"Great Prospects"
Very heavy almost "sticky" aroma. You can almost feel the heavy black resin bubbling. I just used half of a stick as the whole stick completely engulfs my entire room in the smell that is both pungent and delicate at the same time. I can't seem to find the "right" way to burn it. If the windows are closed, the smell becomes too thick, yet if the windows are open, it goes away too quickly. For those few minutes that the concentration and distribution is "just right", the smell is perfect. I'll have to experiment with this one a lot more.
{free assoc
color: reddish brown
time: summer evening
energy: yen
}
*9.0*
Kyoto Autumn Leaves (Kyo-nishiki)
This is Shoyeido's "daily series" incense. Not really sure what Kyoto's fall is like, but this almost immediatelly transported me back to Odessa of my childhood. Sometime in September/October when enough leaves have fallen from trees, those who had summer homes(Ru. Дача[dah-chah]) would rake the leaves in their gardens into big piles and burn them. The tourist season is over and it gets really quiet. All you hear is the light wind blowing the falling leaves around with a realy faint aroma of leaf smoke in the air. Maple, acacia, oak, appricot, wallnut... I am sure I am missing many others. The light smell of leaf smoke is how I remember the fall season in as a child.
The listed ingredients are Sandalwood, Cinnamon, Patchouli and Benzoin.
The aroma is true to it's name, almost too much so, which is why I prefer to burn it with wide open windows, otherwise the smoke might be too overhwellming.
*7.0*
The listed ingredients are Sandalwood, Cinnamon, Patchouli and Benzoin.
The aroma is true to it's name, almost too much so, which is why I prefer to burn it with wide open windows, otherwise the smoke might be too overhwellming.
*7.0*
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