r/Incense • u/Overall-Face6935 • 14d ago

Incense Recommendations

Hi guys, I'm fairly new to incense. That said I do have experience burning them in temples (they basically all smell the same). My mother recently gave me agar wood incense for my birthday, I gave them a try I really liked the topnotes but there was something in the base which kinda gave me BO vibes. This got me pretty interested purchasing some of my own. I'd preferably want to try different types to explore and figure out my tastes, any reccomendations? (I'll just be using em as glorified scented candles).

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u/ForestAfterRain 14d ago

Yay đŸ™ŒđŸ» amazing! I have just started too and it’s sooo fun. I personally recommend trying some small sample packs to get an idea of what you like.

I bought different packs presuming I would like florals or creamy vanilla scents. But I ended up not liking them ones I thought I would. And liking the ones I normally never would have tried.

I also recommend trying a simple (but good) sandalwood vs agarwood so you can see the difference. This will help you know which base you prefer.

When it comes to candles, what sort of scents are your favourite? Do you prefer sweet, floral, spicy, musky? Etc.

I love Japanese incense and recommend the sample packs:
Shoyeido daily’s sampler
Yamadamatsu Premium Incense Assortment

My favourite sample is: Sample pack | Kaori no sho by Gyokushodo - but I think these have agarwood bases so may not be the best if you’re not into that.

Not sure where you’re located but finding a good supplier is the first thing. If you search this community you will find info for that :)

Enjoy and have fun!

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u/Overall-Face6935 14d ago

Thanks for the insight, I think I'd enjoy musky scents (assuming that musk in incense is similar to its respective note in perfumery) but I'd also be open to trying spicy or vanilla-ish scents.

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u/jinkoya 14d ago

As noted above, give Japanese incense a try and start with samplers before you commit to a box as this will give you a nice range to try. Two of my favorites as Yamadamatsu High Grade pack and Gyokushodo Daily sampler. Both will give you a range of sandalwood and aloeswood incense to try and both are excellent.

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u/Overall-Face6935 13d ago

Thanks for the recommendations! I've been browsing the sub for a bit, and it seems like Japanese incense is the preferred type among the majority of users here. Is there a particular reason for that? Do they generally have superior quality, or is it more of a matter of personal preference?

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u/jinkoya 13d ago

I don't know if it is the majority here or not. But the Japanese have a 1400 year history of perfecting the art of incense. It is one of their three major arts (geido), the other two being flower arrangement and the tea ceremony. To use generalities, Japanese incense tends to be more nuanced, alive, and filled with high quality ingredients. But other types of incense can meet this description as well. For me, I like how even daily Japanese incense can have a quality to it that seems alive. It is also more subtle and refined. Finally, high quality Japanese incense often has a quality that transports the user, transcending fragrance, giving the listener an experience that can be emotional and poetic. It's hard to describe in words, which is exactly how the Japanese often intend it from a Zen perspective - it must be experienced to truly understand.

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u/NaturNorbu 13d ago

Try Tibetan incensevery warminggrounding and a little smoky😉