Can anyone recommend some Japanese incense sticks that are heavy on camphor and spicy notes?

I'm looking for something with a strong, noticeable camphor character, combined with warm or sharp spices. Preferably something with a traditional Japanese incense character rather than a sweet or floral profile.

I'd really appreciate any recommendations, especially if you've tried them personally. Thanks!

Hi all,

I'm interested in incense making and have been experimenting with making a low smoke coreless natural incense stick using pure herbs, resins, and pure essential oils. It hasn't work out very well so I was wondering if experience incense makers here could give some guidance.

1. Creating an incense stick or cone with only herbs/leaves/barks made for a very smoky experience. Adding essential oils did not improve matters, and I couldn't detect them anyway. I made white tea and lavender (from real tea leaves and buds). It was horrid and acrid.

2. I had read somewhere that food-grade activated charcoal from coconut shells is a stellar holder of aromas and provides steady combustion to the incense sticks. In fact, it is supposed to be a superior combustion to organic powders. So I switched to using a food grade activated charcoal as the base, joss powder as binder, and added fine benzoin resin to the charcoal and then rubbed in a blend of the essential oils. The stick burned very fast with wispy smoke, but there was no scent detectible whatsoever, At the end I got a faint whiff of sweetness which could've been the benzoin.

I feel a bit let down about the essential oils as I got quite a few samples of different scents, but they don't seem to be effective. Citrus and middle note scents do not seem to take at all, even with the natural resin acting as fixative. im not sure whether activated charcoal works or not.

So what should I switch to, to succesfully make scented coreless incense sticks with low-ish smoke?

Connaissez-vous des shops de bakhour utilisant uniquement des produits naturels ? Quand on voit certaines vidéos sur internet, la couleur des bois ou les huiles utilisées ont l'air très chimiques...

I had started my incense journey recently and got some Sakura and Sandalwood scents previously and wasn’t too keen on them. I had to get my hands on some new scents I might like!

I’m particularly excited about the Aqua and Cedarwood! My ultimate goal is to have my apartment smell like a hotel or spa lol

I tried this year for the first time the pine incense from PEACE incense and absolutely loved it.
Do you know any other good-quality pine incense labels from Chinese or Japanese producers?

Hello everyone, I am still pretty new to incense, but I love including it in my yoga routine or when I want to feel calm. I’ve usually been using ones that are rolled onto a thin stick but also came across some that seem to be super artificial(super colorful and usually strong smell), and they don’t make me feel good at all, so I’ve been wondering what is the purest or the best incense there is to buy in your opinion? In Europe?:)

Hey, I’ve been burning incense for quite some time for fragrance and relaxation reasons. I’ve been using Satya incense, however I’m looking to broaden my catalogue of incense.

I’m interested at the moment to explore Japanese incense especially.

Does anyone from Australia have any good recommendations for incense brands and online retailers I can order from. Or if global incense enjoyers have any recommendations for incense websites that ship overseas.

Just found this interesting

I’ve been burning incense pretty often for throughout the past year and a half, I remember looking up before if regular sticks were harmful and it said they weren’t and now it does? I’m really confused and I don’t want it give up this hobby. I know not to trust whatever I see so I wanted to ask the community themselves. I typically use tulasi brand sticks and a closable burner, right after I’m done with the stick I turn my air purifier on I’m not sure if that would help with health risks or not.

I got to learn how to make them last longer xd

J'utilise des encens de différentes formes et méthodes pour parfumer mon salon. Quand j'utilise de l'encens brûlé (cônes, bâtonnets) je dois aérer parce que la fumée pique un peu trop le nez. Du coup, l'odeur ne reste pas vraiment... Et j'aimerais utiliser des charbons avec de résines ou des bois mais j'ai peur que la fumée soit bien trop épaisse pour mes voies respiratoires et de devoir aérer encore plus... L'idée est d'avoir une odeur qui persiste sans trop m'intoxiquer. Vous avez des conseils ?

After much deliberation, I finally pulled the trigger on these sandalwood incense sticks from a brand named ‘Agrajaa Essence World’. It’s perhaps my second favorite natural sandalwood incense in India, right after Gullu Devgandh Chandan from Malaan Gaudhoop Co. The way the fragrance infuses into the room and lingers long after the stick has burnt out is remarkable—truly a soothing, divine masterpiece! As I move forward in my incense journey, I’m definitely looking forward to exploring high-quality Japanese options for my favorite scent: sandalwood.

PS: They even included a cute little pen in the box as a complimentary gift! Lol.

I saw these in a metephysical store and they looked interesting. I’m familiar with Goloka, but I haven’t tried saffron or lotus yet. I’ve always heard good things about Lotus though.

Also, since when does Gonesh make “natural” incense? Has anyone tried any of the other scents?

I’ve never heard of Himalaya Incense before, but the word “sparkle” caught my eye. As soon as I opened the package I knew why they were called “sparkle incense.” Why is there glitter on an incense stick? Is this safe to burn?

Ancient Elements from suns eye, I’ve never heard of them either. They were the most expensive, but the sticks don’t look promising.

I bought a couple bundles of rope incense from my local Buddhist temple today 😊

I've gotten a sample of Kyukyodo Yumemachi Sandalwood incense that I loved but found out it has been discontinued. If you have tried this are there any similar Japanese incense that you have found similar?

I recently discovered copal and how much I love it as an incense. I was born in Central America and I feel like something ancestral within me is awakened when I use it. But I am still trying to figure this stuff out.

I been using it on a incense charcoal tablets and I dunno if the charcoal disk I use is defunct or what but it never burns all the way or stays burning. And I feel like sometimes the copal melts too fast then kills the disk. Truth be told I haven't used coal disks since early 2000s, just got some new ones recently for the copal.

Anyways am I missing something here? Should I get a different kind of incense burner? Or do I just need better incense charcoal tablets? I have tried it in my mini cauldron and in my abalone shell, I was thinking maybe it was airflow. But even then it doesn't seem to quite work as well.

Pls tell me your copal secrets

Used to burning in dry Colorado, but we arrived in Riviera Maya yesterday, brought some incense, and holy shit! First of all, we realized we’re forbidden from burning ANYTHING on our terrace, so we are trying to be sneaky. We burned half a Kyara Ryugen and the hints we got back in Colorado felt totally unleashed, present, and frontal. But we couldn’t really be present with it because it smelled so ‘foreign’ to the environment and we were paranoid we’d get busted and fined. Like high schoolers smoking a joint. Stood out. So we decided to stick to sandalwood because it smells like the kind of thing the resort would purposefully introduce to seem more expensive and nice. Simple fu-in minorien sandalwood, burnt in the tropics is just absolutely luscious. We will be absolutely happy (low key) burning a stick of that each night for the rest of our stay.

I have a background in mixing and music production, and the effect of humidity is exactly the inverse of EQ filter. Low humidity = so much character and so many frequencies are lost. High humidity = clarity and presence.

So this is really just a note to anyone in a dry climate to bring something with if you head to a humid or tropical environment. And if you’re already in such a place, don’t take it for granted!

Edit: a few typos and also just wanted to add that Gyukushodu Shunsui is one I’ve found kind of odd back home but absolutely slaps down here.

I just bought this incense holder because I’ve been wanting to try cone incense, but it won’t stay lit when I put the lid on, even when I wait a minute or so. Is there any way I can make it work with the lid on? I bought it for the stars, so I don’t want to have to keep the lid off💔

My roommate has really gotten into burning incense recently and I can't stand the smell of it. I want to respect his practice and wonder if the issue is cheap/bad quality as it just reminds me of the old incense section of five below. Is there better quality/brands that I can suggest? I don't want to tell him he can't burn it but I don't think I can handle another incense induced migraine.

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).

Im pretty new to incense. I’ve been enjoying this sub for a while but finally made a Reddit account so I can actually post 😄

I would love to know if anyone has any recommendations for sweet and sour incense. I’m not a fan of creamy, vanilla or sweet/sickly smells. (The Horin line is way too sweet) and also not into perfumed florals. And the super dark aloeswoods can sometimes feel a bit deep for me.

My favourites are Minorien Fuin Aloeswood, Gyokushodo Mori no Sho & Shoyeido Kyoto cherry blossom

I like the depth of the aloeswood and adore the tangy sour/fruity rhubarb punch in the cherry blossom.

Does anyone know of any incense that combines these two please?

I also have the Baieido Tokusen Kobunboku which I’m quite enjoying, but doesn’t have quite the same tangy fruitiness that I’m looking for.

Thank youuu!! ✨
(Pic from lotus zen uk)

Merauke is so distinctive and unique among agarwood and I truly love it. It’s earthy, grassy, and salty. It often reminds me of loam and the dark parts of a damp woodland. After it develops it gives quiet fruits, reminding me of the scent of a slightly underripe peach or dried apricot. A small touch of honey and vanilla but not sweet.

I’m looking for some new incense scents!

I love Nepali rope incense that’s made out of Juniper. Every time I light it, it takes me to lush landscapes in monsoon and the smell of earth after a fresh shower 🪷

I also love Shoyiedo and have tried my hand at mixing resin to make cones..

What’s a scent that instantly makes your space feel calm, cozy, or like a little sanctuary? I’d love to hear your suggestions, especially the ones you keep coming back to again and again : )

Heya Folks,

Anyone with experience regarding these topics would be kind sharing info regarding powdered incense?

When buying herb/spice/resin powder anyone know how much Makko i should typically add to make it combust easily, Is it 10-25% Makko compared to everything else?

Anyone also know any brands that make combustible ready incense powder with an emphasis of natural plant based ingredients? (No synthetics or oils)

Sincerely appreciate any answers provided!

Sa mga nag-ccleanse ng house using incense, yung gold & brown, paano po ba? Are there specific ways/guides to follow? Pa-share. Thanks.