Incense drifts quietly through more than a thousand years of Japanese history. Its story begins in 595 CE, when a piece of agarwood washed ashore on Awaji Island. Villagers, unaware of its worth, placed it on a fire, and were stunned as the air filled with a fragrance unlike anything they had known. That small moment of discovery marked the beginning of incense in Japan. The wood was then offered to the Imperial Court. With the spread of Buddhism, incense first served sacred roles in temples, linking fragrance with prayer and purification.
By the Heian period, incense transcended ritual use and entered courtly life. Aristocrats blended their own fragrances, known as takimono, to scent their robes, poetry, and more. Centuries later, during the Muromachi period, incense appreciation evolved into a discipline called kodo, or the “Way of Incense.” Alongside the tea ceremony and flower arrangement, kodo became one of Japan’s Three Classical Arts of Refinement, transforming the simple act of appreciating fragrance into a spiritual discipline of mindfulness.
In the Edo period, incense, which was once the privilege of nobles and samurai, began to reach affluent merchants and townspeople, its ceremonial roots preserved even as its forms adapted to everyday life, such as the creation of incense sticks.
At Omakase, this legacy continues. Each piece offered is not merely a product but an heir to an ancient tradition, crafted for those who seek more than luxury. To experience these fragrances is to appreciate the joint efforts of hard-working craftsmen who perfected their work and the history from where it all began.
Essence of Incense
Behind the elegance of Japanese incense lies the essence of its materials. From rare woods to precious resins, each base carries its own character, shaping the depth and spirit of the fragrance. Let’s explore some of the most cherished bases of incense, like sandalwood, agarwood, aloeswood, and more.
Agarwood
Agarwood, known in Japan as jinko, is one of the most treasured incense materials in the world. It forms when the Aquilaria tree produces a dark, resinous heartwood in response to natural stress, creating a fragrance that is deep, complex, and evolving with each breath. Revered in Japan since ancient times, its rarest grade, kyara, has long been considered more precious than gold, embodying purity, refinement, and spiritual depth.
This extraordinary scent can be experienced through Kousaido’s Japanese Incense Hitotoki Agarwood, crafted from rare kyara. With each burn, it releases a layered fragrance that transforms any space into one of quiet reflection and reverence.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is one of the most revered aromatic woods in the world, prized for its soothing, long-lasting fragrance and its spiritual significance across Asia. In Japan, it has been valued for centuries for its ability to calm the mind, deepen meditation, and purify spaces. The wood’s creamy, warm, and slightly sweet aroma unfolds gradually as it burns, offering a gentle yet persistent presence that evokes clarity, balance, and serenity.
This timeless quality is beautifully captured in Kousaido Japanese Incense Hitotoki Sandalwood. An enduring classic, it brings subtle elegance and serenity to any space.
Ambergris
Ambergris is one of the most mysterious and luxurious materials in the fragrance world. Formed over time within the digestive system of sperm whales and later carried by the sea, it transforms through the ocean’s currents and sunlight into a rare, wax-like substance with a sweet, marine, and musky aroma. For centuries, ambergris has been treasured in both perfumery and incense for its ability to lend warmth, depth, and longevity to fragrance. Its scent is subtle, but it evokes its interesting origin as a rare gift from nature.
This ocean-born legacy is beautifully expressed in Kousaido Japanese Incense Hitotoki Ambergris. Crafted as a faithful recreation of natural ambergris and blended with warm sandalwood.
Cherry Blossom
Few symbols are as deeply woven into Japanese culture as the cherry blossom. Celebrated for its fleeting beauty, it embodies renewal, transition, and the delicate balance of joy and impermanence. While cherry blossom is not among the most traditional incense scents, its soft, floral aroma evokes both the vitality of springtime and the quiet elegance of blossoms beneath the evening sky.
This duality is beautifully expressed in Kousaido Japanese Incense Musubi-kou Cherry Blossom. Presented in a paulownia wood box with an auspicious incense holder, the set features two distinct cherry blossom-inspired scents: one bright and celebratory, the other serene and contemplative. Together, they honor the spirit of connection, hope, and new beginnings, making this incense as meaningful as it is fragrant.
A New Palette of Scents
Though incense in Japan is steeped in centuries of tradition, today’s artisans continue to explore and innovate, introducing fragrances that feel both familiar and refreshingly modern. Scents such as vanilla, peach, lavender, green tea, and more bring a lighter, more playful character to incense, making it approachable for everyday life while still rooted in the art of fragrance appreciation. These blends invite moments of familiarity and curiosity, expanding the possibilities of incense beyond the classical woods and resins
This spirit of exploration is beautifully captured in Kousaido Japanese Incense Hyakuraku-kou, a curated set of 17 distinct fragrances. From the nostalgic sweetness of fragrant olive and the crisp brightness of lemon, to the traditional depth of aloeswood and the gentle bloom of cherry blossom, each stick offers a new mood and a new moment. The collection includes both timeless favorites and unexpected notes, such as coffee, apple, and bamboo.
The Art of Fragrance
From the first arrival of agarwood on Japanese shores to the refined art of kodo, incense carries centuries of history, craftsmanship, and spiritual significance. Whether it’s scents that have deep roots in tradition, or ones with a modern twist like vanilla and green tea, each fragrance invites pause, reflection, and mindfulness,
At Omakase, these scents are more than fragrance; they are the culmination of tradition and the dedication of skilled artisans. Every burn transforms the everyday into something extraordinary, connecting history, culture and providing the invitation to slow down in one single moment.
