Sandalwood Incense

#1
What is the best sandalwood incense you have burned? I have tried various indian sandalwood incense, which are okay. But I am looking for something cleaner and of higher quality. I imagine some of the big japanese companies have good sandalwood incense? Recommendations?
 

Ensar Oud

Well-Known Member
#2
Not sure if this is the 'best' but Byakudan Kobunboku by Baieido is very affordable and decent for everyday burning. Most of the incenses I tried from elsewhere, including Tibetan and Indian sources, smelled artificial by comparison.

Sandalwood gives a long burn when put on charcoal raw, and won't give the same experience as high quality aloeswood, since there is no resin to bubble and give off copious amounts of smoke; but I wager that if you tried it on a kyara burner, on a very low setting, over a long period of time, you should be able to scent your room very nicely with it.
 
#4
IMHO, if you're looking for the best creamy smooth Sandalwood experience and you can afford to pay a little more then look no further than Daihatsu Sandalwood shaving. Nothing but mature heartwood Sandalwood from Mysore, no binding and no oil. http://www.japanincense.com/dh-0007.html For a little less (and also less creamy experience) there is Shunkohdo "Leaf Cut" http://www.japanincense.com/sk-0021.html and finally there is the economical Keiga Byakudan sticks even though they are not creamy and can tend to be acidic but for a back ground burn I find it to be OK http://www.japanincense.com/kg-0018.html
 
#5
I've honestly never found a sandalwood incense stick that was satisfactory, to me.
I've smelled a few that were "interesting", but they were full with (probably synthetic) notes that didn't even remotely help it capture the essence of heating good sandalwood chips.
I agree with Ensar, that Baieido's Byakudan Kobunboku sticks are decent, and mostly because they seem to keep it simple, but I always feel like the smell of the smoke obscures the subtlety of the sandalwood note(s) that would otherwise be more enjoyable.

Nothing that I've found comes close to just heating good chips/slices (like the Daihatsu stuff that masstika mentioned).
 
#6
i have a section of mysore and used a sawsall to slice off chips. i saved the saw dust and use it too, it smells wonderful. i counted the rings on my log and ive got an 80yo chunk.

ive got to wonder if the stuff used for sticks has had the sandalwood oil removed first.
 
#7
What is the best sandalwood incense you have burned? I have tried various indian sandalwood incense, which are okay. But I am looking for something cleaner and of higher quality. I imagine some of the big japanese companies have good sandalwood incense? Recommendations?
Koyasan - Sandalwood :)
 
#8
IMHO, if you're looking for the best creamy smooth Sandalwood experience and you can afford to pay a little more then look no further than Daihatsu Sandalwood shaving. Nothing but mature heartwood Sandalwood from Mysore, no binding and no oil. http://www.japanincense.com/dh-0007.html For a little less (and also less creamy experience) there is Shunkohdo "Leaf Cut" http://www.japanincense.com/sk-0021.html and finally there is the economical Keiga Byakudan sticks even though they are not creamy and can tend to be acidic but for a back ground burn I find it to be OK http://www.japanincense.com/kg-0018.html

I enjoy the Daihatsu Chips also very rich