What's on your burner today?

[KAKAO]

Have you tried the Kyara blend Koh Shi Boku from Baieido?
It's supposed to be more "pure", no perfumes or musk, just Kyara , aloeswood and spices.
I do have a stick of Kyara Kokoh coming my way from a friend, but I just can't afford to buy a full pack at this time.

Also have you tried Aioi no Matsu or Kyara Seikan from Shunkohdo?
They have a very low price for a Kyara, and I'm wondering if it's because it doesn't contain much Kyara?

Burning Tokusen Syukohkoku from Baieido tonight.
It's really beautiful.
Spicy, slightly sweet, neither dry nor wet and it's a scent that grows on you the more you use it, as most Baieido's do.
It's a blend that seems something like 1/3 aloeswood, 1/3 sandalwood and 1/3 spices, blended to perfection.
I believe it's a good deal as you are getting 130 sticks in the 50 gram packs.

 

[YouNight]

Symbiosis of sound and scent...
As I take in the aroma of warmed palo santo chips with crushed myrrh, I listen to this, and I swear that each makes the other better:

[video=youtube;Uyk11Vkxgzo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uyk11Vkxgzo[/video]

 

[KAKAO]

Burning Kai Un Koh from Baieido.
It has an intensity and a bite I've never witnessed in a Japanese incense.
The sticks themselves are thick and square-cut, and just opening the box the spices hit you, hard.
To personify the incense, imagine a man in his sixties sitting in a leather chair smoking a cigar.
It does have hints of cigars and leather, together with a healthy amount of spices (but not gourmand at all), Vietnamese aloeswoods and sandalwood.
It looks like this:

 

[KAKAO]

Burning the latest (and greatest) batch of Soaked Agarwood from Ross over at olfactoryrescueservice.wordpress.com
Great quality agarwood, musk grains and chunks of ambergris soaked in an ambergris and musk tincture.
Left the jar open through the night to let the alcohol evaporate, and burned some right now.
It's mindbending and intense, a little goes a long way.

Was wondering if any of you have tried Emperor's Agarwood (Vietnamese) or the new Cultivated Thai chips from Scented Mountain?
Cultivated wood is probably the future, so I want to try both of these.

 

[KAKAO]

I just ordered som Brunei Exquisite chips from Ensar.
Are they great?

 

[Oudramatic]

Shoot first. Ask questions later ; )

 

[masstika]

@KAKAO: I wrote about them on page 28 and posted some pictures on page 29.

 

[Ahmir]

Hi, Everyone need a not of advise.

I want to buy some Japanese incense sticks but am overwhelmed by the sheer number of products and levels of quality.
The last lot I tried were very spicy indeed and all smelled the same even though they had different names.
I want something that is overwhelmingly oudy. and something else that is very very oudy with a hint of spices or something else.
By the way, do pure oud incense sticks smell like burning oud chips or are they still inferior in smell?

any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[KAKAO]

I would not say inferior to oud chips, no.
They have lots of other added ingredients as you say.
I believe the highest grade from Scented Mountain is very pure aloeswood, they seem very loved around this board, but I haven't tried them.
They are made from cultivated wood.
The Seijudo sticks are supposed to come with a wood kick, I have only tried the highest of their line Kyara Enju which is quite extrordinary.
Jinko Kokoh and Kyara Kokoh from Baiedo is very pure, the Jinko from aloeswood and the Kyara, of course, from Kyara.
I have only tried the Kyara Kokoh, and it's really great.

 

[Ahmir]

links and a price to quality wood be nice as I am a complete noob when it comes to sticks

 

[KAKAO]

essenceoftheages.com has all the incenses I listed.
I would wait buying anything before some of the more knowledgeable member here chime in.
Or you could go to:
http://olfactoryrescueservice.wordpress.com/ which is a great resource for incense reviews.
Hope you will find what you are looking for

 

[okonos]

Here's my own personal favourites, in order (best first):

Shoyeido Sho-kaku (Translucent Path)
Seijudo – Kyara Enju (Long life)
Minorien – Fu-in – Kyara Ryugen
Baieido Kyara Kokoh
Shoyeido Myo-hi (Infinity)
Seiijudo Seiran (Heavenly Orchid)
Seijudo Kyara Horen
Minorien – Fu-in - Frankincense
Seijudo Shiragiku (White Chrysanthemum)
Shoyeido Go-un (Five Paths)
Minorien – Fu-in - Kyara
Shunkodo Seikan
Kyukyudo Higoshiyama

Of course, I haven't tried everything, and I am sure there are other amazing ones.

As for Baieido Kyara Kokoh, I have such a tiny amount that it is hard to judge it. But it is very nice, and deserves to be near or at the top of the list.

 

[masstika]

That's a great list from Okonos even though that it is on the upper end in terms of cost. for far less expensive but also far less in terms of quality is The scented mountain highest grade incense sticks. Another great source is japanincense.com both Hiro and Jay are extremely helpful and knowledgeable of all Japanese Incense. Their recommendations are always spot on.

 

[Ahmir]

thanks,

I would like other to give their personal experiences too.

are the sticks and chips from scented mountain and japanincense.com pure or are some synthetic?

I see scented mountain has cheep agarwood chips. Anyone have experience with their sticks?

 

[okonos]

Getting sample selections of incense is a good approach. japanincense.com and essence of the ages, amongst others, sell samples, and you can see what you like before considering spending money on the expensive ones.

 

[Oudiferous]

thanks,

I would like other to give their personal experiences too.

are the sticks and chips from scented mountain and japanincense.com pure or are some synthetic?

I see scented mountain has cheep agarwood chips. Anyone have experience with their sticks?

Their sticks are pure and great quality. I recommend their "highest quality" incense sticks.

 

[Oudiferous]

I recently bought some of Tibetan Medical College's "Holy Land" sticks. These are an instant favorite! Raw, musky, earthy, herbal, intense, deep, therapeutic--Holy Land is fantastic incense. Truly unique.

 

[YouNight]

A Tennendo Frankincense stick (which, to me, has notes of melon and Sweet Tarts candy).
Oud Khidr swiped, and spinning this:

[video=youtube;6ZwbFJwUDZI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZwbFJwUDZI[/video]

 

[KAKAO]

I haven't tried the Tennendo Frankincense sticks, are they good?
Melon sounds a bit weird.
I really like Minorien Frankincense, which is dark, sweet and woody.
I has also have these http://www.oman-shop.com/product_in...cense-Sticks--5-packs-with-8-sticks-each.html
Which are quite nice, but a little to smoky for my taste, but if you like Oman Frankincense on a coal these might be right up your alley.
But nothing really compare to the pure resin on heater

 

[YouNight]

Incidentally, KAKAO, I've compared the Tennendo directly to Minorien's frankincense sticks (burning one immediately after the other) twice, now.
Minorien's sticks are more true to a frankincense resin vibe. They still feature other non-frank notes, of course, but they'll be less disappointing to somebody looking for a frankincense experience.
Having said that; if I burn the Tennendo sticks without expecting a clear and undeniable frank aroma, I really like them for what they are.

(I agree that good resin on a warmer is the way to go, though!)