Katrina Rosales
Japanese incense, or 'kō', has been used for over a thousand years for a variety of purposes, including purification, cleansing, unwinding, and Buddhist ceremonies. It is typically made using fragrant woods like agarwood and sandalwood, which are burned with blends of herbs and other natural aromatic materials to create a desired atmosphere. To use Japanese incense, light the tip of the incense stick and blow out the flame. Then, place the burning incense in an incense stand on top of a ceramic plate to catch the ashes. Alternatively, you can burn incense using a bowl of sand, salt, or rice, or by using an incense burner filled with incense burner ash.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History | Introduced to Japan in the 6th century alongside Buddhism and has been used for over a thousand years |
| Ingredients | Sandalwood, aloeswood, agarwood, resin, essential oils, herbs, spices, and natural aromatic materials |
| Use Cases | Purification, cleansing, unwinding, religious ceremonies, spirituality, meditation, and casual enjoyment |
| Form Factors | Incense sticks, cones, coils, balls, and dough |
| Burning Techniques | Light the tip, blow out the flame, stand the burning incense in an incense stand on a ceramic plate, avoid direct proximity |
| Accessories | Incense burners, incense holders, incense plates, containers, and heat-proof vessels |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right Japanese incense
Japanese incense is traditionally crafted without a bamboo stick. The incense is made by blending ingredients with natural binders and water, forming a paste that dries into a stick.
Japanese incense is used for a variety of purposes, including religious ceremonies, meditation, aromatherapy, relaxation, and fumigation. The scent of Japanese incense is often described as pure, simple, and floral or woody, without being overpowering.
When choosing Japanese incense, it is important to consider the type of scent you prefer. Sandalwood is a common fragrance in Japanese incense, offering a sweet, soft, and refreshing aroma. Aloeswood, or agarwood, is another traditional choice, known for its calming and soothing properties. These woods are often combined with aromatic herbs and spices to create unique blends.
If you are looking for a specific scent to create a particular mood, single-note fragrances like vanilla, jasmine, or coconut can be easily recognizable and provide a consistent aroma. On the other hand, if you want a more therapeutic experience, you might opt for Indian or Tibetan incense, which are known for their medicinal properties and intense fragrances.
In addition to the type of incense, the holder or burner you choose can also enhance your experience. Traditional Japanese incense holders are often made of wood or ceramic, adorned with motifs that complement the aesthetic of your space. Coil incense holders, though less common, offer a unique way to burn incense and are designed to support the spiral shape of coil incense.
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Lighting and extinguishing the incense
Lighting and extinguishing Japanese incense is a simple process, but it requires care and patience. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Lighting the Incense:
- Hold the tip of the incense stick in a flame or use an electric lighter arc. You can also use a charcoal stone bowl, lighting the charcoal with a lighter and fanning it to ensure it burns evenly.
- Allow the incense to catch fire, and then gently blow out or extinguish the open flame. Be careful not to burn yourself during this step.
- Place the burning incense in an incense stand or holder. This can be as simple as a stick holder with a catch plate for the falling ash, or a more traditional method can be used.
- Position the incense stand in the centre or a corner of the room, ensuring it is not directly next to you.
Traditional Method:
- Use a censer or ash bowl, filled with neutral incense ash.
- Press the lit incense stick into the ash. This allows the incense to burn completely without leaving an unburnt stub and catches the falling ash.
- If using charcoal, place the lit coal on the ash so that it is half-submerged. Then, place the incense on top of the ash next to, but not touching, the charcoal.
- The heat from the charcoal and ash will volatilize the aromatics in the incense, allowing the fragrance to spread.
Extinguishing the Incense:
To extinguish the incense, simply remove it from the flame or ash and place it in a safe place to cool down. You can also try blowing gently on the incense to speed up the cooling process. It is important to always practice fire safety and ensure the incense is completely extinguished before disposing of it.
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Incense holders and burners
Incense burners and holders come in a variety of materials, including wood, ceramic, and metal. They also vary in shape and design, from traditional Japanese incense burners and plates to more modern and decorative styles. Some common types of incense burners and holders include:
- Incense Stands and Plates: These are often used together, with the incense stand placed on top of a ceramic plate to catch any falling ashes. The stand helps to hold the incense stick upright, ensuring it burns evenly.
- Incense Burners: Incense burners are filled with incense ash (up to about 80%) and are ideal for stick, cone, or coil incense. After lighting the incense, the flame is extinguished, and the incense is placed in the burner, allowing the smoke to drift through the air. The lid of the burner can be left on or off, depending on oxygen requirements.
- Incense Censers (Kōro): This type of incense holder is used for a style of incense called takimono (kneaded incense). Takimono is made by mixing powdered aromatic ingredients with a binder like honey or ume plum flesh to form a dough, which is then cut and rolled into pea-sized balls. These balls are placed on top of ash in a kōro and heated using the sora-daki technique.
- Natural Materials: Some people opt for natural materials like sand, salt, or rice placed in a bowl or on a saucer to catch the ash. Potted plants can also be used as a creative way to burn incense.
When choosing an incense holder or burner, it is important to consider the type of incense you will be using, as well as your personal aesthetic preferences. The burning angle of the incense can also impact the burning temperature and scent, so it is worth exploring different options to find what works best for you.
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Placement of the incense
The placement of Japanese incense depends on the type of incense and the holder being used.
If you are using a kōro, or Japanese incense burner, with ash, you should fill the burner with ash to about 80% full or around two inches deep. The kōro should be filled in an area that is easy to clean and away from any breeze, as the ash is very light and can create a mess. If the kōro has a lid, it should be removed and placed beside the burner. The lid is intended to cover the ash between uses to keep the space neat, rather than during burning. Once the lid is removed, the ash should be stirred to add oxygen. After the incense has been lit and extinguished, it should be stood upright in the ash if it is a stick, or placed on top of the ash if it is a cone or coil. The lid should be replaced once the incense has been fully consumed.
If you are using a stick of Japanese incense, you can place it in a holder. Some sources suggest using a wooden holder, while others recommend a ceramic holder. The incense should be lit, and the flame extinguished, before being placed in the holder. Alternatively, you can place the incense in a container with sand, salt, rice, or natural sand to hold the stick upright. You can also place the incense in a potted plant or burn it without a holder.
When placing incense in a room, it is recommended to put it in the centre or corner of the room, avoiding placing it directly beside you. This is so you can enjoy the wafting smoke from a distance.
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Japanese incense ceremonies
Incense culture was introduced to Japan alongside Buddhism, in the form of "incenses for prayers". The Japanese word for the act of listening to what fragrances are telling you is "Monkoh". This involves letting the aroma of the incense infuse the body and soul and listening to its essence in a holistic manner.
Towards the end of the Muromachi period (1338-1573), the act of using incenses developed into an art form called Kodo, or the incense-smelling ceremony. The basics of the art were formed in the Edo period (1603-1867). Kodo is one of Japan's three major arts of refinement, alongside the tea ceremony and flower arrangement.
Kodo ceremonies can take the form of a game, where participants are invited to guess the fragrances. In a standard Kokai, the host passes incense burners to each guest in turn, and the guests listen to one incense burner at a time, providing their answers according to the rules of that particular Kumikoh (the way to enjoy literature and seasons through incense). The answers are written down by a note-taker, and the person who answered correctly receives the answers written on a piece of high-quality Japanese paper.
Kodo is also an integral part of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, which revolves around matcha appreciation. The subtle aroma of the incense enhances the sensory experience of the tea ceremony, and the scent of the incense can also be used to set the atmosphere. For example, the crisp forest aroma of sandalwood incense pairs well with more robust teas such as ripe pu-erh, Wuyi oolong, and Lapsang Souchong.
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Frequently asked questions
Japanese incense is typically made using sandalwood, agarwood, resin, and/or essential oils. Some incense is made purely with plant-based ingredients, while others contain fragrant oils and dyes.
The most common type of Japanese incense is senkō (線香), or incense sticks. These are made by mixing powdered aromatic woods, spices, herbs, and oils with a binder (known as makkō) and are then extruded into sticks or pressed into cones.
To burn Japanese incense, light the tip of the incense and blow out the flame. Then, place the burning incense in an incense stand on top of a ceramic plate to catch the ashes. If it is a stick, stand it upright in a container of ash, salt, rice, sand, or soil. If it is a cone or coil, place it on top of the ash.
Incense was introduced to Japan via China and Korea in the 6th century with the arrival of Buddhism, for which incense is used in rituals and ceremonies. The earliest documentation of burning incense in Japan is recorded in the Nihon Shoki, which details the discovery of a piece of agarwood along the shores of Awaji Island in 595 CE.
