Heidi Norton
Nippon Kodo is a Japanese incense manufacturer that has been in business since 1575. The company produces high-quality Japanese incense products, including popular lines like Morning Star, and screens a wide variety of raw materials to select valuable scented woods, aromatic spices, and herbal medicines. With a long cultural history of fragrance, Nippon Kodo also provides information about the history of fragrance, raw materials, and manufacturing methods for incense. The company conducts regular safety tests using globally standardized measurement technology, ensuring that their incense products are safe for consumers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Safety | Nippon Kodo claims to keep their incense in complete safety. They conduct regular safety tests with globally standardized measurement technology from Denmark. |
| Scents | Rose, green tea, aloeswood, wisteria, narcissus, mikan orange, cherry blossom, Japanese cypress, and more. |
| History | Founded 75 years ago, the company hand-makes incense in the 400-year-old tradition of Jyuemon Takai, an incense guru who crafted scents for the emperor of Japan. |
| Raw Materials | Scented woods, aromatic spices, herbal medicines, resins, cinnamon, and patchouli leaf. |
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What You'll Learn
Nippon Kodo's safety standards
Nippon Kodo is committed to maintaining the highest safety standards in the production of its incense. The company has developed its own reproducible measurement methods to ensure the complete safety of its products, and it regularly conducts safety tests using globally standardized measurement technology from Denmark.
The company has a rich history that dates back 400 years to the traditional methods of Jyuemon Takai, also known as Koju, who crafted incense for the emperor of Japan. Today, Nippon Kodo continues to uphold this legacy by using high-quality raw materials and adhering to strict safety protocols.
Nippon Kodo sources its raw materials from various regions, including Taiwan, Southern China, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Myanmar. The company carefully screens and selects valuable scented woods, aromatic spices, and herbal medicines to create its unique fragrances. For example, the company uses the resin from the Styracaceae tree, found in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Borneo, for its incense, which is known for its pleasant fragrance and therapeutic properties.
Nippon Kodo also prioritizes transparency by providing detailed information about the history of fragrances, raw materials, forms, and manufacturing methods used in the production of incense. This commitment to transparency and safety ensures that consumers can trust the quality and safety of Nippon Kodo's incense products.
The company's safety standards and commitment to using high-quality raw materials have solidified its reputation as one of the world's leading manufacturers of Japanese incense, with a presence in both domestic and international markets. Nippon Kodo's incense sticks, though thinner and shorter than average, are renowned for their delicate yet powerful fragrances that fill any space with aromatic relaxation.
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The history of Nippon Kodo
The art of perfumery is believed to have originated in the Middle East and was brought to Japan by Ganjin, a Buddhist priest from Tang China, in 754 AD. Ganjin introduced medical incense and nerikoh (blended incense balls) to Japan, creating a thriving incense culture.
In the Heian period (8th to 12th centuries), court nobles concocted original fragrances for their personal use, seeking graceful and sophisticated scents. They would burn their favourite blends to impregnate their clothes and suffuse their rooms with fragrance. This period also saw the start of "Takimonoawase", an incense game where participants competed to create better fragrances.
The skills and knowledge of incense-making were passed down through the centuries, and in 1920, Tadanori Konaka, the founder of the Nippon Kodo Group, continued this legacy. Konaka established Tokyo Kokando, which later became Nippon Kodo, selling products in the eastern Japan region of Kokando. The Nippon Kodo Group was officially established in August 1965 and has since acquired several other incense companies worldwide, with offices in major cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tokyo.
Today, Nippon Kodo continues to hand-make incense, preserving the traditional techniques while incorporating modern perfumery skills. They offer a wide range of enticing aromas, including wisteria, narcissus, green tea, Japanese cypress, and their most popular brand, "Morning Star," with scents like sandalwood, cedar, and vanilla. Nippon Kodo is committed to safety and conducts regular tests using globally standardized measurement technology.
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Nippon Kodo's raw materials
Nippon Kodo sources its raw materials from around the world, including Taiwan, Southern China, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos, France, Morocco, China, India, Kenya, and Tanzania. The company prioritises the use of high-quality natural aromatic materials and engages in forestation and other conservation efforts in Southeast Asia to protect the environments from which these materials are sourced.
The specific raw materials used by Nippon Kodo include:
- Aloeswood: This is harvested in a limited area of Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam. The wood is initially white, light, and odourless, but over time, it develops the fragrant aloeswood aroma that has been treasured since ancient times.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon is the bark of the camphor tree that has been dried. It was used as a preservative in the mummification process in ancient times.
- Benzoin resin: This resin is released by carving into the branch of a Styracaceae tree, which is dried and used for toothpaste, cosmetics, and as a cough suppressant. There are two types: Siam Benzoin and Sumatra Benzoin.
- Borneol: This is found in the crystal-like grains inside the centre of the branch of an evergreen tree in the Dipterocarpaceae family. It is used to create the fresh scent of ink and has been used as an insecticide and preservative.
- Patchouli: The patchouli leaf, which comes from a perennial plant of the shiso family, has no fragrance when it is green and young, but it produces a strong fragrance as it grows away from the stem. It has been used as an ingredient in incense and as a base fragrance in perfumes.
- Roses: The Bulgarian Rose of the Valley, which grows in the blue-mist Balkan Mountains, has a robust and lasting scent, while the Provincial Rose from Southern France has a more subtle, softer, and slightly spicy fragrance.
Nippon Kodo also uses other aromatic woods, such as sandalwood, as well as green tea, wisteria, narcissus, mikan orange, cherry blossom, and Japanese cypress, to create their incense.
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Nippon Kodo's various fragrances
Nippon Kodo is a traditional Japanese incense and fragrance brand established in 1575. The company hand-makes its incense using skills that have been preserved and passed on for over 400 years. The brand offers a wide range of unique fragrances, from traditional Japanese incense to modern room fragrances.
The art of aroma appreciation, or "Koh-do," originated in Japan's Muromachi Era (1338-1573). In this art form, distinguishing a fragrance is described as "listening to fragrance." Nippon Kodo's collections offer a variety of profound scents that are created with a non-compromising pursuit of quality. The brand's incense sticks are known for their thin and short shape, with each stick burning for approximately 25 minutes.
Some of the fragrances offered by Nippon Kodo include:
- Wisteria
- Narcissus
- Green tea
- Mikan orange
- Cherry blossom
- Japanese cypress
- Aloeswood, derived from a rare resinous evergreen wood
- Rose
Nippon Kodo takes the safety of its products seriously and conducts regular safety tests using globally standardized measurement technology. The company also engages in forestation and conservation in Southeast Asia to protect the environments from which their natural aromatic materials are sourced.
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Nippon Kodo's manufacturing methods
The manufacturing methods of Nippon Kodo are rooted in a 400-year-old tradition of incense-making that dates back to the incense maker Koju, who crafted incense for the Emperor of Japan. The company was established in 1965 with the aim of preserving and transmitting these ancient practices to the modern world.
Nippon Kodo's incense-making process combines ancient artisanal methods with modern technology. The company uses carefully selected premium ingredients to create a range of traditional incense products that captivate the senses and create a calming atmosphere, reflecting the refined Japanese aesthetic. They have also ventured into creating modern perfumes, collaborating with renowned perfumers to develop unique fragrances that blend Japanese heritage with contemporary elements.
Nippon Kodo's incense products come in a variety of fragrances, including rose, green tea, aloeswood, wisteria, narcissus, mikan orange, cherry blossom, and Japanese cypress. Their incense sticks are thinner and shorter than average, with 40 sticks in each box, and each burning for approximately 25 minutes.
The company prioritizes safety and conducts regular safety tests using globally standardized measurement technology from Denmark. They have also developed their own reproducible measurement methods to ensure the complete safety of their incense products. In addition, Nippon Kodo is environmentally conscious and strives to minimize its ecological impact through sustainable production methods, responsible resource management, and support for reforestation projects.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Nippon Kodo uses its own developed reproducible measurement methods to ensure the safety of its incense. They also conduct regular safety tests with globally standardized measurement technology from Denmark.
Nippon Kodo screens a wide variety of raw materials and selects valuable scented woods, aromatic spices, and herbal medicines to create their incense.
Nippon Kodo offers a variety of incense fragrances, including rose, green tea, aloeswood, wisteria, narcissus, mikan orange, cherry blossom, and Japanese cypress. They also have a popular Morning Star line and a Superior line, which includes high-end kyara incense.
Each Nippon Kodo incense stick burns for approximately 25 minutes.
Nippon Kodo incense can be purchased online through their website or other retailers, as well as in select boutiques and stores.
