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Simple Japanese Incense for Zen

Simple Japanese Incense for Zen

Pure, old-fashioned Japanese incense made for meditators.

$845.00 TWD
$845.00 TWD
Full set discount Sold out
Taxes included Shipping policy

Our incense is made in the old-fashioned way in Yame, Fukuoka Prefecture from just two ingredients: Japanese cedar boughs and “tabu” tree leaves collected from the surrounding forest. 

This incense has a simple, smoky scent, enjoyed in Japan since an older time. Japanese people say that it has a nostalgic scent that reminds them of childhood. 

Each box contains about 65 sticks (25 grams) which burn for roughly 35 minutes each.

Why we love it:

  • Pure, with only 2 ingredients (cedar boughs and tabu tree leaves)
  • No added aroma oil, color, or anti-mold preservatives found in many types of incense
  • Made in a traditional way that is dying out in Japan

3% of each purchase will be donated to restoring the water wheel that used to power the incense mill.

How it's made

Japanese incense made only from natural Japanese ingredients is rare these days.

This incense is made in the old fashioned way, in a 100+ year old wooden mill that sits next to a river in the mountains.

Here, the 4th generation maker Tsutsumi-san carries on the dying tradition of incense powder making using a mill that pulverizes cedar and tabu leaves into powder through the night.

This incense powder is then mixed with fresh well water and made into a paste, which is pressed through a machine to make long strands of incense that look like pasta.

These are cut into the proper length before getting air dried for a day or two.

The dried incense sticks are then carefully collected and sorted by hand, before getting boxed up.

There used to be some 20 such mills in Yame, making natural incense powder from locally-collected tabu and cedar, but today this is one of only 2 left.

Will I like the scent?

Smell is very personal and difficult to convey through a screen, but we'll do our best:

We wanted to make this incense because the perfumy smell of many types of incense gives us a headache.

If you enjoy incense that uses aroma oils or if you're hoping for a scent similar to other Japanese incense commonly sold in stores here, you might be disappointed by this incense.

It has a smokey scent that is reminiscent of a sweet smelling campfire.

People who love it say:

"I love the organic, earthy qualities of this incense. It brings the forests of Japan to my home, just as superior tea connects one to specific terroirs in Asia." -Z'ev

"Just a subtle wood smell which I like. Pure and simple." -Ross

"Smells very calming and pure unlike the ones added too much unnecessary fragrance" -Anita

People who don't like it have told us:

"It smells like leaves burning on a campfire"

"It's smokier than I am used to."

The bottom line:

If you appreciate natural, earthier scents, you will probably enjoy this incense.

If you are hoping for something that smells more like some of the well-known Japanese incense brands, you might be disappointed.

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3 Reasons to Choose our Incense

  • Smokey, not Perfumey

    Most incense on the market is heavily perfumed, even if it is labeled "natural". Ours is simple and smokey, just like it was 100 years ago

  • Preserve Japanese Tradition

    Your purchase helps preserve the dying tradition of natural incense powder making in Yame.

  • Money-back promise

    If you don't like it, send us an email and we'll refund the price of the incense (minus the shipping cost).