Incense is defined by Webster's Dictionary as:
material used to produce a fragrant odor when burned; the perfume exhaled from some spices and gums when burned; broadly: a pleasing scent.

This is true, but it only tells part of the story.

Much of what is known about the origins of incense comes to us in fragments related to the evolution of culture. Historically, the chief substances used as incense were such resins as frankincense and myrrh, along with aromatic woods and barks, seeds, roots, herbs, and flowers. However, it is difficult to trace the story of incense because it has largely been an esoteric and oral tradition evolving in relation to both religion and medicine. In other words, the ancient history of incense is shrouded in mystery, which seems to be the very nature of incense itself.

Everyone knows that when Jesus was born, frankincense, myrrh, and gold were presented as gifts to the newborn infant—clearly demonstrating that these items were the most valuable and precious possessions possible at that time. However, anthropologists speculate that uses of incense predate the gifts of the Magi to the first fires of humankind. Surely the cave dwellers of the prehistoric world would have noticed that certain woods had more pleasing aromas and indeed varying emotional effects.

Simply stated, incense has been a feature of ceremonies worldwide since ancient times and the world trade in incense has never declined since. The Egyptians used oil of myrrh for embalming and later discovered other ritual, medical, and cosmetic uses for incense. Hindus use it for all temple and domestic offerings, while Buddhists burn it at festivals, initiations, and daily rites. The Chinese use it to honor ancestors and household deities, and in Japan it is a mainstay of Shinto ritual. The early Christian church utilized it to symbolize the ascent of prayers of the faithful and to honor God and the saints. And in the Americas, the use of incense is documented from the very first encounters between the indigenous populations and the Europeans in the 15th and early 16th centuries.

Aromatic Art
But it was not until the arrival of incense in Japan that its use became a fine art. Brought to Japan in the sixth century by Buddhist monks who used the mystical aromas in their purification rites, the delicate scents of Koh (Japanese high quality incense) became a source of amusement and entertainment with nobles in the Imperial Court during the Heian Era 200 years later. During the Shogunate period in the 14th century, samurai warriors would perfume their helmets and armor with incense to achieve a proud aura of invincibility as they prepared to meet their foe and their fate. But it wasn’t until the Muromachi Era during the 15th and 16th centuries that the elegant art of incense appreciation spread to the upper and middle classes of Japanese society.

What the Japanese call Koh-Do, or incense appreciation, has long been the spiritual nourishment of Japanese culture. Fast becoming a popular custom in the United States and all over the world for those seeking quiet reflection and peace of mind, this elegant art not only creates a feeling of tranquility and an added dimension in gracious living but also opens up a new world of temporal and spiritual awareness. Two companies, Nippon Kodo and Shoyeido, continue this proud tradition in Japan today.

Nippon Kodo: Sweet Smell of Success
With more than 50% of the entire incense industry in Japan, Nippon Kodo is the leading incense manufacturing company in that country. But, more importantly, its worldwide operations include corporate and business partners in the United States, France, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Nippon Kodo’s devotion to making fine incense follows a long and honored tradition that started more than 400 years ago and can be traced back to Jyuemon Takai, better known as Koju, a skilled artisan in the art and the principal provider of precious rare and exquisite aromas to the Emperor of Japan and his court.

Many of those pleasing and enduring high-quality incense fragrances, which the company continues to produce to this day, are based on the original formulas created by Koju and later by Yujiro Kito, who was hailed as the genius of fragrance during the Meiji restoration period in the 19th century. Three of those early incense products that were very much in vogue then and are still very popular today are: Hana-no-Hana, Wakako, and Taikan. Their traditional wood and floral aromas, along with other popular and fashionable scents, are being reproduced today by Nippon Kodo in modern factories in Japan using the most advanced methods and technology.

Nippon Kodo continues to make its incense mostly by hand, as has been done for hundreds of years. Raw materials of high quality are used as ingredients in the process of making fine incense. In the manufacturing process, the natural gums and resins from precious woods and floral ingredients are loaded into vats where they are mixed with other organic raw materials. These are then loaded into machines that extrude the long strings of incense through a cluster of tiny orifices, or made then into cones and coils by placing them in molds. The incense sticks, cones and coils are then cut evenly and laid out neatly and meticulously in wooden forms where they are left to dry.

From here they are taken to a large room where the moisture and temperature are controlled ingeniously by a system of wooden shutters and windows that allow just the right amount of air and light. The incense products remain in the factory for several days until they have hardened and then they are gathered together, packed, and readied for shipment to department stores, fragrance boutiques, and incense shops, to people all over the world.

Nippon Kodo’s guiding principle and main objective from its inception has been to bring the culture of incense to the world. As the company’s chairman, Masahisa Konaka, is quick to point out, “incense has the power to calm the mind and make life more enjoyable by creating a feeling of repose and tranquility, both physically and spiritually, and also to perfume the environment in which we live.”

Shoyeido: Generations of Refinement
Similarly, Shoyeido is a Japanese incense company that has truly preserved family tradition and secret recipes for nearly 300 years. In 1705, Rokubei Moritsune Hata began creating incense using the methods he learned while working at the Imperial Palace in Kyoto. He utilized the court’s secret traditions of blending incense wood that had previously been used exclusively by royalty. The Hata family continues the legacy left by their innovative creator by offering their unique hand-blended incense in a variety of styles. In addition to traditional recipes, Shoyeido’s master blenders create new and innovative products combining centuries of experience with new world technologies. The artful blending of carefully selected natural ingredients makes Shoyeido’s incense unique and exclusive. The finest quality ingredients are purchased by master blenders and then skillfully crafted to perfection in meticulously clean facilities. All of the ingredients are finely ground and carefully mixed with a powdered natural binding material, Tabu-ko. Twenty to fifty kinds of herbs and spices are precisely blended with pure water, quickly shaped, and dried very slowly.

Incense blending requires an enormous amount of skill. When blending with natural ingredients, the quality, balance, and ratios are critical. Even a pinch of one herb or bark can dramatically augment or change the resulting fragrance. Moisture, drying-time, and production methods also strongly influence the scent. Handled with loving care, Shoyeido’s blended incense actually matures and improves with time. The scent becomes deeper and mellower, exhibiting the subtlety and refinement for which Shoyeido is known.

Shoyeido’s headquarters and production facility have been in Kyoto since 1705. Now there are three shops located in Sapporo, Kyoto, and Tokyo. Shoyeido began to introduce incense to the Western world in 1894. Since then, the demand for high quality incense has increased. In fact, Masataka Hata, the President of Shoyeido, says of the growing popularity of incense, “we’d like to see people taking ‘incense breaks’ the way they take coffee breaks.”
 
In 1990, the U.S. division, Shoyeido Corporation, was founded in Boulder, Colorado. Now people from all over the world not only have the chance to enjoy Shoyeido’s high quality incense, but also its commitment to preserving precious tradition in the modern world.

A Growing Market
Since the days of ancient Egypt and Rome, incense has been used for purification, ceremony, devotion, and pure pleasure. Today, with 5,000 years of tradition and aesthetic refinement at its core, the use of incense is reaching new levels of popularity. It’s hard to measure global incense sales, in part because incense buyers cross the boundaries of the booming home fragrance market, including the aromatherapy, spa, and spiritual and devotional goods and services markets—a total U.S. market estimated at $2.2 billion in 2000. Buyers use incense to support a practice of feng shui, yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, massage, or creating their own sacred space. In short, whether a sensual luxury or a religious necessity, the right incense can enhance almost everyone’s environment.

So many factors coincide in the incense market that it’s no surprise that it quietly continues to grow. Increasing interest in aromatherapy, in creating sensual and serene environments, and in spiritual traditions all support the popularity of these small but potent products. Natural products retailers are well positioned to introduce new customers to the world of incense and increase the satisfaction and knowledge of existing incense buyers.

There is something very powerful about tradition that spans so many years, especially when it connects one with nature, other people, and the inner self. Incense has evolved over the centuries to do just that. There is something special about quality craftsmanship, elegant design, and attention to detail that creates its own extraordinary beauty. For many, the age of incense began in the distant past, but still retains a strong hold on our sixth sense today and will continue to do so for years to come.