Soil processing of agarwood is one of the methods to which fibrous or unresinated parts of agarwood is conveniently removed, in a process where wood is buried in clean soil, in clean areas, allowing nature to take its course. What is left in this process is resinated parts, and a more mellowed scent profile. Click… [Read More…]
Does Kyara sink in water?
Does Kyara sink in water, or does it need to sink in water to be considered a top grade? The blind pursuit for “sinking” grade agarwoods had opened up a whole new dimension to material substitution. Previous post on zelkova like materials, calocedrus formosana (Xiao-Nan), or even woods like rosewood (truth bringing incense), gaharu buaya; these… [Read More…]
How long can fragrant woods be kept?
You probably would have seen the fragrant wood storage article from some time back, where I routinely prefer to store fragrant woods in glass containers with teflon lined caps that seal, the fragrant wood really well. The aim of this method is to prevent volatiles from escaping, and also to prevent contaminants from entering. Fragrant… [Read More…]
Know your Fragrant Wood Cuts
If you are a meat lover, particularly that of beef, you should know the cuts of your meats really well. Similarly if you are a fragrant wood lover involved in either Japanese/Chinese or other forms of incense practices/ceremonies, it is just as important to know the cut types, and how they are obtained. The… [Read More…]
Cultivated Agarwood
Agarwood plantations are common all throughout South East asia today. Some plantations are beginning to reap the fruits of what they had planted a decade ago, and have pushed out a myriad of intriguing agarwood products such as agarwood leaf tea, agarwood cookies, agarwood flavoured instant noodles, wood chips, oils, soaps etc. The strange… [Read More…]
Cardio-protective properties of Agarwood
The cardio-protective properties of Agarwood(particularly Kynam) had been recorded in chinese medical literature for many centuries, with written accounts from many historical chinese physicians. In the traditional Chinese/Han medicine that Japan practices, there is a fabled 速效救心丹 (cardiac rescue pill) that uses kynam as one of its key ingredients. Traditional chinese medicine users in Hainan… [Read More…]
Incense Review – Translucent Path from Shoyeido
Incense : Shokaku (Translucent Path) Brand : Shoyeido Source : Purchased from Japan Price : 9450 yen / 15 sticks (USD $95) Amount Burnt so far prior to this review : 6 sticks Taste profile : Sweet : +++ Bitter : very slight tinge Sour: very slight tinge Scent characteristics : Texture – Mellow, soft, ethereal … [Read More…]
Kyara versus Shin-Kyara
The subject of Shin Kyara is rather new and foreign to people outside of Japan, but this definition/concept has been known domestically, in certain incense schools for a very long time! Some incense companies have been substituting Kyara with Shin-kyara in their Rikkoku sets as a cost cutting measure. Basically Shin Kyara is just… [Read More…]
Scent classification by the Chinese
I’ve had a copy of this diagram for quite a while, a common diagram used by the chinese when it comes to perfumery and other scent related applications. Decided to spend the past week translating it so that more people can get access to the information.. so here it is!.. Basically, they had… [Read More…]
Impressions of the Ranjatai
Several incense houses in Japan have been known to create blended incense sticks based on their impression of the Ranjatai through Mon-koh. Small fragments of the Ranjatai are known to be in possession of descendants of kodo masters and big incense companies, from which they draw inspiration into crafting a representative incense based on the… [Read More…]