Production and Producers

Incense Production

Japan and India produce the majority of the incense enjoyed today.

Most of the incense produced in India uses a bamboo stick as a central core. These thin sticks are then coated with the incense mixture and dried. This incense is often mass produced and generally inexpensive. It is often synthetically coloured and includes synthetic fragrance and oils. The quality can vary, but it is seldom a premium product.

By contrast, incense produced in Japan is formed without a bamboo core. The incense ingredients themselves are pressed to form the incense stick itself. This incense has a much purer smoke and fragrance. The formulas can be centuries old, and premium incense is made by master incense makers. They use only the best quality ingredients, with no synthetic fragrance or cheap, unnatural ingredients and oils.

The Makers

Today companies like Baieido (1657), Kuyukodo (1663), and Shoyeido (1705) are some of the oldest incense companies in Japan and became established as suppliers of incense over 300 years ago. Baieido is the oldest with roots going back to the Muromachi period, around 800 years ago.

Both Baieido and Shoyeido are used extensively by Zen Buddhist temples in Japan and worldwide.

Nippon Kodo, the largest incense seller, was established in New York in 1965 but has roots over 400 years old. They focus on producing everyday quality incense mainly for the Western market. They also make quality incense based on tradition.

There are other incense producers, but many do not export outside Japan.

Awaji Island

70% of all Japanese incense is made on a small island south of Osaka called Awaji Island.

A new manufacturing process on the island established the incense cottage industry in 1850. The strong west wind (nishi-kaze) was very good at drying incense but hampered the fishing industry, which meant that incense developed to be the islands’ main industry.