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What makes one Japanese incense cost so much more than another? Is the difference really that noticeable? Is there really that big of a difference between an economical fragrance and a premium fragrance? Which is better? When it comes to the variety of price points Japanese incense can be found in, knowing the often subtle and mutable differences between a premium incense and an economical one is a common question along the fragrant path.
Mainichikoh:
Mainichi-koh in Japanese means "everyday" or "daily" incense. It is the most economical Japanese incense for a reason: it is intended to be used multiple times a day. Generally, Mainichikoh's fragrant notes will be more uniform and consistent or feature fewer fragrant notes overall, with little of the variation in notes often seen in more expensive incenses. But this is not to say that Mainichikoh is not without its beauty and appeal. Many daily incenses are highly regarded and are often some of the best selling product lines found in Japanese incense.
Tokusen:
Meaning "special" of "select" in Japanese, Tokusen incense can generally be thought of as mid or upper mid-range incense depending upon the manufacturer. High quality Sandalwoods, Aloeswoods, and hints of Kyara are often featured in Tokusen recipes. Where Mainichikoh will have a more stable or single note presentation, Tokusen incenses will offer a increasingly rich fragrance score with more depth and life, with notes that vary in strength and potency throughout the burn, and often with long lasting afternotes that can be quite changeable as they die off.
Superior:
Used here as an encompassing term, Superior incense is generally made from the most rare and select fragrant woods, often combined with small amounts of the most precious and highest quality fragrant ingredients, and features the highest ratio of fragrant materials to binders available. These are usually the flagship incense lines of manufacturers which often can trace their recipes back centuries, with many of them still prepared as they have been for many years. As such, these are also the most expensive of incenses, with their rare ingredients often competing with the cost per gram of gold. Superior incense may feature rare Sandalwoods, but more often contain the highest quality Aloeswoods and the highest concentration of the rarest and most prized fragrant wood on the planet: Kyara.
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Learn much more about the different types of Japanese incense in the book: The Fragrant Path: A Guide to the Japanese Art of Incense. Filled with practical suggestions, useful tips, and an exploration of the history, selection, use, and appreciation of this uniquely Japanese art form, The Fragrant Path offers a rare, comprehensive look into the Japanese art of incense in the first in-depth English-language book on the subject in nearly three decades.
