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Obon is the annual Japanese Buddhist festival commemorating the memory of relatives who have passed on. During its observance, the spirits of past ancestors are believed to temporarily return to this world in order to visit their relatives during Obon's observance. One of the most customary ways to honor ancestors during this celebration is with incense, and stick incense long ago became ubiquitous the household butsudan (仏壇, Buddhist altar) and haka (墓, family grave), especially during Obon. In addition to food and ceremonial gifts, offering incense with flavors enjoyed by one's passed relatives is a popular practice as the smoke is said to nourish their spirits. It is with this intention that Okuno Seimeido has created Nihonshu no Kaori - incense flavored with Japanese sake.
Based upon a formula from a perfumery book handed down since the Edo period, Nihonshu no Kaori (fragrance of Japanese sake) blends more than twenty aromatics with Japanese sake. Incense made with sake creates a mild fragrance intended to call to mind our ancestors who enjoyed the drink during their lifetimes. A reduced smoke fragrance with a gentle character and subtle fragrance, Nihonshu no Kaori features the light yet distinct floral, fruity, and sour overtones of fine Japanese sake.
Nihonshu no Kaori's unlit stick is black and nearly without fragrance. A low smoke incense, the blackness of the stick reflects the charcoal used to increase its burn temperature thereby reducing its smoke output. Yet there is still a faint hint of soapstone and a light sourness that is barely detectable, hinting at the mix of charcoal and sake.
Once lit, Nihonshu no Kaori is immediately warm with a light fruity sourness, much like the feel a sake poured into a glass at arm's length, its aroma distant yet present. The fragrance of sake with its sweet and sour tones is present, but again reminds one of a glass not yet lifted to the lips, the fragrance light and airy. The stick burns quite hot with a larger than normal glowing ember, and virtually no smoke to be seen.
In time the fragrance grows, adding a distinct sake note to the space, lightly floral, gently fruity, and with a note almost of alcohol similar to the feel at the back of the palate upon exhaling when enjoying sake. But this is not an imposing fragrance, its sake notes soft and subtle, meant to be enjoyed from a distance rather than with one's nose over the cup. Throughout there is a subtle note of alcohol with a distinct fermented sour sweetness that is light and ephemeral, soft without imposing.
Like the pleasure of imbibing its primary ingredient, Nihonshu no Kaori is relaxing, enjoyable, and easy to leave outside of awareness. It reminds me of fine sake that has a mouthfeel of air, where a drink feels as though there is emptiness within it when consumed until the alcohol hits the palate after a sip. Open, light, yet ever present in the space, Nihonshu no Kaori provides a beautiful presence that is both there and not at the same time. This is not an experience of a typical Western bar where the smell of stale alcohol hangs in the space, but a refined experience where sake like clear water fills small cups, adding warmth to a relaxing and enjoyable evening.
The afternote of Nihonshu no Kaori is short lived and quickly diminishes, leaving behind the slight fragrance of sake with its distinctive fermented sourness lightly lingering in the air. The afternote, like during the burn, is ephemeral, transient, reminding us of the fleeting nature of life.
As part of Okuno Seimeido's Kikikoh series intended to remind us of favorite memories, Nihonshu no Kaori provides a soft, subtle, taste of Japanese sake, calling to mind memories of celebrations with our loved ones long passed.
Treasured friends
Times shared
Now only memories.
