Yakushima Incense

There is a primeval and mysterious rain forest on the island of Yakushima, full of thousand-year-old cedar trees, covered with rare mosses and wild azaleas. A marvelous and delicate earthy aroma exudes from the dense and luxuriant vegetation, with its enormous yakusugi trunks and limpid waterfalls.

The best incense in the world is found on the island of Awaji, due to its favorable climate. For more than a thousand years it has been made here by the Koh-shis or Masters of Aromas, a tradition passed down from father to son. They alone perfectly master the four stages of production: the dosage of exclusively natural materials, precious woods, herbs, plants, vegetable resins, and perfume; the kneading of the dough, pressed and worked for a long time, then left to stand for two weeks to soak up the fragrance; the cutting of the dough, rolled into long, narrow ribbons, to the desired size; then drying in the west wind for three days before bundling the sticks.