Nippon Kodo - Kayuragi - Rose 40 Sticks

These exquisite rose incense sticks are so fragrant and divine ~ without being overpowering or perfumy ~ that I can’t sufficiently express how perfect they are in words. Not every scent of this authentic Japanese brand is great, but if you or someone you care about loves rose, they will LOVE this incense. I bought my first box while visiting Vancouver, BC and I paid app. $21 US for it ($28 Canadian) and had never in my life paid so much for incense (I love Nag Champa, which is very affordable); but the shopkeeper did such a wonderful job telling me about this special incense and it smelled soooo delightful, that I made the investment. My friends and I laughed about how “it better smell awesome for $21!” I was blown away when I lit my first stick at home. I texted my traveler friends about how it was making me so happy and worth every penny. I worried that I’d never be able to find it again. HA! It’s right here on Amazon for less than half the price I paid for it in BC! I will gladly give that shopkeeper in Victoria my business when I visit again because I love supporting small businesses. Until then, I’m thrilled to have convenient access to this superior incense right here!

I was skeptical about ordering this because most "rose"-scented products smell nasty. I have a large collection of incense and some of the best value has to be the Nippon Kodo Kayuragi incense - it smells clean (not too smoky) and isn't too expensive(cf. Shoyeido). I use the jasmine, sandalwood, and wisteria scents regularly, but this is the first time I've tried the rose scent. I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. It really DOES smell like roses and visitors know right away that it is a rose scent and ask me where I got it because 1) they're not accustomed to incense that doesn't smell like burning wood and 2) you can tell what it's supposed to smell like: roses. I agree with the previous reviewer that it is a strong scent - much stronger than the jasmine and wisteria scents - so you want to burn it in a large room. I only burn the rose incense in my living room, for example. This is just a matter of taste, but I also don't mind the strong scent because after the incense is burnt out, the faint rose scent lingers in the room for a while afterward, unlike some weaker scents that completely die out when done burning. Another note about the scent: other incense might have "complex" scents made from a variety of ingredients and materials - that is not the case with this incense. It has a single, concentrated fragrance. Ultimately, it depends on your personal preferences whether you will like this incense or not, but I recommend giving it a try to see what you think.

Lovely. Smells great, burns at a decent rate.

The quality is top tier and the scent is gorgeous. A light woodsy rose scent when burning, and a lovely fresh rose scent just out of the box. The packaging is beautiful and practical. It feels like a little gift to myself every time I light one and instantly elevates the mood of the room. A happy purchase!

Packaging is good. The smell is ok but not true to rose