SHOYEIDO Plum Blossoms Incense, 150 Sticks - Baika-ju

These are my very favorite incense! I researched extensively before choosing Japanese incense, because I was craving a nice new fragrance in my home, not quite as sweet as candles or wax, but still something pleasant. From working in a shop, I already know I'm not as big a fan of most common scents of Indian incense, which are sometimes cloying, smoky, make my nose itch, or feel like they stick in the back of my throat, depending on the variety. I learned from similar reviews that Japanese incense are coreless, having no wooden stick in the center, so they burn much cleaner with less smoke, and the fragrance is much lighter as a result. Being coreless also means that these sticks are very thin. They are thicker than uncooked spaghetti noodles but a little bit thinner than a match stick, so it may also be important for you to search for the right kind of burner that supports incense of this size if you don't already have one. I burn them all throughout my house with a variety of burners I've purchased from Amazon that all hold the incense upright. That has given me the best results. It is no problem if the incense slant a little. These sticks are short enough that I never have an issue with ash falling out of smaller bowls. I also believe Shoyeido makes a burner specifically for their own incense. Just note that they do burn all the way down to the bottom, so depending on the burner, there may be times when you have difficulty removing the stub. I can usually pinch it out with my fingers or tweezers or tap it out over the trash can, or if they're really stuck, rinse with warm water. When I tried these, I was very impressed. I'm not sure what a plum blossom is supposed to smell like, but these incense have the most pleasantly sweet fragrance, not overly sweet. The operative word is sweet though, so if you don't like sweet incense, try something else. These are like the dessert of incense, so yummy. It's not perfumey or even flowery. It's difficult to describe smells, but I'll just say I haven't had anyone in my home who didn't request the product information so they could order themselves a box. This incense is 100% worth a try! If you don't like it, give it to a friend. It will make their day. These come in a beautiful box with a large supply of sticks. I gather from reviews that they are a bit shorter than other types of incense or even other varieties of Shoyeido (I did notice my Autumn Leaves are a lot longer), but they burn really slowly anyway, lasting you a long time. If you're looking for an incense that is sweet and light, please try these.

Shoyeido's Plum Blossoms was the first Shoyeido incense I purchased. As a rookie, I at first found it sweet and fairly similar to a cheaper, but decent, Amber incense I had recently purchased. Even though I could tell it was better from the start, I was a little disappointed since the Shoyeido was more expensive. After a few sticks I realized that the Shoyeido was far more complex with many different layers to explore. Its complexity triggered something -- thoughts, emotions perhaps -- but more like approximating experiences. In other words, I was contemplating things because of what I was smelling -- I wasn't just smelling something nice. As a result, I've been buying Shoyeido ever since. I now take incense as seriously as I take music and other arts. But I'm also not rich. And incense can quickly get extremely expensive. So I've stuck with Shoyeido and their affordable line -- and I haven't been disappointed yet. I think they call it their "Daily" line. I'm not sure if Plum Blossoms falls in that line, but it's great value for the money. The scent is very pleasant. Warm. Sweet. Cinnamon-like. More of a baked roll with notes of warm vanilla and sugar -- or a donut's glazed icing. But it's all very natural. It's not like a strong candle that one-notes you with a perfumed club. What I'm describing is subtle layers that you get to decide about. You get to unwrap these layers as the scent sinks in. Over the years of burning this and the other Shoyeido products, I've learned to give them time. I do not expect to get the same experience every time. The scents don't change, but something in me does. One's that I've found pleasant (they're all basically pleasant) -- would one day became amazing. They seem to cycle around. Plum Blossoms is great. It's very agreeable and pleasant. As it was with me, it's likely a great place to start with this brand. A good place to start with good incense in general. I can't imagine anyone not enjoying it.

These incense are low smoke and made with natural ingredients so it's less harmful to breathe in. I've tried Shoyeido's Horin line first and as a result, my expectations were much higher after trying some of the best. This is more cost effective with slightly lower quality ingredients so it wasn't as rich. It grew on me at some point. The scent smells light, a bit earthy, and very very smokey with top notes being sweet, almost like a sweet soybean milk drink. I have high anxiety and lighting one of these really helps ground and calm me down. It also unexplainably takes away the urge for me to smoke. Scent doesn't linger too much and the air smells fresher after. I have a sensitive nose, get allergies often, and invasive scents make me nauseous. These don't trigger any of that for me. I also counted all 150 sticks in the box and despite not being bubble wrapped, it arrived safely. Please keep in mind, this is Japanese incense. This will be different from other incense that you're used to. Japanese incense are much narrow and shorter, with no bamboo/wood core to produce less smoke and less invasive scents. These sticks are longer than their Horin line and last longer (around 30 minutes). Overall, it's not a diehard favorite but it's cost effective and easy on the nose to burn everyday. I gave it 5 stars due to the fact that I got hit with nostalgia smelling it. Reminds me of when I would go to Buddhist temples as a child and feel at peace.

Een mooie, subtiele geur. Rustige brandduur dat de geur tot zijn recht laat komen en de ervaring versterkt.

Es muy bueno. Me gustaría tener un quemador especial para este incienso. ¿lo tendrán?

Amazing smell really pleased

Som en självutnämnd ambassadör för folk som inte är imponerade av rökelse, kommer jag att kapitulera, och rekommendera denna doft; dess profil är stark men inte alls överväldigande. Pinnarna brinner i kanske ungefärlig 20 minuter.

El olor es muy sutil y relajante, es como si no hubiera incienso encendido, pero sí. Me gusta mucho, feliz. Lo compré en Amazon, vendido por zen minded, el paquete de 150 varillas por 15,75€ con envío gratuito. Tardó casi 2 semanas en llegar, pero no había prisa.