Culture of Fragrance Continues to Grow
”Shoyeido Incense” has been selling incense in Kyoto for more than 300 years since it started off with the name ”Sasaya” in 1705. Fragrance incense is used for Buddhist altars, for funerals, for tea ceremonies and aromatic wood chip events, for wardrobes, rooms, etc. They are used in many different scenes in daily life. Incense is said to have been introduced from China in the Asuka period, and as nobles began to enjoy fashion, it spread rapidly. As time passed in the Kamakura period and Sengoku period, samurai began to be sensitive towards fragrance as well. The majority of people then used ”koboku, aromatic wood”. Incense sticks as are familiar today began in Edo period. The technology for its making was introduced from China where it spread among the commoners as well.
To Promote Profound Fragrance
Shoyeido handles incense as well as aromatic incense wood. The variety ranges from Jinko to Kyara, and plants that have medical effects as well. Nakata examined the aromatic wood chips and took a sniff, and discovered it had a profound fragrance to it, quite different from incense sticks Shoyeido started export to the U.S. in 1897 (Meiji 30) and had participated in the Chicago World Fair in 1934 (Showa 9）. During the Heisei period, they established Shiseido USA and is now spreading ”Japanese aroma” to the world. ”Japanese traditional scents” are not so bad compared to trendy aromas.
