History of Japanese incense 

The word incense of Latin "incensus" means to cause a passion or arouse a strong emotion. This is the name given to the combustion of aromatic resins. This article will take you on a trip to Japan to reveal the past of Japanese incense which is famous for its lightness and sweet scent.

 Origin and legend

 It goes without saying that the use of incense has existed since Biblical times and is a traditional practice of the Middle East, where the woods come from. Gums and resins were used from trees imported from Arabia, Egypt, Babylon, Israel, India, Greece, and Rome for religious and spiritual ceremonies as offerings, or to perfume the palates and temples.  Legends tell that a first scented wood failed on the coast in the year 595, during the reign of Empress Suiko. She burned this one and fell under her spell. The people used it for chimneys and other trees were imported from India. It is in 754 that the incense lands in Japan with the arrival of the monks who introduced the Buddhist precepts. More precisely, the Chinese monk of Tang, Ganjin. He used it mainly for medical purposes. 

New practices of incense 

The refined scents became objects of pleasure and sophistication for the nobles of the Imperial Court 200 years later, during the Heian era. During the Shogunat war period, samurai soldiers used incense, which they wore on their armor and helmets to mark invincibility. After that, the practice developed and spread to the upper and middle classes of Japanese society. With time and until now, the Japanese have created more and more special scents and enjoy creating bold mixes. The Kôdo or way of the incense is a Japanese culture, which is an art born after this appearance in the Japanese territory. This is a ceremony in which participants consume scented pieces of wood and try to recognize the scents. She has both a fun and friendly side. Incense has been used since ancient times by many countries around the world, until today. The fragrances are meant to transform, soothe and inspire the user. They create, not only a sense of serenity and well-being, but open man to a higher consciousness.