Does incense seem a bit difficult to get started with?
In reality, it’s easier and more accessible than you think.
This page explains the types of incense, how to choose and enjoy them, how to find your favorite scent, and more—in a clear and simple way.
Let’s Start Using Incense
Incense comes in many forms, but for beginners, the stick type is highly recommended.
People often ask, “What’s the difference between incense and Senkoh (Buddhist incense stick)?”
Some manufacturers say "incense" is for enjoying aromas at home, while "Senkoh" is for Buddhist rituals at altars. However, Senkoh is actually a type of incense, and in the world of incense, they’re essentially the same. There’s no strict distinction.
Don’t worry about the label—just enjoy the scent you love in your room!
Stick-Type Incense Is Great for Beginners!
Why Stick-Type Incense Is Recommended
- Easy to find anywhere
- Simple and convenient to use
- widest variety of scents
Step 1: How to Enjoy Incense
You only need three basic tools to enjoy incense!
① Incense holder ② Incense plate ③ Lighter
Sometimes, incense holders are included with stick-type incense.
(*Be sure to check when buying your incense.)
For incense plates, a small ceramic dish from home will work just fine. A gas-type lighter (like a BBQ lighter) is recommended.
Gather these three items and start enjoying incense today!
- ① Incense holder
- ② Incense plate
- ③ Lighter
Stick-type incense is great for beginners thanks to its wide variety of scents!
Step 2: Find Your Favorite Scent
The scent of incense can change significantly before and after lighting—so burning it is the best way to experience it.
If you're visiting a physical incense shop, start by picking up different sticks and observing their appearance and scent.
Choose a few that seem interesting or appealing, and try burning them. That’s the clearest way to experience the differences.
It also helps to ask knowledgeable staff for advice.
Still, if it’s your first time, you might worry about:
Feeling awkward asking to test multiple scents
Worrying you won’t like any of them
Wondering if test-burning is even allowed
Feeling nervous in-store and wanting to explore scents in your own time at home
If that’s the case, try an assortment set that includes a variety of scents—it’s perfect for beginners.
You can find your favorite scent either in-store or at home!
- ① Try test-burning and ask staff in stores
- ② Try an assortment to experience various scents
Stick-type incense is great for beginners thanks to its wide variety of scents!
Step 3: Learn About Scents
Most Japanese incense is made not from a single material but from blends of multiple aromatic ingredients.
Though they look simple, these blends create complex, deep fragrances through a delicate balance of scents.
There are various kinds of raw incense materials. For example, natural plant-based items, aromatic woods like kōboku (fragrant wood), medicinal herbs like cloves or cinnamon used in traditional medicine and cooking.
Other materials include essential oils from flowers or fruits, or safe synthetic fragrances made using chemical formulas. Each maker blends these uniquely to create original scents—just like cooking.
Scents can broadly be categorized into two main types:
First, “Aromatic Wood Scents,” which are traditional, Japanese-style scents based on fragrant wood.
Second, “Fragrance-Type Scents,” which use modern perfumes to evoke flowers, fruits, forests, and more—designed to match an image.
By learning about these scent types, your appreciation and enjoyment of incense will deepen.
The more you learn about scents, the more enjoyable incense becomes!
There are two main types of scents:
- ① Aromatic Wood (Japanese-style)
- ② Fragrance Type (Western-style)
