Kyara, the finest of fragrant woods
In Japanese historical dramas, you will sometimes see a powerful ruler burning a piece of fragrant wood. Kyara is the fragrant wood that was cherished not only by Sengoku-era warlords such as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Maeda Toshiie, and Date Masamune, but also by the imperial family, the court nobility, and the powerful of every age.
Before the Edo period, the only way to enjoy Kyara was to cut pieces from the raw wood and heat them, as in monkoh (“listening to incense”) or Shokoh. Today, many incense products are blended with Kyara, so anyone can enjoy its fragrance with ease.
Kyara comes from evergreen trees of the genera Aquilaria and Gyrinops in the family Thymelaeaceae.
A fragrance people long to experience
Prized for both its fragrance and its rarity, Kyara is in high demand and exceptionally scarce. Although it is costly as a raw material, many people regard it as the ultimate destination in the world of incense and say, “I want to experience the scent of Kyara at least once.” It is also a meaningful gift for someone to whom you wish to show your gratitude.
Enjoying Kyara
Useful tools for burning Kyara
Fragrant wood can be placed directly on charcoal, but because Kyara is so precious, we recommend starting with monkoh or an electric incense burner. When you can no longer sense the fragrance, finish by burning the piece completely, as you would with Shokoh, and enjoy its scent to the very end.
Electric incense burner
An electric incense burner lets you enjoy fragrant wood safely, anywhere, without an open flame. Battery-powered and rechargeable models are available, so you can choose one that suits your space and the way you like to use it.
Shop the electric incense burner
Monkoh starter set
A value set that contains everything you need for monkoh: fragrant woods (Kyara, Jinkoh, and Sandalwood), a monkoh incense burner, incense ash, a Ginyo (silver mica plate), and tools. Instructions on how to heat fragrant wood are included, so even beginners can use it with confidence.
