Prayer beads made of fragrant wood come in three main kinds: sandalwood (byakudan), agarwood (jinkoh), and Kyara. All of them are “fragrant prayer beads,” but they differ greatly in both fragrance and value. Drawing on our experience handling fragrant wood as an incense wholesaler, here is how they compare when you choose them as prayer beads.
In brief
- Sandalwood has an elegant, sweet fragrance; agarwood has a faint, refined sweetness and tartness; Kyara has a fragrance found only in Kyara.
- Agarwood prayer beads cost far more than sandalwood, and Kyara is in another class again.
- Many imitations of fragrant wood prayer beads are on the market, so buy from a shop that holds raw fragrant wood itself.
Sandalwood, agarwood, and Kyara compared
- Sandalwood: based on an elegant, sweet fragrance. Aged sandalwood takes on a complex scent with added bitterness and depth.
- Agarwood: almost all comes from Indonesia or Malaysia. It has a faint, refined sweetness and tartness.
- Kyara: has a fragrance found in nothing else. High-quality Kyara feels moist in the hand, almost as if it clings to your skin.
Read more: About Fragrant Wood | About Kyara
How long does the fragrance last?
As you wear them, the fragrance gradually fades. However, it fades only on the surface; the fragrance remains inside.
When the scent becomes weak, the surface can be shaved, or the beads can be polished by rubbing beads of the same material against one another, a method called tomomigaki.
Sandalwood in particular loses its fragrance under ultraviolet light, so we do not recommend storing it in direct sunlight or in hot, humid places.
Why agarwood and Kyara are so valuable
Making prayer bead beads requires large pieces of fragrant wood. Agarwood and Kyara that are large and of good quality all the way to the core are becoming harder to find every year, and this is what makes them so much more valuable than sandalwood.
Read more: Making Prayer Beads from a Single Agarwood Log
What matters most when choosing
Many imitation fragrant wood prayer beads are on the market. It is difficult to tell whether they are genuine by appearance alone, so buy from a shop that holds raw fragrant wood before it is worked.
Our basic approach at Kohgen is to make prayer beads from the raw wood. Some prayer beads are purchased as finished products, but all of them are carefully inspected by our owner, who is in charge of buying and inspecting fragrant wood.
They can be used at funerals and memorial services
Fragrant wood prayer beads can of course be used at funerals and memorial services, and there are no special rules by sect. Men’s beads are larger and women’s smaller. Many people also wear them every day as an amulet.
Care and storage
Be careful with water and sweat. In summer, wipe them with a dry cloth after you sweat. This applies to prayer beads in general, not only fragrant wood; coral is another material sensitive to moisture.
If you wear perfume, its scent will transfer to the fragrant wood and is hard to remove, so keep your prayer beads away from perfume.
Frequently asked questions
Q. The fragrance of my prayer beads has become weak. What can I do?
A. The fragrance remains inside. Polishing the beads against one another may bring it out again.
Q. Can fragrant wood prayer beads be used at funerals?
A. Yes, and there are no rules by sect.
Q. What is the difference between men’s and women’s?
A. Men’s beads are larger, and women’s are smaller.
Q. Is it all right to wear perfume?
A. Perfume transfers to fragrant wood and is hard to remove, so keep them apart.
Shop sandalwood prayer beads and bracelets
Read more: How to Hold Prayer Beads, Sect by Sect | The History of Prayer Beads
