Low smoke Incense Stick

Low smoke Incense Stick

Low smoke incense is the same craft with far less haze. The sticks are made on Awaji Island in Hyogo from natural woods, resins and essential oils, then formulated to burn cleanly, so you get the scent without a room full of smoke. If traditional incense has ever caught in your throat, start here.

The range runs from the classics, sandalwood, agarwood, hinoki cypress and cedar, through florals like sakura, rose, jasmine and lotus, to fruit and food notes including yuzu, apple, white peach and chocolate. Most scents come in a 40g box, with many also available in 20g if you would rather try before committing.
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How to choose a low smoke incense

Low smoke incense is the same craft as traditional incense, with the smoke dialled down. It is not smokeless, and you will still see a thin thread of smoke. What changes is that the haze does not build up in the room and the scent does not catch in your throat.

Start with a scent family

Woods are the traditional choice: sandalwood, agarwood, hinoki cypress and Japanese cedar. Quiet, dry and grounding. Start here if you want incense that smells like a temple rather than a perfume.

Florals include sakura, rose, jasmine and lotus. Softer, and more present in the room.

Fruit and sweet covers yuzu, apple, white peach and chocolate. These are the most modern of the three and the easiest for someone who has never burned incense before.

20 g or 40 g

Most scents come in a 40 g box. Many are also sold in 20 g, which exists so you can find out whether you like a scent before committing to the larger box. If you are buying for someone else, 20 g is the safer gift.

One thing people forget

Japanese incense has no bamboo core, so these sticks are around 2.7 mm thick, thinner than Indian incense. A holder bought for thicker sticks will be too loose. Every holder we sell is sized for these.

All of it is made on Awaji Island in Hyogo prefecture, from natural woods, resins and essential oils.

Frequently asked questions

Is low smoke the same as smokeless?

No. There is no such thing as a truly smokeless stick. Low smoke means noticeably less smoke than traditional incense, not none.

Will it still scent the room?

Yes. Less smoke does not mean less fragrance. The scent carries; it simply arrives without the haze.

Which one should I try first?

If you want classic Japanese incense, sandalwood or hinoki cypress. If you have never burned incense before, start with a fruit or floral scent, which most people find easier.

What is the difference between 20 g and 40 g?

Only the quantity. The 20 g box is there so you can try a scent before buying the 40 g.

Do I need a holder?

Yes, something to hold the stick upright and catch the ash. Any of our incense holders will fit, as they are sized for Japanese sticks.

Where is it made?

On Awaji Island in Hyogo prefecture, the centre of Japanese incense making, from natural woods, resins and essential oils.