After 30 years' efforts towards producing what we think is the definitive American incense source, we are still searching out new products or developing them ourselves. Our company came into being with counsel from philosopher Alan Watts, who became intrigued with the many uses that Eastern cultures have found for incense. The sense of smell seemed to him to be of utmost importance as an aid to enhancing and transforming even the most simple, everyday events; it was Dr. Watts who negotiated the original distribution in the United States of Kyukyodo products, those rare and beautiful incenses which have remained unchanged for hundreds of years, and which we stock proudly as part of our unique collection from Japan's greatest producers.
Many of the products listed in this catalog are made by the oldest and most prestigious firms in Asia. Some are made by religious orders in Europe; others by Tibetan refugees living in India; and not a few by master perfumers working from prized secret family recipes handed down for centuries. Many are world famous. A good number are used in temples, churches, monasteries, ashrams, zendos...even palaces. Most are found, at last, in quiet places where people meditate, or worship, or celebrate the special events of life. The finest and most gracious homes in Japan and India would never be without a complement of incense for any number of occasions, and for daily use as well.
While we have tried to give descriptions of these remarkable products which are helpful, we recognize that it is experience which will help you decide which types might really be "yours"; so in cases where products are expensive, we have made up reasonably priced samplers or assortments which will assist your selection. We hope you will enjoy these superior products as much as we have enjoyed finding them and bringing them into our collection. And if there is something missing -- a favorite that we don't have -- please tell us about it, and we'll do our best to get it.