A Woody Japanese Incense
Umeshoin is one of the higher-grade traditional incenses from Gyokushodo, a Japanese incense house based in Sakai, Osaka. The blend centres around aloeswood, with Borneo camphor and spices used alongside the woods.
The amount of wood in the blend is noticeable. Umeshoin has a dry, woody character throughout the burn, while the spices and camphor sit further in the background. They add warmth and brightness without turning it into an obviously spicy or camphorous incense.
This gives Umeshoin quite a different character from many Japanese blends where spices, florals or oils are easier to identify. Here, most of the interest comes from the wood itself and the way the other ingredients change its character.
First Impressions
The woody character of Umeshoin is apparent from the beginning. Aloeswood sits at the centre of the fragrance, with a dry, slightly bitter quality and a gentle warmth underneath.
Borneo camphor and spices are also used in the blend, although neither overwhelms the woods. The camphor adds a fresher edge, while the spices bring warmth and depth. Together they give the aloeswood more definition without taking the fragrance in an obviously spicy direction.
There's a traditional quality to Umeshoin that will feel familiar to anyone who has spent time with higher-grade Japanese woody incense. It's dry rather than sweet, with very little excess fragrance around the central woods.
As the stick burns, different parts of the blend become easier to notice. Sometimes the drier aloeswood comes forward, while at other points the warmer spice notes are more apparent. It's this balance that makes Umeshoin particularly enjoyable to return to.
Spending Time With Umeshoin
Umeshoin is best enjoyed fairly close to the burning stick. It isn't something I would choose primarily to fragrance a large room, as much of what makes it interesting can get lost at a distance.
Burning it while reading or sitting quietly works particularly well. Up close, the woody character isn't completely static. Sometimes the aloeswood comes across as dry and bitter, while at other points the spices become warmer or the blend takes on that slightly perfumed character.
Coming back into the room after leaving for a few minutes can also give a different impression. The individual notes become less obvious and the fragrance feels warmer and more blended in the air.
This is one of those incenses where repeated burns are worthwhile. Familiarity makes some of the smaller details easier to recognise.
Exploring Premium Japanese Incense
Umeshoin is a useful example of what changes as you move further into premium Japanese incense. Higher prices don't always bring stronger fragrance or more elaborate blends. In some cases, more of the focus shifts towards the quality of the aromatic woods themselves.
Umeshoin falls into that category. The aloeswood isn't hidden beneath a large amount of added fragrance, which gives you more opportunity to notice its dry, bitter and resinous qualities.
This style won't necessarily appeal to everyone. Someone looking for a strong room fragrance may get more enjoyment from a much less expensive incense. Umeshoin makes more sense for people who already enjoy Japanese incense and have become interested in the differences between woods and blends.
It's also why I wouldn't necessarily suggest starting here if you're completely new to aloeswood. Minorien's Aloeswood Fu-in, for example, gives a more direct introduction to the material. Umeshoin becomes more interesting once you have something to compare it with.
Who Is It For?
Umeshoin is particularly well suited to people who enjoy traditional Japanese incense, aloeswood and drier woody fragrances. I'd also recommend it to anyone beginning to explore higher-grade Japanese incense. It gives a good example of how expensive aromatic materials can be used without producing an especially heavy or powerful fragrance.
It's less suited to someone looking for sweetness, strong projection or an incense primarily intended to scent the room. A full stick isn't always necessary either. Burning a shorter section in a smaller room gives plenty of time to get to know the fragrance and makes a box last considerably longer.
Final Thoughts
Gyokushodo's Umeshoin is primarily about the woods. Aloeswood gives it a dry and slightly bitter foundation, with Borneo camphor and spices adding warmth and definition around it.
The unusual part is how little those supporting ingredients call attention to themselves. I rarely find myself thinking specifically about camphor or a particular spice while it's burning. What I notice instead is how the woody fragrance changes from one moment to the next.
For anyone already familiar with Japanese incense and looking to explore some of Gyokushodo's higher-grade offerings, Umeshoin is well worth spending some time with.
