Green | Hojo by Yamadamatsu

Just wanted to give an update after getting a lot more experience with agarwood. Whereas I didn't smell agarwood before, now that's the main thing that stands out. There is a lot of variation in agarwood, whether it's the species of wood, what country it's from, what soil it's grown in, whether cultivated or wild, how long it's been growing, kyara or non-kyara, different types of kyara, etc. But there is definitely real agarwood in this incense. And it's gotten more enjoyable over time.

Initially a surprising burnt leaves scent but without the acridity, reminds me of Romania in autumn when the villagers burn the fallen leaves by the side of the road. Then that weaves out and marine saltiness and minty muskiness weaves in. There's a sweet scent that also comes in and out, it's similar to Aegis by Sol Scents (which contains golden jojoba oil, palo santo, bergamot & vetiver), I don't know which ingredient in it though. Comparing it right now with the raw green shin-kyara (immature cultivated "kyara") aloeswood scraps I got from Kangiiten, and recollecting the one stick of En no Sho I got from the Gyokushodo "Impressions" sampler, it doesn't have that lacquer-like refreshing scent I now associate with high-end aloeswood. Real centuries old wild kyara is extremely rare, going extinct and currently costs more than 10x the price of gold per gram. I've never tried it so I can't comment on if they used the real thing (if they did it must reasonably be a miniscule amount). Nonetheless it's a very multi-vocal and interesting incense. If Yamadamatsu's Suifu is like a one-note sweet cinnamon-flavoured cocktail, Hojo Green is a fine aged whiskey that changes character just when you think you've grasped it. With that said, I think it would make an excellent meditation-incense, because it begs you to concentrate on it. I recommend this if you want something interesting.