Nippon Kodo Hana-no-Hana – 36 Japanese Incense Sticks

Hana-no-Hana by Nippon Kodo is a traditional Japanese incense featuring three classic floral fragrances: rose, lily and violet. These elegant fragrance compositions bring together the art of Japanese incense and the world of Western perfumery, and are among the historic creations of the manufacturer Nippon Kodo.

The assortment contains 36 short incense sticks – 12 each in rose, lily and violet fragrances – together with a matching incense holder. The practical, decorative packaging offers an opportunity to discover and compare all three varieties.

Hana-no-Hana – a Japanese fragrance creation from 1911

The history of Hana-no-Hana began in 1911. Japanese incense master Yujiro Kito drew inspiration from Western perfume culture and developed an incense that combined traditional Japanese manufacturing techniques with the fragrance character of European floral perfumes.

This led to the creation of Hana-no-Hana, a name that can be translated as “Flower of Flowers”. The series is regarded as one of the early Japanese creations to introduce floral perfume compositions into the world of incense sticks.

More than a century later, rose, lily and violet remain the characteristic fragrances of this long-established series.

Three classic floral compositions

The three fragrances share a floral and woody foundation. Nippon Kodo combines their distinctive floral characters with an Oriental-inspired sandalwood note and a warm, musky accord.

Rose – warm, floral and elegant

The yellow incense sticks release a rich rose composition with a gentle sweetness. Spicy accents and a delicate vanilla note complement the floral character, while sandalwood and a warm musk accord give the fragrance a softer, woody depth.

The result is a classic, full-bodied rose fragrance with an elegant combination of floral and Oriental notes.

Lily – fresh, floral and slightly green

The green incense sticks are dedicated to the fragrance of white lilies. Fresh, slightly green floral notes combine with a subtle sweetness and a gentle woody base.

Compared with the warmer rose composition, Lily has a brighter, fresher character. The green accents lend the fragrance a natural lightness without losing its classic floral character.

Violet – soft, powdery and floral

The violet-coloured incense sticks combine the delicate fragrance of violets with a soft floral bouquet. A pronounced powdery note gives the composition its characteristic, slightly nostalgic perfume character.

Sandalwood and a warm musk accord round off the fragrance, creating a gentle connection between the floral notes and the woody base.

The distinctive character of Hana-no-Hana

Nippon Kodo recommends appreciating not only the fragrance of Hana-no-Hana while the incense is burning, but also the delicate scent that lingers in the room afterwards. In Japan, this lingering fragrance is known as Nokoriga.

The three varieties of short incense sticks offer an enjoyable way to discover classic Japanese floral perfumery. Their different colours make rose, lily and violet easy to distinguish from one another.

Features of Nippon Kodo Hana-no-Hana

• Manufacturer: Nippon Kodo
• Origin: Japan
• Series: Hana-no-Hana
• Fragrances: rose, lily and violet
• Fragrance character: floral, woody and perfumed
• Contents: 36 Japanese incense sticks – 12 per fragrance
• Accessory: 1 incense holder
• Burning time: approx. 10–15 min per stick