Shoyeido Kyo-Nishiki Kyoto Autumn Leaves – 35 Incense Sticks

Shoyeido Kyo-Nishiki – Kyoto Autumn Leaves is a traditional Japanese incense from Kyoto and belongs to Shoyeido's Daily Incense collection, also known as Nature & Tradition. This warm, woody and spicy fragrance composition combines high-quality sandalwood with cinnamon, evoking the distinctive atmosphere of autumn in Japan. The international version offered here contains 35 brown incense sticks without a bamboo core.

A warm fragrance of sandalwood and cinnamon

At the heart of Kyo-Nishiki is the combination of sandalwood and cinnamon. Sandalwood lends the composition a soft, warm and slightly sweet woody note, while cinnamon contributes a lively, aromatic spiciness.

The fragrance develops a balanced, woody and pleasantly spicy character, with a gentle sweetness reminiscent of classic Japanese incense blends. The cinnamon note adds a touch of freshness and liveliness without overpowering the warm underlying character.

Kyo-Nishiki is therefore a particularly fine example of the combination of traditional aromatic woods and spices, long appreciated in Japanese incense culture.

Kyo-Nishiki – the autumn colours of Kyoto

The Japanese name Kyo-Nishiki (京にしき) evokes the magnificent colours of Kyoto's autumn landscape. The Arashiyama area is particularly renowned for its brilliant red, orange and golden maple leaves, which attract numerous visitors every year.

According to Shoyeido, this fragrance composition was developed more than 30 years ago to capture the distinctive atmosphere of this season. The English name Kyoto Autumn Leaves reflects this inspiration.

The composition does not attempt to reproduce the actual smell of autumn leaves. Instead, its warm sandalwood fragrance and spicy cinnamon notes offer an olfactory interpretation of Kyoto's autumn atmosphere.

Traditional incense craftsmanship from Kyoto

Shoyeido is one of Japan's long-established incense manufacturers, with a history dating back to 1705. The company is based in Kyoto, a city where the production and use of aromatic woods and incense blends have a long cultural tradition.

The Daily Incense collection includes various classic fragrance compositions in which sandalwood and other aromatic materials play an important role. Within this series, Kyo-Nishiki stands out for its distinctly autumnal character and harmonious combination of wood and spices.

International and Japanese versions

The international version of Kyo-Nishiki – Kyoto Autumn Leaves offered here contains brown incense sticks. In Japan, Kyonishiki is also available in a version featuring very dark grey-green sticks, including rolls and larger packs.

Both versions share sandalwood and cinnamon as their known main aromatic ingredients. Differences in fragrance perception are possible, but Shoyeido does not disclose the precise formulas or blending ratios. The difference in stick colour therefore does not establish any particular variation in composition.

Features of Shoyeido Kyo-Nishiki

• Manufacturer: Shoyeido
• Collection: Daily Incense / Nature & Tradition
• Product: Kyo-Nishiki – Kyoto Autumn Leaves, international version
• Made in: Kyoto, Japan
• Known main ingredients: sandalwood and cinnamon
• Fragrance character: warm, woody, spicy, soft and slightly sweet
• Colour of incense sticks: brown
• Type: Japanese incense sticks without a bamboo core
• Contents: approx. 35 incense sticks
• Length: approx. 22 cm
• Burning time: approx. 50 min per stick
• Special feature: fragrance composition inspired by the autumn colours of Kyoto