Shoyeido Kyo-Zakura Kyoto Cherry Blossoms – Japanese Incense Sticks

Shoyeido Kyo-Zakura – Kyoto Cherry Blossoms is a traditional Japanese incense from Kyoto and belongs to Shoyeido's Daily Incense collection, also known as Nature & Tradition. The fragrance composition combines sandalwood, cinnamon, benzoin resin, cloves and other spices to create a warm, spicy and slightly sweet incense fragrance. This international version contains long, brown incense sticks without a bamboo core.

Sandalwood, cinnamon and balsamic fragrance notes

The fragrance of Kyo-Zakura is characterised by a harmonious combination of soft woody notes, aromatic spices and balsamic warmth. Sandalwood provides the gentle, woody foundation, while cinnamon and cloves give the composition its distinctive spiciness.

Benzoin resin complements the blend with a warm, slightly sweet and resinous fragrance note. Additional spices round off the interplay of the various aromatic ingredients.

The result is a warm, woody and spicy incense fragrance with balsamic and gently sweet nuances. Although the name evokes cherry blossoms, this is not a particularly floral fragrance. Instead, traditional aromatic woods, spices and resinous notes take centre stage.

Kyo-Zakura – cherry blossoms in Kyoto

The Japanese name Kyozakura (京桜) combines Kyoto with sakura, the Japanese cherry blossom. The international name Kyoto Cherry Blossoms reflects this theme and evokes the famous cherry blossom season in Japan's former imperial capital.

Every spring, flowering cherry trees transform Kyoto's gardens, temple grounds and historic streets. Cherry blossoms hold particular cultural significance in Japan, symbolising, among other things, the beauty and fleeting nature of the moment.

With Kyo-Zakura, Shoyeido draws on this traditional motif. However, the fragrance composition is not intended as a literal recreation of the scent of cherry blossoms. The name describes the cultural inspiration behind the incense and does not mean that cherry blossoms are actually used as an ingredient.

Traditional incense craftsmanship by Shoyeido

The history of Shoyeido dates back to 1705. The Kyoto-based company is one of Japan's long-established incense manufacturers and is known for its compositions of aromatic woods, spices and other fragrance ingredients.

The Daily Incense collection includes a variety of classic incense blends for regular use. Kyo-Zakura combines the warmth of sandalwood with a spicy and balsamic fragrance profile, giving it a distinctive character within the collection.

International version of Kyo-Zakura

The international version of Kyo-Zakura – Kyoto Cherry Blossoms offered here contains brown incense sticks measuring approximately 22 cm in length. They are made without a bamboo core and have an average burning time of around 50 minutes per stick.

On the international packaging, the product name is written with a hyphen as Kyo-Zakura. The Japanese versions, by contrast, use the spelling Kyozakura without a hyphen. Both names refer to the same incense by Shoyeido.

The Japanese versions are visually distinguished by their light, slightly olive-grey incense sticks. They are available, among other formats, as a roll containing 35 long sticks and in a large box containing 490 shorter sticks.

The known ingredient list for the international version includes sandalwood, cinnamon, benzoin resin, cloves and other spices. As the complete formulas of the different versions are not disclosed, any possible differences in composition cannot be reliably determined.

Features of Shoyeido Kyo-Zakura

• Manufacturer: Shoyeido
• Collection: Daily Incense / Nature & Tradition
• Product: Kyo-Zakura – Kyoto Cherry Blossoms, international version
• Japanese spelling: Kyozakura (京桜)
• Origin: Kyoto, Japan
• Known ingredients: sandalwood, cinnamon, benzoin resin, cloves and other spices
• Fragrance character: warm, woody, spicy, balsamic and slightly sweet
• Colour of incense sticks: brown
• Type: Japanese incense sticks without a bamboo core
• Length: approx. 22 cm
• Burning time: approx. 50 min per stick