Shoyeido Daigen-Koh Great Origin – Japanese Incense Sticks

Shoyeido Daigen-Koh – Great Origin is a traditional Japanese incense from Kyoto and belongs to Shoyeido's Daily Incense collection, also known as Nature & Tradition. This classic fragrance composition combines sandalwood and cinnamon with other aromatic spices. Its warm, woody and spicy character reflects the tradition of Japanese incense blends.

Sandalwood and cinnamon – a warm, spicy incense fragrance

The fragrance of Daigen-Koh is particularly characterised by the interplay of sandalwood and cinnamon. Sandalwood provides a soft, warm and slightly sweet base, while cinnamon contributes a distinctive aromatic spiciness.

The composition is complemented by other spices. The specialist retailer Japan Incense also mentions borneol among these ingredients, an aromatic substance with fresh, camphor-like fragrance notes. However, this information is not included in the main ingredients published by Shoyeido USA.

The result is a rich, woody and spicy fragrance with a warm sweetness and possibly a subtle fresh, camphor-like nuance. Compared with the equally traditional Shoyeido Hoyei-Koh, which explicitly lists cloves alongside sandalwood and cinnamon, Daigen-Koh places greater emphasis on the combination of sandalwood and cinnamon.

Daigen-Koh – Great Origin

The Japanese name Daigen-Koh (大元香) is rendered as Great Origin in Shoyeido's English-language range, loosely meaning "Great Origin". The composition is one of the manufacturer's classic incense fragrances, combining aromatic woods with spices in the Japanese tradition.

Shoyeido has a centuries-long history of incense making in Kyoto. The Daily Incense collection makes this traditional world of fragrances accessible in the form of incense sticks for everyday use.

American and Japanese versions

The American version of Daigen-Koh – Great Origin offered here contains brown incense sticks. There is also a Japanese version of Daigen-Koh featuring very dark greyish-purple, almost black sticks.

Both versions are associated with sandalwood and cinnamon. Differences in fragrance perception are possible, but the precise formulas and blending ratios are not disclosed. The difference in colour therefore does not establish any particular variation in ingredients.

Features of Shoyeido Daigen-Koh

• Manufacturer: Shoyeido
• Collection: Daily Incense / Nature & Tradition
• Product: Daigen-Koh – Great Origin, American version
• Made in: Kyoto, Japan
• Confirmed main ingredients: sandalwood and cinnamon
• Other reported aromatic ingredients: borneol and spices, according to specialist retailer information
• Fragrance character: warm, woody, spicy, slightly sweet and aromatic
• Colour of incense sticks: brown
• Contents: 30 incense sticks
• Length: approx. 22 cm
• Burning time: approx. 50 min per stick
• Special feature: classic Shoyeido composition, also available in a Japanese version