Shoyeido Kinkaku – 35 Japanese Incense Sticks

Shoyeido Kinkaku (金閣) is a traditional Japanese incense from Kyoto, belonging to Shoyeido's classic Daily Incense collection. This Japanese version combines sandalwood, cinnamon, cloves, patchouli, benzoin resin and other spices to create a warm, woody, spicy and balsamic fragrance composition. The distinctive reddish-brown incense sticks are made without a bamboo core.

A warm fragrance of sandalwood, spices and benzoin

The fragrance composition of Kinkaku combines the soft, woody warmth of sandalwood with the aromatic spiciness of cinnamon and cloves. Patchouli adds an earthy, slightly herbal depth to the blend, while benzoin resin contributes a gentle, resinous sweetness.

The interplay of these ingredients creates a traditional Japanese incense fragrance with spicy, woody and balsamic nuances. The warm underlying notes are complemented by the various spices, without any single fragrance component dominating the overall composition.

Kinkaku – Kyoto's Golden Pavilion

The name Kinkaku (金閣) means "Golden Pavilion" and evokes the famous Buddhist temple Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto. Its gilded pavilion is reflected in Kyōko-chi, the so-called Mirror Pond, and is one of the best-known examples of Japanese temple architecture.

This connection with Kyoto's historical culture is also reflected in the name of the incense. Shoyeido, whose history dates back to 1705, preserves an important part of the Japanese incense tradition through its classic fragrance blends.

Japanese version with reddish-brown incense sticks

The Japanese version of Kinkaku offered here is distinguished by its reddish-brown incense sticks. This makes it visually different from the brown international version, sold under the name Golden Pavilion.

Both versions use the same known principal ingredients. However, differences in the blending proportions have not been documented, so any subtle variations in fragrance character cannot be determined more precisely.

The Japanese Kinkaku range is also available in other packaging sizes, including large boxes containing shorter incense sticks.

Contents and features

• Manufacturer: Shoyeido, Kyoto
• Origin: Japan
• Collection: Daily Incense / Nature & Tradition
• Version: Japanese Kinkaku (金閣)
• Known ingredients: sandalwood, cinnamon, cloves, patchouli, benzoin resin and other spices
• Fragrance character: warm, woody, spicy, earthy and balsamic
• Colour: reddish-brown
• Contents: 1 roll containing 35 incense sticks
• Length: approx. 22 cm
• Burning time: approx. 50 min per incense stick
• Special feature: Japanese incense sticks without a bamboo core

Note on the contents supplied: This product is sold individually as one roll containing 35 incense sticks. The manufacturer's packaging shown in the photograph contains several rolls and is included only to illustrate the original product. One individual roll is supplied, not the entire box.