Shoyeido Xiang Do Frankincense – 20 Japanese Incense Sticks

Shoyeido Xiang Do Frankincense No. 63 is a Japanese incense from Kyoto with a gentle, slightly powdery fragrance inspired by traditional frankincense resin. The composition belongs to Shoyeido's Xiang-Do collection, whose short, compact incense sticks are produced using a special compression process.

Frankincense – a gentle incense fragrance with powdery sweetness

Xiang Do Frankincense interprets the fragrance of frankincense, also known as olibanum, in a soft and delicately balanced composition. Shoyeido particularly emphasises the gentle, powdery sweetness that gives this incense fragrance its distinctive character.

At its heart is a warm, understated fragrance note reminiscent of the balsamic character of traditional frankincense resin. Unlike the intense fragrance of frankincense resins burned directly on charcoal, Xiang Do Frankincense has a softer, more perfume-like character, in which the powdery facet is particularly prominent.

The manufacturer does not disclose the precise formula. The name Frankincense describes the fragrance profile and does not necessarily mean that natural frankincense resin from a particular Boswellia species is present.

Frankincense – an aromatic resin with a long history

Frankincense (Olibanum) is obtained from the resin of various trees belonging to the genus Boswellia, which grow in dry regions including the Arabian Peninsula and Northeast Africa. This aromatic resin was traded as early as antiquity and was among the highly valued fragrant materials of the ancient world.

Through historical trade routes, frankincense reached different cultures, where it was used for burning incense, religious ceremonies and the preparation of fragrance blends. Particularly well known are the ancient frankincense trade routes that connected southern Arabia with the markets of the Mediterranean region.

Shoyeido draws on this historical atmosphere in its fragrance description, making a poetic connection to the Queen of Sheba, a figure associated in various traditions with the ancient trading kingdoms of southern Arabia and East Africa. This reference highlights the cultural inspiration behind the composition without indicating any particular origin for the aromatic ingredients used.

Xiang Do – Japanese incense sticks shaped by compression

The Xiang-Do collection is distinguished by a manufacturing process developed by Shoyeido: compression moulding (圧縮成形, Asshuku Seikei).

While traditional Japanese incense sticks are usually made by extruding an aromatic mixture, Xiang Do incense material is compressed directly into a mould. This gives the short sticks their particularly smooth, uniform surface and compact shape.

With this process, Shoyeido combines Japanese incense tradition with modern fragrance creation. Within the Xiang-Do series, Frankincense represents a soft fragrance inspired by aromatic resins, while other varieties explore floral, fruity or woody fragrance themes.

Features of Shoyeido Xiang Do Frankincense

• Manufacturer: Shoyeido
• Collection: Xiang Do
• Product: Frankincense No. 63
• Made in: Kyoto, Japan
• Fragrance: frankincense (olibanum)
• Fragrance character: gentle, warm, slightly powdery, sweet and balsamic
• Manufacturing process: compression moulding (Asshuku Seikei)
• Contents: 20 incense sticks and 1 small incense holder
• Length: approx. 7 cm
• Burning time: approx. 15 min per stick
• Shoyeido product number: 214563