Japanese Cedar (Sugi) Incense

Soft, healing scent of a tranquil Japanese cedar (sugi) forest.

Very subtle and mild. Especially suitable for those who are sensitive to strong smells.

Made by grinding sugi needles into paste in a water mill, and hand-rolled with natural binders.

All-natural, fragrance-free. No chemicals, essential oils, or burning accelerants.

Contents: 30 grams (app. 65 pieces)

Product of Japan

A labor of love

Our family-run supplier crafts this incense in Kyushu by harvesting the cedar needles without cutting down the trees and grinding them into pulp using a water mill. Hand-rolling, cutting, and packaging come next.

The work is tedious, and production is on a small scale; to call the process labor of love is an understatement. Only two such operations remain today, out of over 40 at the beginning of the 20th century.

See photo in picture gallery.

About sugi health benefits and "forest bathing"

Sugi extract is used in Eastern medicine to improve general health. The scent of sugi contains natural  substances (called phytoncides), which help the tree defend against bacteria, viruses and fungi.

In Japan, people commonly go for a nature walk activity called shinrin-yoku (森林浴, forest bathing) — a national health initiative started by the government in 1982 due to scientific studies showing the healing effects of breathing-in natural aromas wafting through dense forests.