Plum Blossom, Koto no Kou Incense, 30 Sticks

At a glance

• Fresh plum blossom character with lilac and clove adding gentle warmth underneath
• Brighter and less heavy than the woody or amber scents elsewhere in Koto no Kou series
• 30 short-burning sticks come in a paulownia box suited to keeping incense dry between uses

Plum Blossom opens Koto no Kou on its freshest floral side.

Kousaido interprets early-spring ume with lilac and clove, creating a fragrance that is fresh and lightly tart before a small amount of warmth appears underneath. The maker describes it specifically as a fresh floral rather than a dense sweet blossom.

That makes it easier to place against the rest of the collection. Lotus is deeper and more aromatic; Osmanthus sweeter; Ancient Capital much warmer and amber-led.

Koto no Kou translates motifs associated with Japan’s old capital into fragrance. With Plum Blossom, that means the first sense of spring rather than a literal reconstruction of one flower.

The 30 sticks are stored in a paulownia box, useful for protecting incense from humidity and keeping the small sticks together between burns.