Baieido Kai Un KOH Aloeswood Kaiunkoh Short Box

I was fortunate to watch reviews of this fantastic Aloeswood blend on detailed dream’s YouTube channel. This precious incense is a masterpiece.

A superbly difficult joss stick for training the nose; I toast it often.This joss- as most lower-end aloes blends- leads with a strong cellulose front, the odorous affront of "something's burning!". Call it the suffering part of learning. Within a week of meeting I noticed a deep woodsy & bitter aloes center. Now I crave its lingering bitter blend. This is the beginning of training to listening with incense: sitting past the expected, our revulsion with burnt odors, to rest with woods' unique characters which can open minds -and fulfill our neuro-chemistriesthe difference I perceive between high-end sticks, and popular-priced versions often comes down to balances of richness of a scent (ie the alluring, sexual complexity in an authentic vanilla-orchid bean, vs the sharp focus of ethyl-Vanillin pumped out from mall bakeries), versus its intensity, influenced by binders or by-products such as cellulose (aka the basis of 'burnt cardboard' scent typically encountered in woods).The relative weight of rich resin in a wood, versus its cellulose structure is one key defining character in the value of a wood. But ultimately the value is in the dimensionality of the scent: Higher end kyaras change their profile as you listen- like music, or the aroma of your lover. The poetry lingers long past distinct memoryHigh-end, classic joss tend to use more higher-grade, complex natural woods;Modern joss sticks include distilled essential oils to add intensity to herbs and lower-grade woods.a bitter, pungent joss which rewards serious listeninga genuine value

Quality product and smells wonderful. I got this incense as in the authentic prophetic traditions (hadith) aloeswood incense is specifically mentioned to be used in Paradise. [Book 55 of Sahih Bukhari, #544].

So far, Kai Un Koh has been my favorite Baieido scent of the three I've tried so far. What's remarkable to me about this incense is that it has a very clean and defined scent. I wish I could articulate it better, but the best I can do is call it clean and pure earthy scent with a touch of spice mixed in. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who's into earthy/woodsy scents.

As great as it was years ago. A survivor of commercialization. Excellent daily incense.

Packaging and presentation: Excellent! I like the square-cut incense! (see pic) and the box is very nice and sturdy.Smokiness: moderate - you don't have to leave the room but you'll definitely notice it.Aroma: aloeswood is definitely in there. I have other Vietnamese Hoi-An agarwood incense and it reminds me of that particular version.Intensity: moderate - it starts pretty heavy while burning and diffuses over a couple of hours. Re-entering the room will allow your nose to detect it once more.Burn time: approx. 40 minutesIf you like Vietnamese style agarwood but you want it rounded out with more spices, this is a good buy! Definitely heavier on the agarwood smell than other incense yet not as sharp and bitter thanks to the blend formula.

Edit:I originally gave this 3 stars because I didn't care for the smell at first, that was unfair, this is very high quality incense that burns slowly and smell is objective. I've also come to really appreciate the fragrance, burn it regularly and now will definitely buy it again. Nicely boxed and presented too.Original review:I guess I'm a sandalwood guy. I really like the Nippon Kodo Kayuragi sandalwood and thought I'd probably like this too based on the reviews. This reminds me of charcoal and asian food, it is growing on me, but I probably won't buy this again.

This is a powerful scent, but good for special occasions or to set your intention. I use this when I feel that I could use a boost of good fortune and/or have something important to prepare for. It has “strong” smoke compared to other lighter Japanese aloeswood blends, but shouldn’t you “strongly” wish for good fortune?