Hikali Koh – Japanese Garden – Morikage (Forest Glade) and Kenmei Do – The Path of Perfection – Hanakonjiki (Golden Flower)
The brands Hikali Koh and Kenmei Do both seem to belong to a German wholesaler named Anvenor e.K. Interestingly, they are also found in the Canadian market. Other than that, they appear to be unknown outside the EU.
I would love to know who produces them.
Hikali Koh – Morikage
I bought this roll second-hand along with a few other Japanese incense sticks. Usually, they go for €6 or more. The roll contains 28 sticks of 14cm length, with a burning time of about 25 minutes per stick.
Ingredients: frangipani flower, tropical flowers, herbs, and fragrant woods.
In Morikage, I smell a distinct, very pleasant sandalwood base with a warm, sweet-woody, slightly milky tone. This is accompanied by a beautiful floral scent that almost seamlessly blends with the “fragrant woods”.
Additionally, there is a slightly spicy note, which gives the composition a bit more substance. The scent is incredibly soft and simply beautiful. I find its character to be calm, gentle, and relaxing.
Kenmei Do – Hanakonjiki
Hanakonjiki, I received as a gift sometime in 2020.
The sticks are also 14 cm long, a roll contains about 35 sticks or 14g. The current price is between €7 and €10.
Ingredients: frangipani, cistus (rockrose), and ylang-ylang, fragrant woods, and herbs.
In Hanakonjiki, I also smell sandalwood, but it’s way further in the background. The dominant notes here are definitely florals, which is not surprising given the list of ingredients.
The scent is lively and a bit more vibrant than Morikage. The composition feels brighter, and I smell something slightly fruity and a stronger spiciness than in the others.
I find that Hanakonjiki needs a bit more air to open up. Otherwise, they tend to smell a bit too smoky for me, which gives Morikage a certain advantage. However, the scent of Hanakonjiki is equally beautiful once it has had the opportunity to unfold.
Both varieties have something of a “Japanese Nag Champa”, with Hanakonjiki perhaps a bit more so.