Awaji Koh-Shi – Coffee

This sample comes from Nathan. When he sent me a parcel in August 2025, I asked him for a few sticks of Awaji Koh-Shi – Coffee because I was curious about a Japanese interpretation of coffee fragrance after I’d tried those incense sticks.

Awaji Koh-Shi incense sticks are occasionally to be found in Germany; for example, the online shop Duft&Fantasy has Coffee in their range for €20.40.
In America, you can get them at Japanincense.com for $18.00. A box contains 100 sticks or 50g. They measure approximately 14cm. This is a low-smoke incense.

The raw scent of the sticks is inconspicuous: a dark, slightly tart aroma with weak sweetness that is a bit vanilla-like.

Lit, I first smell a fine bitter note that does recall very dark roasted coffee. As with my last coffee incense stick review, I’m again at the smell of an empty coffee tin or an old coffee grinder: this particular, tart and in its own way oily smell that clings to everything that’s been in contact with coffee for a while.

In the room, a sweet smell spreads gradually; a sweetness which you know from various products with coffee flavour, whether it’s fragrance or taste. Whether it’s coffee candy, ice cream, or a coffee fragrance oil; everything has exactly this specific sweetness.

I don’t know what I had expected from Awaji Koh-Shi – Coffee, but I’m somewhat disappointed nonetheless. In character, these Japanese coffee incense sticks are practically identical to the Indian ones; only the potency sets them apart. These sticks are rather subtle, though you can still find the aroma obtrusive because it feels artificial.

Awaji Koh-Shi – Coffee aren’t bad, but you really need to like coffee aroma and not hope for an authentic Coffee smell.