Introducing HIN Incense

According to the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan), a large piece of fragrant wood washed ashore on Awaji Island in 595 AD. When the island’s inhabitants burned it as firewood, an exceptionally fine fragrance filled the air, and it was presented to the Imperial Court. This is regarded as Japan’s earliest recorded mention of fragrant wood, and of what would later develop into the country’s incense culture. Awaji Island is also home to Kareki Shrine, a site associated with the tradition of the arrival of this fragrant wood.

Awaji Island is regarded as the place where Japan’s fragrance culture began and today is one of the country’s foremost centers of incense production. For centuries, incense has been used as an offering to gods and Buddhas, as well as for self-cultivation. In Japan, however, it evolved in its own distinct way, giving rise to traditions such as kōdō, the Way of Incense, and becoming deeply rooted in everyday life.

Japanese incense is enjoyed around the world. What may be less widely known is that much of the incense created by today’s leading fragrance artisans is crafted on Awaji Island. We launched this project out of a desire to revisit incense as one of Japan’s crafts and to share it through the sensibility of A&S.

That intention is reflected in the name HIN ARTS&SCIENCE. In presenting A&S’s original incense as a Japanese craft, we felt it fitting to give it the name of HIN, our shop that has engaged with craft from Japan and abroad since 2016. A Japanese craft of fragrance presented by HIN.

The concept behind the fragrance is “Purifying the Space.” We set out to create a fragrance that brings clarity to a space without overwhelming it, diffusing gently without allowing the scent to dominate.

For its ingredients, we carefully selected naturally derived materials, free from dyes or chemical additives. Artisans carefully knead the raw materials, shape each piece, and allow it to dry. The incense is carefully finished through a process that brings together time-honored tools and handwork.

We invite you to begin with three scents: Ao, Kyo, and Kura.

Inspired by deep, verdant greenery, AO evokes a tranquil, refreshing clarity. Hinoki, with its clean freshness and refined sweetness, is paired with tea tree, whose cool character carries a subtle bitterness, creating a distinctive fragrance.

Inspired by the world of ink wash painting, with nature, moss, and ink, KYO evokes a calm, composed mood. The notes of sandalwood, moss, hiba, and patchouli create a quiet, subtle, woody, and spicy fragrance.

Inspired by Zaimokuza in Kamakura, a place named for its association with timber storage, KURA evokes the quiet stillness of a space where felled wood is stored. Centered on cedar, with its dry, woody character, it is paired with smoky patchouli and fresh eucalyptus, creating a deep, distinctive fragrance.