WABISUKE Kodoki: Fragrances open the door to memories

by kataokatetsuya October 11, 2025

"Hearing a scent" does not mean simply sensing it with your nose.
It is an act of accepting with your heart.
In the world of incense, scents are considered to be something to be heard.
Today, I think I finally understand a little bit about why.

Silence in the incense burner

Place a silver leaf on the ashes in the incense burner and gently place the incense wood on top.
The warmth of the charcoal awakens the incense wood,
The atmosphere in the room slowly changes.
A sweet, bitter, and somehow nostalgic scent.
It may be a memory of the incense you smelled at your grandmother's house when you were a child.
Or perhaps it was the tranquility I felt at the temples in Kyoto on my first trip.

In the art of incense, you don't just "smell" the scent, you "listen" to it.
That's because the scent speaks to you.
"There is something sleeping inside of you."

Fragrances tell the story of the season and your heart

The Kumiko for this time is "Three Types of Sakurakariko."
Wild cherry blossoms, double cherry blossoms, weeping cherry blossoms - each with its own scent,
It was accompanied by a spring scene and a waka poem.

As I listened to the scent, I searched for the cherry blossoms blooming in my heart.
It could be the spring when you break up with someone.
It may be spring, the time when you start walking down a new path.
Scents connect seasonal memories with mental landscapes.

The art of incense is a mirror of the soul

The gestures of the incense ceremony are beautiful.
The hands holding the incense burner, the posture to listen to the scent,
It all seemed like a ritual to "get myself in shape."

Kodo is a time to face yourself through scent.
What scent am I attracted to right now?
It is also a mirror that reflects your current state of mind.

To young readers: The art of incense is a "quiet adventure"

Kodo is by no means just a strict traditional art.
It is a "quiet adventure" in which you get to know yourself using your five senses.
Hearing a scent can suddenly bring to mind emotions and memories deep within the heart.
It's your own story that you can't find on your smartphone.

Why not open the door to fragrance this coming season?
There may be a new side of yourself waiting for you there.