SHOYEIDO Misho Gentle Smile - Premium Japanese Agarwood Oud Incense Sticks

This is one of Shoyeido's premium incenses. It's a beautiful, complex aloeswood blend with spice and green camphor notes. It releases a lot of fragrance when it burns so I only need 1/2 stick at a time. This isn't a wood-forward incense. it's a complex fragrance that enhances and supports the mid-quality aloeswood. The price was well below list, but it's definitely genuine. It arrived shrink wrapped and in Shoyeido's distinctive premium packaging. I'm really happy to have a bundle of this. If you're into high-end Japanese aloeswood incenses, don't hesitate.

I could tell you how many years and how many incenses I've tried, bought and sold. Either you get this, or not. Misho means gentle smile, as one might see on the Buddha's face while "hearing" a stick. Of course, the Shoyeido trademark fenugreek note is there, but the aloeswood, i.e. agarwood, quality goes up a big notch..it approaches that almost acrid kyara level. It's a green stick, like Pride of Kyoto, or or even Horin Genrokyu; a minty, alpine, herbaceous, clean edge on top of somewhat dank agarwood.Misho is a magnificent creation. If you're hooked on aloeswood, and want it served up green and insouciant, this stick is a must, my personal favorite. You can save yourself 30 years of looking. Normally retails for at least $75 (make sure you get the long version), selling of late from Neo Field for $35 or so, it's a no-brainer. Stock up at this price and below, because this quality of aloeswood will not be available much longer. If you give a box to a someone from Japan, they will know you have magnificent taste. Peace!

Hoping that more of Shoyeido premium line will be available to purchase.

There wasn't much actual material in the package

Some years ago, I went on a quest to find great incense. Spent way too much money. I tried Indian incense, Chinese incense, Japanese incense, European (church) incense, American cone style incense, etc. I even tried making different kinds of incense from herbs and minerals.By now, I have a few favorites; Shoyeido Misho and agarwood (aloeswood) are among them.I have not yet acquired the vocabulary to describe incense adequately. Further, there is requirement of at least a little common experience. You have to find a way to experience incense fragrances for yourself. It's harder than ever because there's a movement to cater to the handful of people sensitive or allergic to incense.As with many things, over the years, some people of Japan have made a fine art of crafting things knife making, pottery, calligraphy to name a few. The Shoyeido company continues the fine art of incense creation. You should visit their site and get some samplers if you can't find them here on Amazon.This ain't your daddy's over priced Rock Festival Incense!While Misho is one of my favorites, it may not be yours, but chances are Shoyeido makes something you’ll really like and may change your mind about incense & fragrance forever.And yes, there are other fine Japanese incense companies; you have a niche world to discover!Eventually you may learn to create different atmospheres with different incense.

I have received the Shoyeido "Misho Gentle Smile" & Seikodo "Five Brushes" recently.Very very disappointed to order this one so call premium incense from Shoyeido, maybe the name has already suggested; it is going to be a gentle smile, the scent was horribly thin and mild.Shoyeido prices this at around US $50.00 for 35 sticks, don't really make sense at all and I feel like hitting my head against the wall.Don't believe me? Go ahead... order it and try it for yourself.I would rather to go for the Seikado "Five Brushes, value for your $ with heavenly scent.

This is a really good price for this level of incense from Shoyeido, it has a very high level of Aloeswood that gives it that addicting quality that once you get into it you are hooked. This is not your typical artificial scented or wooden stick centered type. As far as I can tell no high end Japanese variety uses wood.Aleoswood can cost up to & it might even be more than 10X's it's weight in gold. If you want to spend less for now you can try their White Cloud which does have a nice little dose of Aloes. Then you can move onto this. The thing is you don't have to burn a whole stick, break it into 3rds and enjoy a much longer lasting experience. I also highly recommend going to a site called Olfactory Rescue Service, which seems to be temp. stopped right now but I remember years ago when there were only 3 pages and now there are 100's all on reviews of types of incense for companies and countries. Like wine tasters this world has a whole different level to it, it takes something like 30 years for a Japanese Ko master to gain the recognition in the field. Thanks..............M

This is my favorite incense in the world. It is literally mind-altering.Yes, it is expensive. My first experience of misho was when this guy generally suspected of being a pervert showed up at a party I was having with three sticks of it wrapped in nice paper as a hostess gift. I accepted it, wondering if I had been misled about old Pete. It was a truly thoughtful gift; high quality, right up my alley, and unknown to me. I welcomed him to the gathering and we exchanged a few wholesome enough words.He didn’t stay long, but he did manage to make some inquiries a la, “That Ruby is fantastic. Does she party?” Do I PARTY? Do I party? No sir, I do not!Pervert.Pervert with excellent taste in incense. I suggest you circumvent the whole gift from a pervert thing and just buy yourself some.