Nara, a small, tranquil Japanese town, is home to numerous magnificent temples and shrines and a park famous for its freely roaming deer. The charming, century-old Nara Hotel, a favorite of dignitaries, offers a welcome haven of repose: We lose ourselves with delight in the city’s winding alleys. In the air floats an exquisite fragrance of sandalwood, its warm, comforting scent enriched by a hint of sweet and sensual jasmine.
Contains essences of Sandalwood Amyris, Sambac Jasmine, Ginger Roots, Cashmeran, and Amber.
The best incense in the world is found on the island of Awaji, due to its favorable climate. For more than a thousand years it has been made here by the Koh-shis or Masters of Aromas, a tradition passed down from father to son. They alone perfectly master the four stages of production: the dosage of exclusively natural materials, precious woods, herbs, plants, vegetable resins, and perfume; the kneading of the dough, pressed and worked for a long time, then left to stand for two weeks to soak up the fragrance; the cutting of the dough, rolled into long, narrow ribbons, to the desired size; then drying in the west wind for three days before bundling the sticks.