This was my second purchase. Redolence was so rich, deep and luscious, really held me in a meditative blanket of ancient forest.
A fine version, and improvement on the classical Tibetan incense recipe. And without the excessive cloying aspects.
This one was very interesting as it had some characters of aloeswood I'd never experienced before; that being tobacco, and leather. This stick has notes of both mixed with the typical aloeswood character. It's a very satisfying bouquet which is drenched in mystique. And while the description may sound like it's pungent, the tobacco and leather notes are definitely in the background, perfectly balanced and not overpowering. Very unique character, though that perspective might just be informed because most of my aloeswood experience thusfar has been from East Asian sources.
This one immediately transports one to the forest, after a rain. It captures forest petrichor very well, and it is imbued with a deep 'soil' character that's very satisfying to sit in. Has some slight caramel notes that balance out the bitter of the soil, keeping it from becoming 'pungent' in a bad way. Again, with this stick, Ken shows that his choice for materials is just kind of overpowered and cannot be beaten.
This stick legitimately is almost of the same quality as my $200 USD Tennendo Kyara Enku sticks. It has the typical aloeswood character with some fruity/floral and green notes characteristic of what is often sold as 'Kyara'. Amazing amazing stick, definitely one of my top three from Ken.
Really great and balanced example of Aloeswood. The complexity from what seems to be a single-origin material is amazing. Transports you to a different time.
I am brand new to the use of incense, so my knowledge is small, but I really enjoyed both variety of incense that I purchased. Although I have to say that I really liked the sabah senkoh agarwood. Very aromatic and warming. Highly appreciated product packaged well and all incense sticks arrived whole.
This stick has that kind of red-woody goodness I associate with cedar, cypress, redwood and other non-pine conifers. There is the comfort of the gnawed pencil, and western juniper outside after a rain. It is a clean, smooth aroma which sets my heart at ease.
Victorious Jayapura has an ethereal quality with an almost orchid like aroma. It is subtle without being weak, and is closer to the "soft/sweet" side of agarwood to my nose. This is a calming, introspective scent to me.
Upon first light there is a melon skin note and wet vine scent. As the stick burns there is a leather, saffron, and a slight note of raw honey then as the stick finishes out there is the faintest of the melon skin and wet vine with a soft white floral petal scent.
Ken Cannata is so good at what he does, the smells very much deliver. It's hard not to build a collection and let his scents mellow out. Yi-Xin Craft Incense will remind you of lush woods and oils of private blend cologne.
It mellows out so well on the skin
“Victorious” jayapura is a beautifully crafted incense of high quality. There are lovely notes of leather, wood, and soft floral moments without sweetness. A pleasure to burn!
I love this incense. What I like about it is that it is on the dryer more potent side. It’s not overly aloeswood, but has a certain salutary medicinal bracing quality that one finds in some Korean incenses. Cleansing. I wish it was still available. It’s a pleasure to burn because it is not overwhelming or obvious and it leaves you space to think.
Another great, pure agarwood stick, slightly sweet on top of a pungent base. Ken’s sticks are the only ones, which I have purchased over the years, that present the wood as it is, sweet and sour. The contrast arising from presenting the wood without doctoring, in my opinion, takes the incense to another level.
