Shoyeido Kyoto Autumn Leaves (kyonishiki)

In the West, we tend to name incense for its primary scent. An incense that is predominantly made of lavender would likely be called “lavender” or some variation (like “spring lavender” or “happy lavender”). Asian incense makers tend to name their blends for the memories or emotional responses brought out by the incense. Let’s face it, that’s a much more artful way to name incense and a much more difficult way as well.

I’ve never been to Kyoto (although it’s high on my list of places to go), but when one of the incense Masters at Shoyeido tells me this scent evokes that amazing city in the autumn, I believe it. The scent is light but has a striking note of patchouli that isn’t present in other scents in the Daily line.