Court nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185) blended their own aromatic pastilles and burned them to perfume rooms, robes and the paper on which they wrote love letters. In the process they turned the use of incense, which had originally been introduced in Japan as a part of Buddhist ritual, into the elegant pastime of expressing, through fragrances, one's sensitivity, refinement and love.
Adapting this venerable tradition to the modern day, Juttoku offers the opportunity to indulge in a unique medium of self-expression by creating your very own incense. The shop provides recipes for blends from nine powdered natural ingredients, among them white sandalwood, clove, cinnamon and star anise. From there, you can go on to craft a blend of your own, choosing which ingredients to combine and in what proportions.