Nippon Kodo sells four lines in our store. Morning Star (50 sticks with a ceramic tile burner), Kayuragi (40 sticks with a mini ceramic holder) and Ka-Fuh (120 sticks per box) are coreless, bamboo-free sticks described as low smoke. Herb & Earth is a bamboo-core line of 20 sticks and does not include a holder.
The four lines at a glance
| Line | Core | In the box | Scents in our range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning Star | Coreless, bamboo-free | 50 sticks and a ceramic tile burner | Sandalwood, Vanilla, Rose, Pine, Musk, Lotus, Patchouli, Myrrh, Lavender, Amber, Jasmine, Cedarwood, Green Tea, Frankincense |
| Kayuragi | Coreless, bamboo-free | 40 sticks and a mini ceramic holder | Wisteria, White Peach, Rose, Plum, Pomegranate, Osmanthus, Narcissus, Jasmine, Mikan Orange, Aloeswood, Japanese Cypress, Ginger, Cherry Blossom |
| Ka-Fuh | Bamboo-core-free, about 5 inches per stick | 120 sticks per box | White Plum, Lotus, Lavender, Hinoki, Daphne, Carnation |
| Herb & Earth | Bamboo core | 20 sticks, no holder | Sandalwood, White Sage, Vanilla, Patchouli, Rose |
Browse the whole range in the Nippon Kodo collection. Check each product page for what is in the box, because holders differ between lines and scents.
Choosing by scent family
If you are unsure where to start, pick the scent family you already like.
| Family | Scents in our range |
|---|---|
| Woods | Morning Star Sandalwood, Cedarwood and Pine. Kayuragi Aloeswood and Japanese Cypress. Ka-Fuh Hinoki. Herb & Earth Sandalwood. |
| Flowers | Morning Star Rose, Jasmine, Lotus and Lavender. Kayuragi Cherry Blossom, Wisteria, Osmanthus, Narcissus and Jasmine. Ka-Fuh White Plum, Daphne, Carnation, Lotus and Lavender. |
| Fruit | Kayuragi White Peach (fresh and sweet), Pomegranate (gently sour) and Mikan Orange (crisp and juicy). |
| Warm and resinous | Morning Star Amber, Frankincense, Myrrh, Musk, Patchouli and Vanilla. |
| Fresh and green | Morning Star Green Tea. Kayuragi Ginger (crisp and vivid). |
Morning Star: the classic range
Our product pages describe Morning Star as made in Japan since the 1960s, with a coreless, bamboo-free build that releases the scent without a wood odor. Good starting points are Lavender, Sandalwood and Frankincense. The pages describe the sticks as low smoke and clean-burning.
Kayuragi: fruit and flower scents
Kayuragi is inspired by traditional Japanese kimono fabric and comes in gift-ready, kimono-inspired packaging. The sticks are coreless, burn for approximately 25 minutes per stick and are described as low smoke. The scents lean floral and fruity, such as Cherry Blossom and Rose, with Japanese Cypress for a woodier option.
Ka-Fuh: a big box for daily use
Ka-Fuh sticks are about 5 inches long and come 120 to a box, which suits daily burning. They are bamboo-core-free and burn for approximately 25 minutes per stick. The Hinoki (Japanese cypress) is described as a crisp, refreshing aroma with very little smoke, and the Lavender box includes a mini ceramic holder.
Herb & Earth: a bamboo-core option
Herb & Earth sticks, such as Sandalwood, sit on a bamboo core, come 20 to a pack, burn for approximately 25 minutes and are made without artificial dyes. No holder is in the pack, so have a fire-safe dish ready.
What a coreless stick changes
Our Herb & Earth Sandalwood page makes a useful point about smoke. A heavy masala sandalwood stick fills the air with smoke, and the wood arrives through a warm haze. A low-smoke build lets you hear the wood more clearly on its own, which is a noticeably different experience of the same material. Coreless sticks add a second change: without a bamboo core, the pages say, you do not get the scent of burning bamboo in the background, so the aroma is cleaner.
How to burn them
Light the tip, let it flame for a few seconds, then follow the instruction on the pack. Morning Star pages say to blow the flame out gently, and Kayuragi and Ka-Fuh pages say to fan it out. Rest the stick in a heat-safe holder on a stable surface, in a ventilated room, and never leave it unattended. For more on holders and ash, see how to burn incense sticks, and for a first range overall, incense for beginners.
Which line for which job?
- A first Japanese incense. A Morning Star Sandalwood or Lavender box includes a ceramic tile burner, so you can burn the first stick straight away.
- Daily burning. Ka-Fuh has 120 sticks to a box, so one box lasts a long time for regular use.
- A gift. Kayuragi comes in gift-ready, kimono-inspired packaging.
- A comparison of two woods. Try a Hinoki stick next to a Sandalwood stick to hear a crisp cypress against a creamy, warm wood.
Whichever you choose, pair it with a holder that catches ash. See the incense holder and burner collection for options, and the full incense sticks collection for other brands.
Related reading
- Incense for Beginners: Types, Scents and How to Get Started
- How to Burn Incense Sticks: Holders, Ash and Safety Tips
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Morning Star, Kayuragi and Ka-Fuh?
All three are coreless or bamboo-free sticks. Morning Star comes in 50-stick boxes with a ceramic tile burner, Kayuragi in 40-stick boxes with a mini ceramic holder, and Ka-Fuh in 120-stick boxes of about 5 inch sticks.
Are Nippon Kodo sticks low smoke?
Our Morning Star, Kayuragi and Ka-Fuh product pages describe them as low smoke. Burn them in a ventilated room.
How long does a Nippon Kodo stick burn?
Our Kayuragi, Ka-Fuh and Herb & Earth pages give approximately 25 minutes per stick.
Does Herb & Earth come with a holder?
No. Herb & Earth packs of 20 sticks do not include a holder, so use a fire-safe dish.
Which Nippon Kodo incense is best for a beginner?
Morning Star is a straightforward start. Sandalwood, Lavender and Rose all come with a ceramic tile burner.
Why do some sticks have no bamboo core?
Our pages say a coreless build releases the scent without a background smell of burning wood, and gives a cleaner, lower-smoke burn.
This guide is general information about fragrance, aromatherapy and home use. It is not medical advice.
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