Review on 🌿 Shoyeido's Horikawa River Path Incense - Pack of 20 Sticks by Melissa Dudley

I am very sensitive to synthetic fragrances and can only use natural fragrances. This company produces natural, RAW incense sticks of excellent quality. They have an excellent reputation and have long established themselves as manufacturers of excellent incense. I've been using them for almost 20 years. SCENT (before and after burning) and SENSITIVITY (none) = EXCELLENT: The scent on them is a divine (subjective) and complex blend of earthy wood notes and hints of sweet, round. Notes and delicious vanilla. I have several test kits that I've been hiding in a box (no kidding) for over 15 years. Because Shoyeido uses wood, they age well and these chopsticks smell delicious - as good as my new box. The aroma is also well preserved. When people walk into the room I've used it in, they always comment on how good it smells, but never have an issue with airborne particles or residual smoke. Even my asthmatic husband can tolerate them with no problem (I never burn when he's home but other incense sticks make him uncomfortable afterwards. This one suits him. If he reacts I would stop. He had no problems with these incense sticks). TIME = GOOD/COMPARABLE: Some complain about the small size. Lower quality incense is often larger and full of fillers and/or a stick with the incense wrapped around it. Neither have these. They look tiny BUT their burn times are very similar to most full size incense sticks on the market (at least the ones I've tried). As the aroma is miraculously preserved, the aromatic profile is also expanded. Many incense sticks leave a chemical or smoky odor when burned. It's not like this. They leave a pleasant, persistent and evolving aroma (like good wine or good tea) as it slowly dissipates over time. CARE AND HANDLING: Since they don't have a refill stick, they are more fragile than the many well-known incense sticks. It is important to handle them with care. At some point you will probably break one. This is normal and you can still use it. I use the tiny holder that comes in the box when burning full size sticks by placing them in a small sand bowl. You can place it on any heat resistant surface, but be aware that since it's open at the bottom it will transfer heat and can burn the surface. A small bowl of sand, a hard rock, a shell, etc. are all good outdoor holders for a small burner. However, I use sand because I can prolong the life of my little wand by lowering it and then pulling the tiny bar out of its holder. I put it in fine sand and light it again to get more incense. This process is facilitated by a pair of fine-tipped brass tweezers that I carry with incense sticks. You can keep your incense sticks in their box or, like me, carry them in a traditional bamboo holder, which is prettier, more functional, and more durable than a box. Whatever you use to store them, it's best to keep them away from heat and light to preserve them (although they are very durable on their own). CONTENTS OF THE BOX: The box comes with a very small ceramic square with a hole in it. This is to hold incense while it burns as there is no fill stick to insert into a wood holder or the more common corner holder. I think that's a nice touch from Shoyeido. Of course if you order from them again you will get a different burner but at least they are tiny and not very wasteful. I'm trying to think of alternative uses for duplicates (earrings? pendants? curtain weights?). Of course, there are incense sticks wrapped in a single strip of paper so they can be kept as a bundle, and a slip of paper with information about the company. The cardboard flap is like any other flimsy cardboard/paper flap and will not last long with repeated opening and closing. There is nothing new or special. That's the only downside I can think of so far. COST = WORTH EVERY PENNY: Cost is high IF compared to regular incense, grocery store, counterfeit, over-filled, submerged, and otherwise inferior incense, which is not the case with this incense stick. It's like comparing a sticky ballpoint pen to a fancy fountain pen, or fast-fashion sweatshops to something made just for you from fine linen. You NEED a better quality product, maybe not. You can use a worse and cheaper one, but it will never match the benefits of a well-made item. Because I have to be careful about what I expose myself to or risk getting severe headaches, nausea, or other problems, I've spent my entire life selectively scouting for scents. Married for 21 years to a man with asthma and mother of two very sensitive children (one with sensory issues and the other allergic to what all appear to be). Family K. For me the cost is worth it. I love this company of incense and this scent in particular. I will definitely continue to order Shoyeido's River Path Incense as long as they continue to produce it and the day they stop production will be a sad day for all of us. I highly recommend this company and this incense scent. Enjoy!