Description
“This olfactive sculpture is pure 100% nirvana in a bottle. This is a near exact representation of my favourite Japanese incense: Shoyeido’s Nankun Kodō.
It is a composition that is very close to my heart as I created it for my own personal enjoyment of this ancient art form that unfortunately I can’t enjoy at home due to my families dislike of burning incense.
Out of respect for their wishes, I composed this composition after hours of research and experimentation using the finest ingredients possible. I used the exact ingredients as documented about Nankun; however, I added more as some of the documented composition was extremely vague to say the least.
As a result, I had to improvise with the olfactive materials to find a near exact match to the accords I experienced when burning these precious sticks… however, the condition was that the materials I used had to be easily available in Japan over the last hundred years.
I used ambretollide to enhance the nutty ambrette absolute. This is the only synthetic I used in this composition and represents a mere 3% of the whole composition. I’m proud to say that this composition is 97% natural!” — press release of the brand. Nankun Kodō was launched in 2015. The nose behind this fragrance is Sultan Pasha.
STASRUMBA – :
Nankun Kodo, as most fragrances this smoky, simply must be adapted to, period. When you’re applying a fragrance that is this intense, during analysis, the mind seems to latch primarily onto that element which makes it most intense, and doesn’t let up. After several wearings, you begin to notice the complex series of relations that make up this beautiful composition.
At the center of this fragrance is an incredibly complex incense accord that will probably be more familiar to a lot of folks who have utilized real Shoyeido incense, or some forms of burning oud chips. For here you have a lot of spicy/sweet notes coming in and out of focus against a majestic play on cypress, between the blue cypress and its oriental cousin, hinoki cypress. On top of the two cypress notes is a cascade of thick, heavy frankincense, whose warm and spicy character is immediately familiar to anyone who has ever encountered high quality frankincense before.
Just underneath the frankincense is the most interesting contrast of cypress notes that I have ever encountered, so much so that one could call this a thesis statement on the holy material. When one looks close, you take notice that the blue cypress brings with it a deep, rich woody effect that teams up rather nicely with the sandalwood below to create an absolutely delicious woody character with a slightly minty and slightly fruity character to it. The hinoki on the other hand brings about more of a dry, almost sauna like character, with a slight terpenic nuance, and somewhat of a herbal/lemony/spicy/warm undercurrent that hits against the wall of blue cypress where the two meet. Between the two dances a series of spicy/warm notes like a particularly licorice tinged star anise, cloves, a maple syrupy cinnamon, cloves, and a somewhat creamy patchouli. There is also a very quiet, yet most delicious marzipan accord which is deepened intensely by a strong musky/nutty character that is as confusing to describe as it is enjoyable to behold.
It’s very warm, and yet very foggy at the same time, which really allows one to see the Zen influence being drawn in – all at once this fragrance is begging you to go towards nature: enjoy the trees swaying in the wind, the fog in your lungs, the dirt at your feet, even the dew on the shrubs, and yet at the same time with the spices moving about, the warmth from the sandalwood, and the crisp high definition ambergris at play, it is drawing your attention to the beauty and practices of a humble mankind tapping in to the divine. There is a sweet milkiness after some time that seems to permeate the incense accord such that the dense tranquility of the forest opens up to the soft and gentle hug of the regality of being itself. This fragrance does that which I truly love in fragrance – it mirrors the content which it speaks on – this fragrance is all that I remember from the true buddhist temples I have visited – it’s about the tranquility of No Mind, but at the same time it is an abundant love of all that is, by recognizing the truth and beauty present in the totality of man’s connections here on Earth. This is at the same time sweet, spicy, smokey, warm, cool, dense, soft, woody, and more… This is a fragrance that learns to ‘be’ with you, as you too learn to ‘be’ both with it and with yourself.
10/10
YT: Jess AndWesH
5328746 – :
As someone who burns Oud chips somewhat regularly, I can say with confidence this is the first perfume I have experienced that accurately captures the fragrance of a gently heated sinking grade Oud chip. Added to that are savory/sweet spices, resins, and precious woods one would find in the finest of incenses from houses such as Shoyeido and Baieido. A centering, beautiful experience that is not to be missed for those that love exotic natural ingredients and above all, the scent of gently bubbling Oud chips.
AlexeyP – :
Call me crazy but this one strongly smell like the dry down of Xerjoff fiero ( green tassel )
Effedsephepek – :
I have just sample this one and all I know is it is on my whislist, it is like a japanese spicy incense , rich and as Le Vagabond says , a contemplative scent.
zia875Unlogrere – :
Whenever I need a zen moment, I will wear Nankun Kodo. It is a near exact representation of Shoyeido incense Nankun Kodo (Southern Wind).
Traditional Japanese incense has five scents – sweet, spicy, bitter, salty and sour. I can detect the first four from this attar. It is very complex, powerful and yet serene. The sweetness is not sugary sweet but towards bitter sweet. There is a warmth in the scent that fits its name. The longevity and quality of material is exceptional.
I am so glad Sultan Pasha’s creations are finally in our database.
FoormaVigma – :
Spicy yellow and red earth. Reminiscent of the remains of my Shoyeido incense, but this one is less floral and seductive than what I use. Nankun proposes an extremely contemplative route which is not the norm in perfumery where the aim is usually to seduce. Far from the world of scented gloves and boudoirs, this takes one back to sweet pungent trees and seeds of the earth. For monks and samurai.