Kodo

Kodo means literally "the way of fragrance". It could be said to be a traditional version of aromatherapy. Kodo is based on special fragrant woods that are traditionally divided into six categories, kyara, rakoku, manaka, manaban, sumatora and sasora. Getting to know and understanding the subtle values of these scents is result of a hard effort.

Like sado, the traditional tea ceremony, kodo is a form of spiritual communication with the guests. Usually kodo takes place in a tatami room while the participants often wear kimono. The visitors shoud sit in seiza position and try to guess which fragrance was prepared by the host, komoto. The atmosphere is everything in kodo.

Japanese people believe that the fragrance can have purifying and healing effects. It is known that fragrance can take us back in our memory. The scent of Kodo is only very subtle.

Unlike when buring incense sticks, senko, in kodo, fragrance wood is not actually burned. Senko is regularly burned in gravestones or temples, or at family altars.

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