How to say "incense" in Japanese

• 香こう
  nounThe general word for incense itself — the aromatic material burned for its scent, at temples or at home. When you simply mean 'incense', start here.
• 抹香まっこう
  nounIncense ground to a powder, a term rooted in Buddhist ritual use. It is not the everyday word for incense; choose it only when powdered incense is specifically meant.
• インセンス
  nounThe katakana rendering of English 'incense'; use it when speaking of incense as a product or hobby item, as in shops and lifestyle contexts.
• 薫香くんこう
  nounCovers both the incense that is burned and the fragrance it gives off; use it when the scent in the air matters as much as the incense itself.
• 薫物たきもの
  nounBlended incense associated with the classical court, where aromatics were kneaded together and burned; a literary word you will seldom need for everyday 'incense'.

Choose 香 for incense in general, 抹香 for powdered incense in Buddhist ritual, 「インセンス」 for incense as a product, 薫香 when the fragrance given off matters, and 薫物 only for classical blended incense.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 香こうincense
• 抹香まっこうincense
• インセンスincense
• 薫香くんこうincense
• 薫物たきものincense
• お香おこうincense
• 香料こうりょうfragrance