Incense

古 · 福 · 囍

Under the name GOBOKII, we present incense sticks that carry on the tradition of Korea’s traditional fragrances.

After the Korean Empire came to an end and Western culture poured in, Korea's own incense (hyang) culture gradually faded from everyday life. The one who brought its broken lineage back to life is a monk who practices through incense — someone who has devoted a lifetime to restoring and sharing Korea's traditional incense culture. Entrusted with the secret incense formulas (hyangbang) handed down within Buddhist temples, the monk revived them, and as a practitioner keeps incense ever at hand, continually researching and developing it.

This incense uses no chemical additives whatsoever — only some fifty pure medicinal herbs, including hand-selected premium agarwood (chimhyang) and the prized Ulleungdo juniper, which can no longer be taken off Ulleung Island, along with sandalwood, clove, frankincense and costus root. For the monk, incense is “food eaten through the nose” and a means of practice that clears the mind; it is said to strengthen the body's vital energies and bring calm to body and mind. From these, GOBOKII has prepared three fragrances — 古 · 福 · 囍. Made with care in small batches, they can be sampled and purchased in person at our online store and at the Dapsimni shop and Janganpyeong atelier.

From monk to monk. We stand alongside the traditional incense-burning rituals that have been preserved and developed within the Buddhist tradition since the Joseon Dynasty—or even earlier.