Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dev]

Do you know where to get good incense in Korea at reasonable prices?

I'v tried Korean incense and think it's terrible. You can recognize Korean incense by all the pretty colors the sticks are. They aren't black or brown like Thai or Indian incense. They're green, yellow, pink, orange.... They also come in scents that would be hard to truly replicate mostly fruit names. Yeah, they smell fruity before you light them. After you light them, well, they all smell the same - like burning garbage.

I've seen great imported incense like Nag Champa on sale here, but only at extravagant prices like 7000 won for a small box.

Are there any other options? Has anybody tried using temple incense in their homes?

[peemil]

Why? It's only good for one thing, and you can't get that in Korea in great quantities.

If you are really desperate, have you considered grabbing an ajumma, cutting her hair, burning it in your apartment and dancing around it in your underwear?

Glad to help.

[Hollywoodaction]

Don't go cheap on the incense. That cheap multicoloured incense smells like cheap perfume and it leaves your room smelling like an ashtray once it's burnt. The small boxes that you talk about have about 200 josh sticks in them. More than enough to last you a year or two...unless you plan on opening a headshop.

[Rteacher]

I usually get the fairly expensive but very good quality Korean incense that's sold in at least a couple shops on the main Insa-dong street. The packages claim that no synthetic oils, fragrances or animal products are used, and each stick burns for about 40 minutes.

The cheapest good stuff is called DaBo (Many Treasures) and it's essentially pine with tumeric and cinnamon and other spices. I think it costs 6 or 7 thousand won for about 100 sticks.

Nicer than that is Jing Kwan (Clear Gaze) The main ingredients are Frankincense, Aloeswood, and Sandalwood. I think it costs 12 thousand won for the package of what seems like 100 sticks.

The Dabo is claimed to be "stimulating and refreshing...purifies the air and clears the mind..." Jing Kwan is said to be "calming and centering ... balences Yin and Yang and improves energy..."

There are a few more premium types available - including one that's very rare and, of course, expensive. (Bo Rim?...) I tried it once, and it smelled great, but the sticks were smaller, and I couldn't see spending that much for incense unless it gave me super powers (or at least cured cancer or the effects of yellow dust or something...)

A little shop next to "Little India" (rip-off) cafe in Insa-dong used to carry some good (and bad) Indian incense for cheap, but I haven't noticed any there in recent months. The "Foreigner Market" on the "hooker hill" street in Itaewon sometimes has good Indian incense, but usually at too high a price for the quality - unless they have one of their "sales" on it.