I’ve noticed with the coils, it seems they take some time to settle in or something. When I first picked up the Samadhi and Brunei coils I was thinking same thing you did. Too much heavy woody smoke, not enough scent. Finally, now the Samadhi coils and the Brunei have become really good. No idea why this is? I was actually VERY grouchy about the Samadhi coils because it’s one of my favorites (if not my favorite) and I kept thinking—I’m not doing this again. Any way.. I hope this is your experience as well and the money wasn’t wasted.
As for my incense of the day—I have been patiently burning my way through a bunch of Japanese sticks. I keep going back and forth if I like certain ones or not. Just can’t make up my mind. Seems there’s a vast difference in some sticks. It really drives me crazy that some of these sticks are sold as “Kyara” when they DO NOT smell like Kyara at all. Keep coming back and burning small pieces of Kyara Kokoh and thinking, is this really worth the price of admission. It’s so so good in almost every way, except for price. I really wish I could find a stick of Shoyeido Translucent Path to compare, or maybe I don’t because it’s out of stock. Haha. Maybe some kind-soul on here will reach out and take pity on me and sell me/trade me one. 😉. These non-Kyara smelling sticks sure do make me chatty. 😂