This story comprises three parts in the following order: Senkootate, Kooro and Koogoo, Incense stick holder, Incense Burner and Incense Container.
このお話は三つでできています。順番は：線香立て、香炉と香合です。

Incense in Japan has been introduced together with Buddhism in the 5th century and been used during religious ceremonies for a long time. Five to seven different kinds of incense ingredients are finely chipped and mixed together. The mixture is kept in a container called "koogoo" (kogo, kohgoh, kougou) and is sprinkled directly on hot ash containing charcoal. This ritual offernig of incense to the Buddha (sonae-koo 供え香、shookoo 焼香) is usually performed during a funeral ceremony. Stick incense was introduced in the sixteenth century via China and Korea and soon became very popular because it was easier to use. Joss sticks were soon also used for pure pleasure in the home.The burning of fragrant chips for pleasure only was also called "empty burning" (soradaki 空薫).
The container is also called "Incence box" (koobako 香箱).

焼香について：
灰の中に炭などの火種になるものを置き、そこにくべます。その香りは供える人の心身を清浄にすると言われます。宗派によって作法はいろいろあります。
http://www.nipponkodo.co.jp/incense/class/cl-syouko.html

The scenting of garments using a little brazier and fragrant wood was also a common practise since the Heian period and frequently mentioned in prose and poetry and we heared about it in the story of the Handwarmer Te-aburi. The natural scent of plum blossoms was also greatly appreciated and subject to Heian poetry. On the picture you can see the process of scenting a kimono.
着物にいい匂いをつける平安時代の習慣。

Another form of incense consists of pulverized chips of up to 20 different kinds, mixed with honey to keep it fresh and rolled to little balls (nerikoo, neriko 練香) which had to rest for three years to gain the right scent. These "fragrant substances" (kunkoo 薫香) were also thrown directly into the fire during a religious fire ceremony (goma kuyoo 護摩供養).
沈香、白檀をはじめ丁字、桂皮等の生薬系香料とその他香料を基礎材の炭と合わせ、梅肉と甘葛で丸薬状に練り上げたものです。出来上がった練香は最低３年くらい寝かせた方が良い香りになります。
http://www.nipponkodo.co.jp/incense/class/cl-ren.html
http://plaza27.mbn.or.jp/~921/zatsugaku/mukusa.htm
http://www02.so-net.ne.jp/~ymc/shop05.html

Utensils for the Way of Incense (koodoo, kodo 香道)

　　　　　　　　　　　　

Learn more about the Way of Incence and its history.
http://www.japanese-incense.com/kodo.htm
香道についての日本語はこちら。
http://www.shoyeido.co.jp/tanosimi_2/zatu.html
http://www.shoyeido.co.jp/menu.html
http://www.scents-of-earth.com/inincen.html
http://www.page.sannet.ne.jp/office-nao/kodo.htm

香道について
香道とは、文字どおり香りを楽しむことを基本とした芸道で、茶道や華道と同じく、動作の中に精神的な落ち着きを求める日本古来の芸道です。その歴史は茶道や華道と同じく室町時代にまで遡りますが、香木を焚いて香を楽しむことは、聖徳太子の飛鳥時代からといわれています。宗教的な側面 も大きかったでしょうが、何より「良い香りを楽しむ」という、人間の快楽を満足させるものであったでしょう。
http://www.netlaputa.ne.jp/~miya-sun/koudou.htm
http://www1.u-netsurf.ne.jp/~honmi/higasi-kosinryu.htm
http://plaza27.mbn.or.jp/~921/kodogu/kodogu1.html

Containers for incense used in temples during the Heian period where round bowls on a high stand with a lid in the form of an upside down bowl with a handle in the form of a Pagoda (toomari 塔椀). Since the Kamakura period round flat containers came into use. Many materials were used for these containers, for example metal, porcelain, ivory, laquer or wood. The Zen sect often uses containers made of carved wood with a thick layer of red or black laquer (chooshitsu 彫漆).

Modern incense containers come in all forms and shapes and are also sold online.
現代の茶香合の形はさまざまですし、オンライン販売もあります。
http://www.nsknet.or.jp/yosie/wdougu/kougoum.htm

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
http://www.kyoto.zaq.ne.jp/syogando/makie/kogo.htm
http://wwwcam.hi-ho.ne.jp/morimoto-rx7/kougou.htm
http://www.yakimono.net/mino/kougou.htm
http://www.kasugaen-corp.co.jp/kogo/kogo.html
http://www.teatoys.com/kkogo3.html
http://www.1147mono.com/tougei/kougo.htm
http://www.sikasenbey.or.jp/artist/jinsen/kougou.html
http://www.246.ne.jp/~m-shu/cougou1.html

You can also look at beautiful laquered incense containers from various museums.
博物館にある名香合。
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/06/eak/ho_25.215.41a,b.htm
http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/mus_dict/hd2202e.htm
http://www.denverartmuseum.org/asianart/china_box.html

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
http://www.aa.alles.or.jp/~tora/14kaisetu-kougou.html
http://www.jan.ne.jp/~nkunii/11_l.html
http://www.suntory.co.jp/sma/english/collections/sikko.html

Now let us look at the incense containers with Daruma from my collection.
These two are made from Kutani pottery and their many brothers come in different colors. Sometimes the face of Daruma is clearly modelled, sometimes just barely recognizable. These two containers are pretty small, only about 4.5 cm high.
九谷焼のだるま香合です。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

The next two are from Hagi pottery. They carry long flywhisks (hossu) modelled at the side of the tiny faces. They are also only about 5 cm high.
萩焼の香合もあります。 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

The last one is made from wood, most probably from the Enju wood of Hokkaido. His face is carefully carved and quite expressive. He is 6 cm high.
木材の香合もあります。顔が細かく彫っています。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

This is the last story of this series about incense.
これでお香の話がおしまいです。