send forth fragrance, fragrant, be scented, smoke (tobacco)
薫 centers on a pleasant, spreading scent: something fragrant, giving off a good smell, or the act of scenting something. The tobacco smoke sense is a specific application of that same idea of a fragrant fume.
薫 combines the plant top 艹 with a lower element that likely contributed the sound and the idea of smoke or fragrance rising. The exact historical development of the lower part is uncertain.
The plant top 艹 sits above a shape that suggests smoke or vapor rising. Picture fragrant herbs on a fire, sending up scented smoke that fills the air.
For クン, imagine a fragrant coon (a raccoon-like creature) rolling in herbs, sending forth a strong scent: coon -> クン.
pleasant smell; aroma; fragrance; scent
education; training; discipline
balmy breeze; summer breeze
lingering odor; lingering odour
burning incense without making its source obvious; pleasant smell coming from an unknown location
to burn (usu. incense)
to be fragrant
to be fragrant
influencing people by one's virtue
good influence
fragrant smoke; aromatic smoke
incense
moral influence; moral education
fumigation
incense; fragrance
(subject to the) cool light breeze in early summer