expression
neither very good nor very bad; mediocre; having few faults but few virtues
Idiomatic expression describing a person or thing that is unremarkable, neither outstandingly good nor offensively bad. The literal meaning is 'neither burning agarwood nor passing wind' — i.e., doing nothing especially fragrant or foul.
彼は沈香も焚かず屁も放らずといった感じで、特に印象に残らない。
He's the type who neither burns incense nor farts, so to speak — he doesn't leave much of an impression.
A more common expression with a similar meaning of 'neither good nor bad', but without the colorful imagery of incense and flatulence.
A traditional Japanese idiom. The literal components are 沈香 (agarwood incense, a precious fragrant substance) and 屁 (flatulence), humorously contrasting something refined with something crude to express mediocrity.