The physical characteristics of soot near the soot inception point were investigated with various measurements. In-situ measurements of particle size and volume fraction were introduced based on time resolved laser-induced incandescence (TIRE-LII) and laser-induced ion mobility (LIIM). The one has more convenience and accuracy than conventional LII technique and the other works best for particle sizes of a few nanometers at high concentrations in a uniform concentration field. A complementary ex-situ measurement of particle size is nano differential mobility analyzer (Nano-DMA), which recently developed for measuring particle sizes between 2nm and 100nm and provides high-resolution size information for early soot. Particles will be also collected on transmission electron microscope (TEM) grids using rapid thermophoretic sampling and analyzed for morphology. These measurements will allow fresh and original insight into the characterizing soot inception process. The measured physical properties of incipient soot will clarify the controlling growth mechanism combined with chemical ones, and the dominant mechanism for soot modeling can be deduced from the information.