Heidi Norton
Incense is an aromatic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. It is composed of aromatic plant materials, often combined with essential oils. Incense is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonies. It is also used as a deodorant or insect repellent. Incense is available in two main types: indirect-burning and direct-burning. Direct-burning incense is the most popular type and is lit directly by a flame. It is usually made with bamboo, essential oils, and sawdust or charcoal. Some popular direct-burning incense types include sandalwood, aloeswood, patchouli, lavender, lemongrass, musk, myrrh, nag champa, and Japanese cedar.
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What You'll Learn
Frankincense and myrrh
Frankincense is a tree with papery bark and sparse bunches of paired leaves. It grows without soil along the rocky shores of Somalia, the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa, and India. The sap is extracted by making long incisions down the trunk of the tree, from which the milky-white resin bleeds out and hardens into streaks called tears. The trees can be tapped two or three times a year, and it can take up to 25 years before the resin can be harvested. Frankincense has been used historically for its medicinal properties, and it is still used for this purpose in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. It is also used in essential oils and perfumes.
Myrrh is collected from a small 5- to 15-foot-tall tree called the dindin tree, which is native to Somalia, Ethiopia, Oman, Kenya, and Saudi Arabia. The tree has a whitish-green flower and a scrubby, desolate appearance. Myrrh is extracted in a similar way to frankincense, by wounding the tree so that the reddish-orange resin seeps through the bark and into the sapwood. True myrrh is crumbly and dark red inside, with a white and powdery exterior. Myrrh has been used medicinally for thousands of years, and it is still used for this purpose today, as well as in cosmetics.
When burned together as incense, frankincense and myrrh are believed to act as a purifier of negative influences and increase spirituality. They are also thought to aid in protection during ceremonies. Frankincense and myrrh have been used as incense in religious and cultural ceremonies in the West since ancient times, including by the Ancient Egyptians and in Christian traditions.
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Sandalwood
To use sandalwood incense, light the tip of a stick and blow out the flame. Place the stick in a holder on a tray to catch the ashes.
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Incense in religious ceremonies
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies and rituals for thousands of years, dating back to ancient China around 2000 BCE. The practice has since spread to other parts of the world, including Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the West, where it holds significance in various religious traditions.
China
In China, incense is used in religious ceremonies, ancestor veneration, traditional Chinese medicine, and daily life. Agarwood and sandalwood are the two most important ingredients in Chinese incense. Incense clocks and calibrated incense sticks were introduced to China along with Buddhism, and they played a role in timekeeping practices. The burning of incense sticks is a common practice in traditional Chinese religion, with different types of sticks used for various purposes and festive days.
Japan
Japanese incense companies categorize agarwood, one of the most important ingredients in Japanese incense, into six types based on its properties and region of origin. Sandalwood, another key ingredient, is used in the Japanese tea ceremony. Incense holds a significant role in Japanese Shinto shrines dedicated to Inari Okami or the Seven Lucky Gods, as well as in Buddhist temples. The sticks of incense are placed horizontally into censers, and the formula and scent vary across different temples.
Southeast Asia
Incense is widely used in religious ceremonies and rites in Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. In Buddhist ceremonies, thick coils of incense are hung from the ceiling or placed on special stands. Worshippers light and burn bundles of incense sticks, waving or raising them above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of deities or ancestors.
Middle East
Bakhoor, a type of incense, is commonly burned at Arabian weddings and used to purify houses, especially when receiving guests. It comes in various forms, including colourful pastilles, scented bricks, and wood chips soaked in essential oils. In Islamic traditions, incense is used in ceremonies such as the Tahfidh graduation ceremony and the purification of the Ka'aba in Makkah.
Western Religions
Incense has been employed in Christian worship since antiquity, particularly in Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, and Anglican churches. The smoke from burning incense is interpreted as a symbol of the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven. Incense is also used in the Havdalah ceremony in Judaism to mark the end of the Sabbath, and it holds significance in Mandaean rituals, including priest initiation and communion ceremonies.
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Incense in daily life
Incense has been used for thousands of years, and its use varies from culture to culture. It is composed of aromatic plant materials, often combined with essential oils, and it releases fragrant smoke when burnt. The term "incense" refers to both the material and the aroma.
The Chinese have used incense in daily life for over two thousand years, incorporating it into religious ceremonies, traditional Chinese medicine, ancestor veneration, and timekeeping. Agarwood and sandalwood are the two most important ingredients in Chinese incense. The Japanese also value these two ingredients, with agarwood being particularly prized.
In addition to its cultural and religious significance, incense has practical applications. It can be used as a deodorizer or insect repellent, and it can also mask unpleasant odours. For example, it has been used in funerary ceremonies to obscure the scent of decay.
Incense is also used for its therapeutic benefits. It can aid in meditation, improve sleep quality, relieve stress, enhance well-being, and promote relaxation. Certain types of incense, such as ginger and cinnamon, can even help with digestive issues.
The sense of smell is strongly connected to memory, so incense can be a powerful tool for evoking specific memories and creating a calming atmosphere. The act of lighting incense can also mark the transition from day to night, providing a sense of ritual and separation in one's daily routine.
While incense has many benefits, it is important to be cautious of potential health risks. Some studies suggest that incense smoke contains carcinogens and irritants, which could lead to respiratory issues and other health concerns. However, other studies have found no association between incense burning and certain respiratory symptoms or lung cancer risk among non-smokers. More research is needed to fully understand the health impacts of incense use.
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Incense for aromatherapy
Incense is an aromatic material that releases a fragrant smoke when burnt. It is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonies. Incense can be separated into two types: "indirect-burning" and "direct-burning". Direct-burning incense is either a paste formed around a bamboo stick or a paste that is extruded into a cone or stick shape.
Aromatherapy incense is one of the oldest forms of aromatherapy, using the subtle power of fragrance to re-establish balance and harmony. Aromatherapy incense comes in eight fragrances: Amber, Indian Cedar, Jasmine, Lavender, and Lily, to name a few.
Natural incense should have a deep, woody, soft lingering scent. Synthetic incense, on the other hand, is usually more vibrant and crisp but can cause headaches. Only certain types of essential oils are suitable for burning, so it is important to be cautious of incense manufacturers that offer a wide range of scent profiles. It is also important to ensure that the incense has a list of ingredients, as some synthetic fragrances are petroleum-derived.
Incense has been used for thousands of years in worship and spiritual attunement by many cultures and religions, such as Japanese Shinto, Tibetan Buddhism, and Chinese religions. For example, rope incense has been used in meditation for centuries in Tibet and Nepal, and the burning of aromatic sap from the Bursera tree is sacred in Mesoamerican cultures. Similarly, the Chinese have used incense in religious ceremonies, traditional Chinese medicine, and daily life for over two thousand years. Agarwood and sandalwood are the two most important ingredients in Chinese incense.
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Frequently asked questions
Nag Champa is the most popular incense in the world. It is made from fragrant rare gums, resins, powders and pure Mysore Sandalwood Oil.
Other popular incense types include Aloeswood, Patchouli, Lavender, Frankincense, Myrrh, Ginger, Green Tea, Cannabis, Cedar, Chakra Lotus, Cinnamon, and Opium.
Incense can be broadly categorized into two types based on how they burn: direct-burning and indirect-burning. Direct-burning incense is the most common type and is lit directly by a flame and then fanned or blown out. Indirect-burning incense, on the other hand, requires a separate heat source as it cannot burn on its own.
