Antonio Mcgowan
Incense is a substance that has been burned for centuries to produce a fragrant scent. The word incense comes from the Latin word incendere, meaning to burn. The use of incense can be traced back to ancient civilizations in Egypt, Babylon, China, Greece, and India. In these ancient cultures, incense was used for a variety of purposes, including religious rituals, fumigation, medicine, and offerings to the gods. Today, incense continues to hold cultural and spiritual significance, with various types of incense sticks, cones, and balls being used around the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Earliest documented use | Ancient China, around 2000 BCE |
| Earliest documented evidence | Ancient China |
| Ancient civilisations that used incense | Egypt, Babylon, Greece, India, China, Japan |
| Incense ingredients | Herbs, plants, cinnamon, sandalwood, charcoal, wood powder, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, gum arabic, gum tragacanth, natural plant-based binders, resins, barks, seeds, roots, flowers |
| Incense types | Sticks, cones, stem, balls, blocks |
| Uses | Religious practices, meditation, air freshener, mosquito repellent, chronological measurement, therapeutic purposes |
| Health effects | Possible antidepressant and anti-inflammatory effects, possible links to cancer and asthma |
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What You'll Learn
Ancient Egypt
The use of incense can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where it was used in a variety of ways. Incense was burned daily in large quantities in temples throughout Egypt as a part of worship rituals. The ancient Egyptians also believed that incense could hinder the presence of demons and was offered to their gods during worship and rituals.
Incense was also used for fumigation, with Egyptian graves containing traces of fragrant resins such as frankincense and myrrh. The ancient Egyptians burned frankincense in the morning, myrrh at midday, and Kyphi (Kapet) in the evening. Certain gods were associated with specific types of incense, for example, Hathor was strongly associated with myrrh.
The use of incense in ancient Egypt is depicted in various forms of art. An Egyptian mural shows the use of incense with an arm-shaped censer. The Temple of Deir-el-Bahari in Egypt contains a series of carvings that depict an expedition for incense.
Kapet, or Kyphi, was one of the most popular varieties of incense in ancient Egypt and was used for its scent and medicinal properties. It was believed to heal snake bites, cure bad breath, and treat asthma. Other popular types of incense in ancient Egypt included Ihmut incense, sonter incense, and green incense.
Incense was also used in ancient Egypt for its aromatic properties, with Egyptians favouring exotic imported fragrances like myrrh, frankincense, cinnamon, cassia, and Galbanum. They used a variety of ingredients to create incense, including aromatic woods, spices, papyrus rind, cedar wood, balsamon, iris, lotus, lemongrass, and rose.
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Ancient China
The use of incense in ancient China can be traced back thousands of years to the Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). Incense, known as 'xiang' (Chinese: 香), was used in a wide range of cultural activities, including religious ceremonies, ancestor veneration, traditional medicine, and daily life. The Chinese word 'xiang' not only means "incense" but also denotes "fragrance", "scent", "aroma", "perfume", and "spice".
The earliest documented use of incense in ancient China consisted of blends of herbs and plant products, such as cassia, cinnamon, styrax, and sandalwood. These incense compositions were employed as a component of numerous formalized ceremonial rites. The burning of incense was believed to have pragmatic and mystical functions, such as purifying spaces and clothing, deterring demons, and appeasing the gods.
The art of incense burning in ancient China evolved into a sophisticated practice known as xiangdao (香道). This art form involves the use of various paraphernalia and utensils, such as tongs, spatulas, and special moulds to create ideograms with incense powder, all carefully arranged on a small table. The burning of incense was often accompanied by other arts, such as tea drinking and guqin playing, enhancing the ambiance of personal spaces.
The production of incense sticks in ancient China commonly utilised bamboo species, particularly Phyllostachys heterocycla cv. pubescens (茅竹,江南竹). The dried bamboo poles were manually processed through trimming, soaking, peeling, and splitting to achieve thin sticks with square cross-sections of less than 3mm in width. This labour-intensive process has largely been replaced by machines in modern incense production.
Incense played a significant role in the daily lives of intellectuals and nobles during the Song dynasty (960–1279 AD). It was used during artistic and cultural pursuits, such as composing poetry, playing musical instruments, entertaining guests, and meditation. The nobility constructed rooms dedicated solely to incense ceremonies, and the Imperial Court established the "Incense and Medicine Repository" to oversee the import of incense materials. The value of incense during this period was so high that it was said that one ounce of agarwood, a key incense ingredient, was worth one ounce of gold.
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India
The use of incense in India has a long history, with the practice believed to have originated in the country as early as 3300 BC. Incense, derived from the Latin "incendere", meaning "to burn", has been employed in India for prayer and worship, as well as to ward off evil spirits and purify the surroundings. The burning of incense has been an integral part of Indian culture and spiritual rituals, with its use in traditional and ubiquitous in almost all pujas, prayers, and other forms of worship.
In ancient times, incense was made from plant matter, with the most common forms being Indian agarbatti sticks, also known as joss sticks, or incense cones. The basic ingredients of an incense stick are bamboo sticks, paste (made from charcoal dust or sawdust and jiggit, an adhesive made from tree bark), and perfume ingredients such as masala (a powder of ground ingredients) or essential oils. The bamboo method of incense-making is distinct to India, with other methods in Nepal, Tibet, and Japan forgoing the use of bamboo cores.
The Mysore region is recognised as a pioneer in the activity of agarbathi manufacturing, with the first stick incense created by the Maharaja, King of Mysore, by rolling incense paste onto bamboo sticks. The state of Karnataka is referred to as the Capital of Agarbathi (Incense Sticks) and is the leading producer of agarbathi in India, with Mysore and Bangalore being the main manufacturing hubs. There are about 5,000 incense companies in India, with around 200,000 women working part-time from home to produce raw, un-perfumed sticks. These sticks are then purchased by companies who apply their own brand of perfume and packaging.
Incense in India is often used for leisure and everyday use, as well as for spiritual purposes. Many Indians burn incense as an offering to the Divine, while others use it to deepen their focus during meditation, create a relaxing atmosphere, or simply enjoy the fragrance. Incense has also been used for its healing properties, with Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, utilising incense as an approach to healing.
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Japan
The use of incense in Japan can be traced back to the 6th century, during the Asuka period, with the introduction of Buddhism, which incorporated incense into its rituals and ceremonies. According to the Nihon Shoki, a classical Japanese historical text, the first recorded instance of incense in Japan occurred in 595 CE when a log of agarwood, a fragrant wood used in incense burning, washed up on Awaji Island and was presented to Prince Shōtoku and Empress Suiko.
Awaji Island, located south of Osaka, continues to be a significant location for incense production in Japan, with 70% of the country's incense currently being manufactured there. The island's history as an incense-making centre dates back to 1850 when it served as a military-run trade port, facilitating the import and sale of raw materials for incense production. The strong seasonal winds on the island, which hindered fishing activities, proved advantageous for drying incense and encouraged the development of incense-making industries.
Zen Buddhists, who used incense in their temples during ceremonies and prayers, were instrumental in introducing and popularising incense in Japan. The ritual of sonaekō, which involves burning kōboku fragrant wood combined with herbs and other aromatic substances, became established in Japan shortly after the introduction of incense. By the end of the Nara Period (710-794 CE), incense had spread beyond religious contexts, gaining popularity among courtiers and the Japanese aristocracy.
During the Heian Period (794-1185 CE), the use of incense continued to flourish, as depicted in the Japanese epic "The Tale of Genji". The establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate in the 12th century brought a new approach to Buddhism, further entrenching the use of incense in religious practices and leading to more informal incense gatherings. The Muromachi Period (1336-1573) witnessed the introduction of Kōdō, or "The Way of Fragrance", which formalised the conduct of appreciating incense in Japanese society.
Today, traditional Japanese incense is renowned worldwide, with companies like Nippon Kodo, Kungyodo, Baieido, and Shoyeido carrying forward the ancient customs of crafting and enjoying incense. Incense in Japan is typically made without a bamboo stick, with ingredients blended and bound with natural substances and water to form a paste that dries into pure incense sticks.
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Religious practices
Incense has been used in religious practices since ancient times. The word "incense" comes from the Latin word "incendere", meaning "to burn". The use of incense can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where incense was used by priests for fumigating ceremonies and tombs. Egyptian graves have been discovered to contain traces of fragrant resins such as frankincense and myrrh. It is widely believed that Egyptians used incense to hinder the presence of demons and likewise as an offering to their gods during worship and rituals.
Incense was also used in ancient Babylon and Greece for religious purposes. In Babylon, incense was burned while offering prayers to divine oracles. The Babylonians spread the use of incense to Greece and Rome.
Around 2000 BCE, ancient China began using incense in a religious context, specifically for worship. Incense was used by Chinese cultures from Neolithic times and became more widespread in the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. The earliest documented use of incense comes from ancient China, where it was composed of herbs and plant products such as cinnamon and sandalwood. Incense usage reached its peak during the Song dynasty, with numerous buildings erected specifically for incense ceremonies.
Incense was introduced to Japan in the 6th century by Korean Buddhist monks, who used the mystical aromas in their purification rites. The delicate scents of Koh (high-quality Japanese incense) became a source of amusement and entertainment for nobles in the Imperial Court during the Heian Era 200 years later.
In India, incense is an integral part of the culture and spirituality. Indian incense, also known as agarbatti or joss sticks, is the most common type of incense in the world. It is typically made by rolling or moulding an incense paste around a bamboo stick.
Tibetan monks also use incense as an integral part of their meditation practice. In Nepal, incense is enclosed in a rice paste that is shaped like a cord to ignite its ends.
Incense has been used for chronological measurement in incense clocks, which are used to time social, medical, and religious practices in parts of eastern Asia. They are primarily used in Buddhism as a timer for meditation and prayer. Different types of incense burn at different rates, so different incense is used for different practices.
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Frequently asked questions
The use of incense can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where incense was used by priests for fumigating ceremonies and tombs.
Egyptians used aromatic trees imported from Arabia, as well as fragrant resins such as frankincense and myrrh.
Ancient China, Babylon, Greece, and India. The earliest documented use of incense comes from ancient China, where it was employed in formalized ceremonial rites.
Indian incense usually takes the form of a stick or stem, while Japanese incense is similar but lacks a bamboo core.
