Incense is composed of aromatic biotic materials. Biotic material or biological derived material is any Natural material that is originated from living organisms It releases fragrant smoke when burned. Smoke is the collection of airborne solid and liquid Particulates and Gases ref> ''Smoke Production and Properties'' - SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering The term incense refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces.
Many religious ceremonies and spiritual purificatory rites employ incense, a practice that persists to this day. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Incense is also used in medicine and for its aesthetic value. Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the Aesthetics or esthetics ( also spelled æsthetics) is commonly known as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values sometimes called The forms taken by incense have changed with advances in technology, differences in the underlying culture, and diversity in the reasons for burning it. [1]
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History of incense
Composition of incense
Throughout history, a wide variety of materials have been used in making incense. Borneol is a Bicyclic Organic compound and a Terpene. The Hydroxyl group in this compound is placed in an endo position } Camphor is a waxy white or transparent solid with a strong aromatic odor Sumatra (also spelled Sumatera) is the sixth largest island in the world (approximately 470000 km² and is the largest island entirely in Indonesia (two Benzoin resin or styrax resin is a Balsamic Resin obtained from the bark of several species of trees in the genus Styrax. Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman ( Arabic: سلطنة عُمان) is an Arab Country in Southwest Asia on the southeast Frankincense or olibanum ( Arabic language: لبٌان, lubbān) is an aromatic Resin obtained from trees of the genus Commiphora wightii ( Guggal, Guggul or Mukul myrrh tree) is a Flowering plant in the family Burseraceae. Commiphora wightii ( Guggal, Guggul or Mukul myrrh tree) is a Flowering plant in the family Burseraceae. Tolu balsam or balsam of Tolu (a variant of Balsam of Peru) is the resinous secretion of Myroxylon toluifera. Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال) officially the Somali Republic ( Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال) and formerly known Myrrh is a reddish-brown Resinous material the dried sap of the tree Commiphora myrrha, native to Yemen, Somalia Labdanum is a sticky brown resin obtained from the shrubs Cistus ladanifer (western Mediterranean and Cistus creticus (eastern Mediterranean Opopanax chironium, also known as "sweet Myrrh " or " Bisabol myrrh" is a Herb that grows one to three feet high and produces a large India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country for the film industry in India see Cinema of Karnataka Sandalwood is the name for several fragrant Woods and their Essential Santalum album is a small tropical tree of the Santalaceae family commonly known as the source of Sandalwood. Historically there has been a preference for using locally available ingredients. For example: sage and cedar were used by the indigenous peoples of North America. [2] This was a preference and ancient trading in incense materials from one area to another comprised a major part of commerce along the Silk Road and other trade routes, one notably called The Frankincense Trail. The Silk Road, or Silk Routes, are an extensive interconnected network of Trade routes across the Asian continent connecting East South and Western Asia with the
The same could be said for the techniques used to make incense. Local knowledge and tools were extremely influential on the style, but methods were also influenced by migrations of foreigners, among them clergy and physicians who were both familiar with incense arts. [1]
Materials
Natural materials
The following fragrance materials can be employed in either direct or indirect burning incense. They are commonly used in religious ceremonies, and many of them are considered quite valuable. Essential oils or other extracted fractions of these materials may also be isolated and used to make incense. The resulting incense is sometimes considered to lack the aromatic complexity or authenticity of incense made from raw materials not infused or fortified with extracts.
Plant-derived materials
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Woods and barks
Seeds and fruits
Resins and gums
Leaves
Roots and rhizomes
Flowers and buds
Animal-derived materials
Essential oil fragrances
The following fragrances are but some of the many that can be utilized as essential oils. Agarwood (or just Agar) is the Resinous Heartwood from Aquilaria trees large evergreens native to Southeast Asia. Cedar ( Cedrus) is a genus of Coniferous Trees in the Plant family Pinaceae. for the film industry in India see Cinema of Karnataka Sandalwood is the name for several fragrant Woods and their Essential The Cupressaceae or Cypress family is a Conifer family with worldwide distribution Junipers are Coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Coriander ( Coriandrum sativum) also commonly called cilantro, is an annual Herb in the family Apiaceae. The MAOI (Monoamine oxidase inhibitor Alkaloids found in Seeds of Peganum harmala (also known as Harmal or Junipers are Coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. The nutmegs Myristica are a Genus of Evergreen Trees indigenous to tropical southeast Asia and Australasia ( See also Illicium floridanum which is known as Chakra Phool (Badian in India and Star anise in the Eastern USA Vanilla is a Flavoring derived from Orchids of the genus Vanilla native to Mexico. Benzoin resin or styrax resin is a Balsamic Resin obtained from the bark of several species of trees in the genus Styrax. Copal is a type of Resin produced from plant or tree secretions, often taken from members of the genus Copaifera. Frankincense or olibanum ( Arabic language: لبٌان, lubbān) is an aromatic Resin obtained from trees of the genus Myrrh is a reddish-brown Resinous material the dried sap of the tree Commiphora myrrha, native to Yemen, Somalia Labdanum is a sticky brown resin obtained from the shrubs Cistus ladanifer (western Mediterranean and Cistus creticus (eastern Mediterranean Dragon's blood is a bright red Resin that is obtained from different species of four distinct plant genera Croton, Dracaena, Storax is also a name for trees in the genus Styrax Storax is the resinous exudate of the Sweetgum ( Liquidambar) occasionally Galbanum is an aromatic gum Resin, the product of certain Persian plant species chiefly Ferula gummosa'' syn Elemi ( Canarium luzonicum) is a Tree native to the Philippine Islands, and an oleo-resin harvested from it } Camphor is a waxy white or transparent solid with a strong aromatic odor In Mineralogy, sandarac, or sandarach, may refer to Realgar or native arsenic disulfide but is generally (a use found in Dioscorides) a Commiphora wightii ( Guggal, Guggul or Mukul myrrh tree) is a Flowering plant in the family Burseraceae. Opopanax chironium, also known as "sweet Myrrh " or " Bisabol myrrh" is a Herb that grows one to three feet high and produces a large Tolu balsam or balsam of Tolu (a variant of Balsam of Peru) is the resinous secretion of Myroxylon toluifera. Patchouli (also patchouly or pachouli) is a bushy Herb of the mint family with erect stems reaching two or three feet (about 0 Common sage ( Salvia officinalis) is a small perennial Evergreen Subshrub, with woody stems grayish leaves and blue to purplish flowers The Bay Laurel ( Laurus nobilis, Lauraceae) also known as True Laurel, Sweet Bay, Grecian Laurel, Laurel, or Camellia sinensis is the tea plant, the Plant Species whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce Tea. This article refers to the tropical grass For the men's fragrance Vétiver see Guerlain. Orris root is the root of some species of iris, grown principally in southern Europe Iris germanica, Iris florentina, and Iris pallida Calamus or Common Sweet Flag ( Acorus calamus) is a Plant from the Acoraceae family Acorus genues Spikenard ( Nardostachys grandiflora or Nardostachys jatamansi; also called nard, nardin,and muskroot) is a Flowering The Galangal plant or Blue Ginger is a Rhizome with culinary and medicinal uses (Thai Ka (ข่า Malay lengkuas (Alpinia galangal Traditional Mandarin Elytrigia repens ( Couch Grass; syn Triticum repens L Agropyron repens (L This article is about the Spice; for other meanings see Clove (disambiguation. The Lavenders Lavandula are a Genus of about 25–30 species of Flowering plants in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to the Mediterranean Saffron ( Kurdish/Persian زَعْفَرَان is a Spice derived from the dried Stigma of the Flower of the saffron crocus ( Crocus sativus Ambergris ( Ambra grisea, Ambre gris, ambergrease, or grey Amber) is a solid waxy flammable substance of a dull gray or blackish Musk is the name originally given to a substance with a penetrating Odor obtained from a Gland of the male Musk deer, which is situated between its The operculum, meaning little lid (plural opercula or operculums is a corneous or Calcareous structure which exists in some groups of marine freshwater and land An essential oil is a concentrated Hydrophobic Liquid containing volatile Aroma compounds from Plants They are also known as volatile Incense deriving its aroma primarily from essential oils is usually cheaper than that made from unextracted raw materials.
Artificial fragrances
Artificial fragrances are normally used in the cheapest forms of incense. Patchouli (also patchouly or pachouli) is a bushy Herb of the mint family with erect stems reaching two or three feet (about 0 Cedar ( Cedrus) is a genus of Coniferous Trees in the Plant family Pinaceae. for the film industry in India see Cinema of Karnataka Sandalwood is the name for several fragrant Woods and their Essential Jasmine or Jessamine ( Jasminum) (from Persian yasmin, ie "gift from God" via Arabic) is a Genus of Shrubs A rose is a perennial flowering Shrub or vine of the Genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae, that contains over 100 species Ylang-ylang (ˈiːlæŋˈʔiːlæŋ (ee-lang ee-lang Cananga odorata, is a small flower of the Cananga tree They are usually added to a base formed from charcoal powder. Typically, the essential oils from the following plants are not available, and therefore the presence of their aromas is a sign of ingredients derived from chemical synthesis. In Chemistry, chemical synthesis is purposeful execution of Chemical reactions in order to get a product, or several products
Methods of making incense
Incense is available in various forms and degrees of processing. Cannabis ( Cán-na-bis) is a Genus of Flowering plants that includes three putative species Cannabis sativa subsp Garden strawberries are a common variety of strawberry cultivated worldwide Opium is a Narcotic formed from the Latex (ie sap released by lacerating (or "scoring" the immature seed pods of opium poppies ( Cestrum nocturnum (Raat Ki Rani is a species of Cestrum, native to Mexico, Central America, India and Cuba Convallaria majalis, commonly known as the Lily of the Valley or Lily-of-the-Valley, is the only species in the genus Convallaria Watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ( Thunb) Matsum & Nakai family Cucurbitaceae) refers to both Fruit and Plant of a vine-like (climber However, incense can generally be separated into direct burning and indirect burnings types depending on how it is used. Preference for one form or another varies with culture, tradition, and personal taste.
Indirect burning
Indirect burning incense, also called non-combustible incense,[3] is simply a combination of aromatic ingredients not prepared in any particular way or encouraged into any particular form, leaving it mostly unsuitable for direct combustion. Frankincense or olibanum ( Arabic language: لبٌان, lubbān) is an aromatic Resin obtained from trees of the genus Harmal ( Peganum harmala) is a Plant of the family Nitrariaceae, native from the eastern Mediterranean region east to The use of this class of incense requires a separate heat source since it does not generally kindle a fire capable of burning itself and may not ignite at all under normal conditions. This incense can vary in the duration of its burning with the texture of the material. Finer ingredients tend to burn more rapidly, while coarsely ground or whole chunks may be consumed very gradually as they have less total surface area. The heat is traditionally provided by charcoal or glowing embers. Charcoal' is the blackish residue consisting of impure Carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from Animal and Vegetation The incense is burned by placing it directly on top of the heat source or on a hot metal plate in the censer or thurible. A thurible is a metal Censer suspended from chains in which Incense is burned during Worship services [4] In Japan a similar censer called a egōro (柄香炉?) is used by several Buddhist sects. The egōro is usually made of brass with a long handle (柄 e?)) and no chain. Instead of charcoal, makkō powder is poured into a depression made in a bed of ash. The makkō is lit and the incense mixture is burned on top. This method is known as Sonae-kō (Religious Burning). [5]
The best known incense materials of this type, at least in the West, are frankincense and myrrh, likely due to their numerous mentions in the Christian Bible. Frankincense or olibanum ( Arabic language: لبٌان, lubbān) is an aromatic Resin obtained from trees of the genus Myrrh is a reddish-brown Resinous material the dried sap of the tree Commiphora myrrha, native to Yemen, Somalia Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin In fact, the word for "frankincense" in many European languages also alludes to any form of incense.
- Whole: The incense material is burned directly in its raw unprocessed form on top of coal embers.
- Powdered or granulated: The incense material is broken down into finer bits. This incense burns quickly and provides a short period of intense smells.
- Paste: The powdered or granulated incense material is mixed with a sticky and incombustible binder, such as dried fruit, honey, or a soft resin and then formed to balls or small cakes. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. Honey is a sweet and Viscous fluid produced by Honey bees (and some other species and derived from the nectar of Flowers According to the Resin, not to be confused with Rosin, is a Hydrocarbon Secretion of many Plants particularly coniferous trees. These may then be allowed to mature in a controlled environment where the fragrances can commingle and unite. Much Arabian incense, also called Bukhoor or Bakhoor, is of this type, and Japan has a history of kneaded incense, called nerikō or awasekō, using this method. The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding Bukhoor ( Arabic بخور) or Bakhoor is the Arabic name given to woodchips soaked in Fragrant Oils or in most Arab For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. [6]
- Recombined: Within the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition raw frankincense is ground into a fine powder and then mixed with various sweet smelling essential oils. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Floral fragrances are the most common (rose being among the most popular), but citrus such as lemon is not uncommon. The incense mixture is then rolled out into a slab approximately ¼” thick and allowed to dry for a week or so, until the slab is quite firm. It is then cut into small pieces resembling in many ways, the original raw frankincense. For use, one or two pieces at a time are placed on a hot coal inside a censer which is swung by the priest in order to venerate the altar, the icons, the clergy and the congregation during church services. To the Orthodox, incense represents the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven.
Direct burning
Direct burning incense also called combustible incense,[3] , generally requires little preparation prior to its use. Po Lin Monastery ( Literally "Precious Lotus Zen Temple" is a Buddhist Monastery, located on Ngong Ping Plateau on Lantau Island Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders When lit directly by a flame (hence the appellation) and then fanned out, the glowing ember on the incense will continue to smolder and burn away the rest of the incense without continued application of heat or flame from an outside source. This class of incense is made from a moldable substrate of fragrant finely ground (or liquid) incense materials and odorless binder. [1] The composition must be adjusted to provide fragrance in the proper concentration and to ensure even burning. The following types of direct burning incense are commonly encountered, though the material itself can take virtually any form, according to expediency or whimsy:
- Coil: Shaped into a coil, the incense is able to burn for an extended period; from hours to days.
- Cone: Incense in this form burns relatively fast. Cone incense containing mugwort are used in Traditional Chinese medicine for moxibustion treatment. Artemisia vulgaris ( mugwort or common wormwood) is one of several species in the genus Artemisia with names containing mugwort Traditional Chinese medicine (also known as TCM,) includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China. Moxibustion ( is an Oriental medicine therapy utilizing moxa, or Mugwort Herb.
- Cored stick: This form of stick incense has a supporting core of bamboo. Bamboo is a group of Woody perennial Evergreen Plants in the True grass family Poaceae, subfamily Higher quality varieties of this form have fragrant sandalwood cores. for the film industry in India see Cinema of Karnataka Sandalwood is the name for several fragrant Woods and their Essential The core is coated by a thick layer of incense material that burns away with the core. This type of incense is commonly produced by the Indians and the Chinese. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National When used for worship in Chinese folk religion, cored incensed sticks are sometimes known as Joss sticks. Chinese folk religion is a collective label given to various folkloric beliefs that draws heavily from Chinese mythology. Joss sticks are a type of Incense used in many East Asian countries traditionally burned before a Chinese religious image, idol or shrine
- Solid stick: This stick incense has no supporting core and is completely made of incense material. Easily broken into pieces, it allows one to determine the specific amount of incense they wish to burn. This is the most commonly produced form of incense in Japan and Tibet. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European
- Dipped or Hand-dipped: This form simply dips Incense Blanks in any kind of essential or fragrance oil. It was made popular in American Flea markets by vendors who wanted their own style. A flea market or swap meet is a type of Bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered
Direct burning incense of these forms is either extruded, pressed into forms, or coated onto a supporting material. Extrusion is a process used to create objects of a fixed cross-sectional profile
With extruded or pressed incense using water soluble binders like makko (抹香・末香). [1] small quantities of water are combined with the fragrance and incense base mixture and kneaded into a hard dough. Dough is a paste made out of any Cereals (grains or leguminous crops by mixing the Flour with a small amount of Water. The incense dough is then pressed into shaped forms to create cone and smaller coiled incense, or forced through a hydraulic press for solid stick incense. For the mechanical technology see Hydraulic machinery and Hydraulic cylinder Hydraulics is a topic of science and Engineering The formed incense is then trimmed and slowly dried. Incense produced in this fashion has a tendency to warp or become misshapen when improperly dried, and as such must be placed in climate controlled rooms and rotated several times through the drying process.
Coating is used mainly to produce cored incense of either larger coil (up to 1 meter in diameter) or cored stick forms. The supporting material, either thin bamboo or Sandalwood slivers, are soaked in water or a thin water/glue mixture for a short time. for the film industry in India see Cinema of Karnataka Sandalwood is the name for several fragrant Woods and their Essential The sticks are evenly separated then dipped into a tray of incense powder, consisting of fragrance materials and occasionally a plant based binder. In India a resin based binder called Jigit is used. In Nepal, Tibet, and other East Asian countries a bark based powder called Laha or Dar is used. Three to four layers of powder are coated onto the sticks, forming a 2 mm thick layer of incense material on the stick. The Millimetre ( American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to The coated incense is then allowed to dry in open air. Additional coatings of incense mixture can be applied after each period of successive drying. incense sticks that are burned in temples of Chinese folk religion produced in this fashion can have a thickness between 1 to 2 cm. Joss sticks are a type of Incense used in many East Asian countries traditionally burned before a Chinese religious image, idol or shrine A temple (from the Latin word Templum) is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities such as prayer and sacrifice or analogous rites Chinese folk religion is a collective label given to various folkloric beliefs that draws heavily from Chinese mythology. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International
Traditional methods
Indian incense
Indian incense can be divided into two categories: masala and charcoal. A Spirit tablet, Spirit seat or Ancestor post is a placard used to designate the seat of a deity or past ancestor as well as to enclose it Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially Indian Incense is known as agarbattī in Hindi (अगरबत्ती (and other Indian languages) Masala incenses are made of dry ingredients, while charcoal incenses contain liquid scents. Masala incenses have several subgroups.
Masala
Masālā is a word in Hindi (and other Indian languages) meaning "spice mixture". Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is It is commonly used when referring to curries or other food dishes. Masala incenses are made by blending several solid scented ingredients into a paste and then rolling that paste onto a bamboo core stick. These incenses usually contain little or no liquid scents (which can evaporate or diminish over time).
- Dubars
Dubars are a sub-group of masala incense. They often contain ingredients entirely unfamiliar in the West and contain very complex scents. They are usually very slow-burning and are quite sweet and spicy in scent. They contain both solid and liquid perfumes in a binder which never quite dries out, making the incense sticks soft to the touch. Joss sticks are a type of Incense used in many East Asian countries traditionally burned before a Chinese religious image, idol or shrine
- Champas
Champas are a sub-group of durbars. They contain a natural ingredient indigenous to India called "halmaddi". Halmaddi is a grey semi-liquid resin taken from the Ailanthus Malabarica tree. Ailanthus (derived from ailanto an Ambonese word probably meaning "tree of the gods" or "tree of heaven" is a genus of Trees belonging It smells like the flowers of the plumeria tree. Plumeria flowers are known as champa flowers in India, hence the name of the incense group. Halmaddi is hygroscopic which means it absorbs moisture from the air. Hygroscopy is the ability of a substance to attract Water Molecules from the surrounding environment through either absorption or Adsorption This can cause champa incenses to have a wet feeling to them. Nag Champa is probably the most famous incense of the champa group. Nag Champa is a fragrance from India. It has a high concentration of Sandalwood.
- Dhoops
Dhoops are another masala sub-group. They are an extruded incense, lacking a core bamboo stick. Many dhoops have very concentrated scents and put out a lot of smoke when burned. The most well-known dhoop is probably Chandan Dhoop. It contains a high percentage of Sandalwood. for the film industry in India see Cinema of Karnataka Sandalwood is the name for several fragrant Woods and their Essential
Charcoal
Charcoal incenses are made by dipping an unscented "blank" (non-perfume stick) into a mixture of perfumes and/or essential oils. These blanks usually contain a binding resin (sometimes sandalwood) that holds the sticks' ingredients together. for the film industry in India see Cinema of Karnataka Sandalwood is the name for several fragrant Woods and their Essential Most charcoal incenses are black in color.
In the Temple in Jerusalem
The Ketoret was the incense offered in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Ketoret is the incense described in the Hebrew Bible and Talmud offered in the the days of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Ketoret is the incense described in the Hebrew Bible and Talmud offered in the the days of the Temple in Jerusalem. Etymology The Hebrew name given in Scripture for the building is Beit HaMikdash or "The Holy House" and only the Temple in Jerusalem is referred to by this name
Tibetan incense
Tibetan incense refers to a common style of incense found in Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. The Kingdom of Bhutan (buːˈtɑːn is a Landlocked nation in South Asia. These incenses have a characteristic "earthy" scent to them. Ingredients vary from the familiar such as cinnamon, clove, and juniper, to the unfamiliar such as kusum flower, ashvagandha, or sahi jeera.
Many Tibetan incenses are thought to have medicinal properties. Their recipes come from ancient Vedic texts that are based on even older Ayurvedic medical texts. "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation. Ayurveda ( Devanāgarī: आयुर्वॆद the 'science of life' is a system of Traditional medicine native to India, and practiced in other The recipes have remained unchanged for centuries.
Japanese incense
Agarwood (沈香 Jinkō) and Sandalwood (白檀 Byakudan) are the two most important ingredients in Japanese incense. Japanese incense has a long history It came to Japan from China, along with Buddhism, in the year 538 CE Agarwood (or just Agar) is the Resinous Heartwood from Aquilaria trees large evergreens native to Southeast Asia. for the film industry in India see Cinema of Karnataka Sandalwood is the name for several fragrant Woods and their Essential Agarwood is known as "Jinkō" in Japan, which translates as "incense that sinks in water", due to the weight of the resin in the wood. Sandalwood is one of the most calming incense ingredients and lends itself well to meditation. The most valued Sandalwood comes from Mysore in the state of Karnataka in India. Mysore (maɪˈsɔɚ in English; renamed to Mysuru|ಮೈಸೂರು) (ಮೈಸೂರು is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka, India Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ pronounced) is a state in the southern part of India India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country
Another important ingredient in Japanese incense is kyara (伽羅). Kyara is one kind of agarwood (Japanese incense companies divide agarwood into 6 categories depending on the region obtained and properties of the agarwood). Agarwood (or just Agar) is the Resinous Heartwood from Aquilaria trees large evergreens native to Southeast Asia. Kyara is currently worth more than its weight in gold.
Uses of incense
Incense, being an article familiar to humanity since the dawn of civilization, has meant different things to the different peoples who have come to use it. Given the wide diversity of such peoples and their practices, it would be impossible to form an all-inclusive list of the ways in which incense has come to be used, since the methods and purposes of employment are as diverse and nuanced as those who have employed it.
Practical use of incense
Incense fragrances can be of such great strength that they obscure other, less desirable odors. Mosquitoes are insects in the family Culicidae. They have a pair of scaled wings a pair of Halteres, a slender body and long legs This utility led to the use of incense in funerary ceremonies because the incense could smother the scent of decay. Another example of this use, as well as of religious use is the Botafumeiro, which, according to tradition, was installed to hide the scent of the many tired, unwashed pilgrims huddled together in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The Botafumeiro is a famous Thurible found in the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is situated in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain
The regular burning of direct combustion incense has been used for chronological measurement in incense clocks. The incense clock (香鐘 香钟 xiāng zhōng in Chinese) is a special timekeeping device invented in China during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 These devices can range from a simple trail of incense material calibrated to burn in a specific time period, to elaborate and ornate instruments with bells or gongs, designed to involve and captivate several of the senses. [7]
Incense made from materials such as citronella can repel mosquitoes and other aggravating, distracting or pestilential insects. Cymbopogon is a genus of about 55 species of grasses, native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the Old World and Oceania. This use has been deployed in concert with religious uses by Zen Buddhists who claim that the incense that is part of their meditative practice is designed to keep bothersome insects from distracting the practitioner. Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism, referred to in Chinese as Chan.
Incense is also used often by people who smoke indoors, and do not want the scent to linger.
Aesthetic use of incense
Incense can be, like art for the eyes, music for the ears, or fine cuisine for the palate, an indulgence for the sense of smell. Many people burn incense to appreciate its smell, without assigning any other specific significance to it, in the same way that the forgoing items can be produced or consumed solely for the contemplation or enjoyment of the refined sensory experience. This use is perhaps best exemplified in the kōdō (香道?), where (frequently costly) raw incense materials such as agarwood are appreciated in a formalised setting. Kōdō (ja 香道 - Way of Fragrance) is the Japanese art of appreciating Incense, and involves using incense within a structure of codified conduct Kōdō (ja 香道 - Way of Fragrance) is the Japanese art of appreciating Incense, and involves using incense within a structure of codified conduct Agarwood (or just Agar) is the Resinous Heartwood from Aquilaria trees large evergreens native to Southeast Asia. Also, it is considered by some to be an aphrodisiac.
Religious use of incense
Use of incense in religion is prevalent in many cultures and may have their roots in the practical and aesthetic uses considering that many religions with not much else in common all use incense. Taipei ( Taiwanese Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tâi-pak-chhī Jhuyin Fuhao: ㄊㄞˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄕˋ Hakka: Thòi-pet-sṳ has been the capital of Religious use of incense have their origins in antiquity and may have their roots in the practical and aesthetic uses considering that many religions with not much else in common all One common motif is of incense as a form of sacrificial offering to a deity. See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always
Incense and health
Research into the effects of incense burning and health are unclear at this time.
Research carried out in Taiwan in 2001 linked the burning of incense sticks to the slow accumulation of potential carcinogens in a poorly ventilated environment by measuring the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (including benzopyrene) within Buddhist temples. Joss sticks are a type of Incense used in many East Asian countries traditionally burned before a Chinese religious image, idol or shrine The term carcinogen refers to any substance Radionuclide or radiation that is an agent directly involved in the promotion of Cancer or in the fatation of its propagation Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAH s are Chemical compounds that consist of fused Aromatic rings and do not contain Heteroatoms or Benzopyrene, C20H12 is a five-ring Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon that is Mutagenic and highly Carcinogenic It is a crystalline The study found gaseous aliphatic aldehydes, which are carcinogenic and mutagenic, in incense smoke. In Organic chemistry, compounds composed of Carbon and Hydrogen are divided into two classes Aromatic compounds which contain Benzene rings An aldehyde is an organic compound containing a terminal Carbonyl group. [8]
A survey of risk factors for lung cancer, also conducted in Taiwan, noted an inverse association between incense burning and adenocarcinoma of the lung, though the finding was not deemed significant. In Statistics, an association comes from two variables that are related and is often confused with Causality though association does not imply a causal relationship Adenocarcinoma is a cancer that originates in Glandular tissue In Statistics, a result is called statistically significant if it is unlikely to have occurred by Chance. [9]
In contrast, a study by several Asian Cancer Research Centers showed: "No association was found between exposure to incense burning and respiratory symptoms like chronic cough, chronic sputum, chronic bronchitis, runny nose, wheezing, asthma, allergic rhinitis, or pneumonia among the three populations studied: i. e. primary school children, their non-smoking mothers, or a group of older non-smoking female controls. Incense burning did not affect lung cancer risk among non-smokers, but it significantly reduced risk among smokers, even after adjusting for lifetime smoking amount. " However, the researchers qualified the findings by noting that incense burning in the studied population was associated with certain low-cancer-risk dietary habits, and concluded that "diet can be a significant confounder of epidemiological studies on air pollution and respiratory health. "[10]
Boswellia incense has been shown to cause antidepressive behavior in mice. Boswellia is a Genus of Trees known for their fragrant Resin which has many Pharmacological uses particularly as anti-inflammatories [11]
See also
Citations
- ^ a b c d David Oller. The Incense Route or the Incense Road was a series of major ancient trading routes stretching across Egypt to India through Arabia. Kyphi is a compound Incense that was used in ancient Egypt for religious and medical purposes The Silk Road, or Silk Routes, are an extensive interconnected network of Trade routes across the Asian continent connecting East South and Western Asia with the A smudge stick is a bundle of dried Herbs most commonly White sage. Making Incense.
- ^ Adrienne Borden and Steve Coyote. The Smudging Ceremony.
- ^ a b Mark Ambrose. How to Make Incense.
- ^ P. Morrisroe. Transcribed by Kevin Cawley. . Catholic Encyclopedia.
- ^ Japanese-Incense. Buddhist Incense - Sonae ko.
- ^ Taji Asjikaga. Incense blending.
- ^ Silvio A. Bedini. Time Measurement With Incense in Japan.
- ^ Lin, J. M. Wang, L. H. (National Taiwan Univ. , Taipei (China). Gaseous aliphatic aldehydes in Chinese incense smoke.
- ^ National Institutes of Health.
- ^ Linda C. Koo Cancer Research Laboratory, Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society, Hong Kong, et. al. Is Chinese Incense Smoke Hazardous to Respiratory Health?.
- ^ "Incensole acetate, an incense component, elicits psychoactivity by activating TRPV3 channels in the brain", The FASEB Journal, 20 May, 2008..
- Silvio A. Bedini. Silvio Bedini ( January 17 1917 — November 14 2007) was an American Historian, specialising in early scientific instruments (1994). "The Trail of Time : Time Measurement with Incense in East Asia". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-37482-0
External links
- Incensole Acetate, a Novel Anti-Inflammatory Compound Isolated from Boswellia Resin, Inhibits Nuclear Factor-{kappa}B Activation. Mol Pharmacol. 2007 Dec;72(6):1657-64.
- Frankincense and Myrrh: The Botany, Culture, and Therapeutic Uses of the World's Two Most Important Resins
- Japanese Incense Tradition
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