Fragrance Terminology

Natural Incense: Made from fragrance ingredients extracted from natural plants and animals, such as agarwood and musk.

Single Ingredient Incense: Incense made from a single fragrance material, such as agarwood incense sticks.

 Blended Incense: A blend of multiple fragrance materials mixed in specific proportions, creating a unique fragrance with various scent profiles and benefits.

 The Rule of Monarch, Minister, Assistant, and Envoy: An ancient incense-making principle where "Monarch" leads the fragrance, "Minister" enhances the effect, "Assistant" harmonizes the ingredients, and "Envoy" helps the fragrance spread and unfold.

Incense Making Process

Processing: The method of treating fragrance ingredients to remove impurities, adjust their properties, and enhance the aroma, such as with agarwood.
Grinding Incense: Crushing the fragrance material into powder using tools, ensuring the right pressure and finesse for an even, delicate texture.
Sifting Incense: Using a sieve to filter out large particles and impurities from the powder.
Making Incense Paste: Mixing the incense powder with elm bark powder, honey, and other binders, adding water and stirring to a uniform consistency, carefully controlling the ratio and mixing process.
Resting the Incense: Allowing the prepared incense paste to sit for several hours to days, allowing the materials to blend and mature into a rich, full fragrance.
 Shaping the Incense: Molding the incense paste into forms such as incense sticks or coils, either by hand or using molds.

Fragrance Characteristics

Fragrance Notes: Traditional incense making seeks layered fragrance notes. "Clear Notes" are fresh and delicate; "Deep Notes" are rich and enduring (often associated with agarwood); "Sweet Notes" carry a subtle sweetness.

Top, Middle, and Base Notes: Similar to perfume stages, the "Top Notes" are fresh and light, the "Middle Notes" are the lasting core, and the "Base Notes" are deep and lingering.

Methods of Using Incense

 Incense Burner: A tool used to burn incense, available in various materials and designs, affecting both the fragrance diffusion and the aesthetic effect, such as copper, porcelain, and ceramic burners.

Seal Incense: Also known as "Imprint Incense," where incense powder is packed into a seal-shaped mold (such as a lotus or auspicious clouds) and then lit to release the fragrance in the shape of the design.

 Indirect Incense Burning: A high-end incense method where charcoal heats mica sheets or silver leaves, slowly releasing fragrance and avoiding direct smoke.