Incense

Called ‘Koh' in Japan, incense is an aromatic substance burned for its fragrant odor. When burning incense, the experience is usually defined by its three characteristics: fire, smoke and aromas. Incense was also the first form of perfume, which in Latin ‘per fumum' means “through smoke”.

Incense is derived from either fruit, bark, musk or leaves; and broad categories of incense types can be broken down into gum resins, woods, spices, roots, and faunal groupings.

Some examples are: Aloeswood, Ambergris, Balm of Gilead, Benzoin, Camphor, Cassia, Calamus, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Clove, Costus, Cubeb, Frankincense, Galangal, Galbanum, Labdanum, Myrrh, Musk, Nutmeg, Opopanax, Patchouli, Pepper, Sandalwood, Sandarac, Scented Mussel, Spikenard, Star Anise, Storax, Valerian, and Vetivier.

Historically, depending on the tradition, incense was burned as an offering to the gods, to help prayers ascend to the ears of the gods, or conversely, used to drive away demons and troubled spirits. In death, its smoke was believed to help the soul find its way to the heavens. Its more practical uses were to mask the smells of sacrifices, disease, death and cremation, and to aid project the voice in sermon.

In Japan, similar to the tea ceremony called ‘Sado', the ‘Kodo' – using incense - was a sophisticated game-like ceremony practiced by Samurai warriors.

During meditation incense is used to focus the gaze, focus the mind and to heighten and elevate the awareness of breath. As this excerpt from a Buddhist text explains: “Once there was a man burning incense. He noticed that the fragrance was neither coming nor going; it neither appeared nor disappeared. This trifling incident led him to enlightenment.”