Incense in grains and resins

Scientific Name: Agarwood

Family: Aquilaria - Thymelaeaceae

Origin: Southeast Asia

Color: Light brown

Aroma: Musky, caramel, woody

Properties: Antiasthmatic, expectorant, antiemetic and anti-nausea

Quantity: 50 grams

Oud or agarwood (or ūd, from Arabic) is a very precious resin produced by a tree of the Aquilaria family – now endangered – when it is attacked by fungi or molds.

Among the most precious woods in the world, oud is used to create the highest quality incense ever produced in perfumery.

The star aroma of oriental perfumes, it has always been used by Arab, Indian, and Japanese populations in religious rituals.

The Arabs have always used it also as a main ingredient for the creation of fragrances for men and women.

This precious essence presents musky, root, and earthy nuances, but also sweet notes such as cocoa, caramel, honey, incense, and vanilla.

Fun Fact:

The name oudh or oud is used in the United Arab Emirates to define both agar wood (agarwood) and the fragrant oil derived from it.

A mythical and precious material, it has been known since time immemorial in different cultures and religions such as Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Taoism, Sufism, as well as in the medicinal practices of Ayurveda, Arabic, Tibetan, and Chinese medicine.

The use of agar wood is mentioned in the oldest Indian Vedas (2000 BC), as well as the use of the word aloe (another name used to refer to agar wood) is reported numerous times in the Old Testament.

Also known as “Wood of the Gods” or “King of Incenses”, agarwood is identified by different names depending on the countries in which it is produced and used: as already mentioned oud or oudh in the United Arab Emirates, gaharu in Malaysia and India, jinko in Japan, eaglewood or aloeswood in Indonesia, chen xiang in China.

Chemically, the smell of oud is composed of a complex mixture of different sesquiterpenes and their derivatives (mostly α and δ guaienes, α humulene), agarofurane, agarospirols, and several oxygenated compounds based on the structure of phenylethylchromones.

The resulting olfactory profile is rich and complex and varies between sweet, balsamic, earthy, moldy, manure, leather, smoky, bitter, spicy, woody, and animalic characteristics; a profile that varies depending on the species of tree that produces the resinous wood from which the oil is extracted, as well as the technique and expertise used in hydro-distillation.

Use of the resin: to burn it, it is necessary to use charcoal briquettes. They must be lit with a flame from a lighter or stove, so it is recommended to use tongs or similar to avoid unpleasant burns. When the charcoal begins to ignite over the entire surface, it is time to place it in the burner to burn the resin and add the resin itself.

Experts recommend putting a little sand around the essence burner to help it dissipate heat better.

Scientific Name: Agarwood

Family: Aquilaria - Thymelaeaceae

Origin: Southeast Asia

Color: Light brown

Aroma: Musky, caramel, woody

Properties: Antiasthmatic, expectorant, antiemetic and anti-nausea

Quantity: 10 grams

Oud or agarwood (or ūd, from Arabic) is a very precious resin produced by a tree of the Aquilaria family – now endangered – when it is attacked by fungi or molds.

Among the most precious woods in the world, oud is used to create the highest quality incense ever produced in perfumery.

The star aroma of oriental perfumes, it has always been used by Arab, Indian, and Japanese populations in religious rituals.

The Arabs have always used it as a main ingredient in the creation of fragrances for men and women.

This precious essence presents musky, root, and earthy nuances, but also sweet notes such as cocoa, caramel, honey, incense, and vanilla.

Fun Fact:

The name oudh or oud is used in the United Arab Emirates to refer to both agar wood (agarwood) and the fragrant oil derived from it.

A mythical and precious material, it has been known since time immemorial in various cultures and religions such as Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Taoism, Sufism, as well as in the medicinal practices of Ayurveda, Arabic, Tibetan, and Chinese medicine.

The use of agar wood is mentioned in the oldest Indian Vedas (2000 BC), as well as the use of the word aloe (another name used to refer to agar wood) is reported numerous times in the Old Testament.

Also known as “Wood of the Gods” or “King of Incenses”, agarwood is identified by different names depending on the countries where it is produced and used: as already mentioned, oud or oudh in the United Arab Emirates, gaharu in Malaysia and India, jinko in Japan, eaglewood or aloeswood in Indonesia, chen xiang in China.

Chemically, the smell of oud consists of a complex mixture of different sesquiterpenes and their derivatives (mostly α and δ guaienes, α humulene), agarofurane, agarospirols, and several oxygenated compounds based on the structure of phenylethylchromones.

The resulting olfactory profile is rich and complex and varies between sweet, balsamic, earthy, moldy, barnyard, leather, smoky, bitter, spicy, woody, and animalic characteristics; a profile that varies depending on the species of tree that produces the resinous wood from which the oil is extracted, as well as the technique and expertise used in hydro-distillation.

Use of the resin: to burn it, charcoal briquettes must be used. They should be lit with a flame from a lighter or stove, so it is recommended to use tongs or similar to avoid unpleasant burns. When the charcoal begins to ignite over the entire surface, it is time to place it in the burner to burn the resin and add the resin itself.

Experts recommend putting a little sand around the essence burner to help it dissipate heat better.

Origin: Greece

Color: Gray

Aroma: Floral, Fresh

Properties: Relaxing, Harmonizing, against anxiety and insomnia

Quantity: 50 grams

Characteristics: Its essence, among the most difficult to distill, produces confidence and harmony, encouraging the meeting of pure and sensual love.

Base ingredients: incense resins, myrrh, benzoin, fragrant essences.

Properties and benefits

Harmonizing, when inhaled, it opens and strengthens the heart, rose essential oil relaxes the soul and activates the disposition for tenderness and love, because it develops patience, devotion and self-esteem. It brings joy and drives away negative thoughts, balancing negative emotions caused by anger, jealousy and stress. The scent of the essence is a wonderful psychological and physical support during pregnancy: excellent for accompanying women during childbirth and welcoming the newborn with sweetness and love. During menopause, it helps alleviate depression and sadness.

Use of the resin: to burn it, charcoal discs must be used. They should be lit with a lighter or stove flame, so it is recommended to use tongs or similar to avoid unpleasant burns. When the charcoal begins to ignite over the entire surface, it is time to place it in the burner bowl to burn the resin and add the resin itself.

Experts recommend placing a little sand around the essence burner bowl to help it dissipate heat better.

Scientific Name: Commiphora myrrha

Family: Burseraceae

Origin: Somalia, Sudan, Yemen

Color: Amber

Aroma: Exotic, woody, slightly spicy

Properties: Antiseptic, Cicatrizing, Stimulating

Quantity: 50 grams

Myrrh is a very thorny shrub that grows in Northeast Africa and has grayish bark and thorny branches.

It produces a large number of flowers (white and small) and nodules, especially in summer, from which the plant exudes a yellowish liquid that collects around the trunk. As the liquid dries, it gradually solidifies and becomes the resin we all know: myrrh.

Fun Fact

In the past, the resin obtained from the plant was used orally as a carminative, expectorant, digestive aid, and urinary disinfectant; however, these uses have now been abandoned due to a lack of data on the safety of myrrh.

The plant was also used as a room fragrance, as an insecticide, and even during funeral ceremonies for embalming.

Myrrh tincture is a specific remedy (for external use) for gingivitis, pyorrhea, canker sores, stomatitis, and tonsillitis; it can also be used to treat abrasions, wounds, skin ulcers, boils, and acne.

Main benefits of Myrrh oil:

• Cicatrizing
• Carminative
• Expectorant
• Digestive
• Urinary disinfectant
• Antiseptic

Using the resin: to burn it, you need to use charcoal briquettes. They should be lit with a lighter or stove flame, so it is recommended to use tongs or similar to avoid unpleasant burns. When the charcoal begins to ignite over the entire surface, it is time to place it in the incense burner to burn the resin and add the resin itself.

Experts recommend placing a little sand around the base of the incense burner to help dissipate the heat.

All resins are sold in 50-gram bags.

Scientific Name: Boswellia serrata

Family: Burseraceae

Origin: Somalia

Color: Very light yellow

Aroma: Resinous, Balsamic

Properties: Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, healing, sedative, tonic, expectorant.

Quantity: 50 grams

Frankincense (whose name refers to its preeminence as the "true" or "frank" incense) is also known as olibanum, a term derived from the Arabic al-lubán ("the milk"), a reference to the milky substance extracted from the tree.

Some texts specify that olibanum is extracted from Boswellia serrata and has a characteristic citrus scent, but on a commercial level, the distinction is somewhat arbitrary. There are several types of frankincense depending on the plant species and the time of harvest.

Fun Fact:

It is interesting to note that frankincense has always been highly sought after, and history tells us many fascinating things about how ancient cultures used it. Tradition tells us that in Babylon, about 60,000 pounds of frankincense resin were burned every year for its aromas and its role in rituals. We also see the Magi bringing incense along with gold and myrrh to the baby Jesus, and since frankincense was the mixture used at the time and they had brought myrrh, it can therefore be inferred that the incense spoken of was frankincense and it was more than an expensive and fragrant gift, the benefits of frankincense essential oil are well documented and have made this tree resin famous to this day.

Ayurvedic medicine has used frankincense (referred to as "dhoop" and used as "dhoopan") for centuries for the healing of wounds, female hormonal problems, arthritis, and air purification. In many cultures such as Somali, Ethiopian, Arab, and Indian, the benefits of frankincense essential oil have a daily use. It is said that burning it in the home brings good health conditions, and burning it in the evening purifies the house and the clothing of the residents.

Main benefits of frankincense oil:

• Helps reduce stress and negative emotions
• Helps boost the functions of the immune system
• Astringent and can kill harmful germs and bacteria
• Cares for the skin and prevents signs of aging
• Improves memory

Use of the resin: to burn it, charcoal discs must be used. They should be lit with a flame from a lighter or stove, so it is recommended to use tongs or similar to avoid unpleasant burns. When the charcoal begins to ignite over the entire surface, it is time to place it in the burner to burn the resin and add the resin itself.

Experts recommend putting a little sand around the essence burner to help it dissipate heat better.

All resins are sold in 50-gram bags.

Scientific Name: Valeriana officinalis

Family: Valerianaceae

Origin: America

Color: Brown

Aroma: Spicy, pungent

Properties: Sedative, relaxing and sleep-inducing

Quantity: 50 g

Natural incense can be used in various purification rituals. It is suitable for burning on charcoal or in special incense burners.

Valerian has sedative, relaxing and sleep-inducing properties and can help over time to reduce symptoms related to anxiety and restlessness and to improve the timing and duration of sleep.

Element: Water

Main effect on: Body

Use

Suitable for burning on a heat-resistant plate with charcoal or in an incense burner with a sieve. The burning process in an incense burner with a sieve is slower than on charcoal. The incense can easily be mixed with other varieties of incense.

Scientific Name: Inula helenium

Family: Asteraceae

Origin: Europe, Asia, North Africa

Color: Yellow

Aroma: Herbal

Properties: Mucolytic, diuretic, digestive

Quantity: 30 ml

Properties of St. John's wort

The root of St. John's wort (or helenium) contains 1-3% essential oil (composed of sesquiterpene lactones, allantolactones, and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons), sterols (beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol), mucilage, pectins, ascorbic acid, and is one of the most notable sources of inulin (44%), which is highly important in medicine.

For internal use, the presence of essential oil gives St. John's wort an eupeptic action indicated for difficult digestion and loss of appetite; but above all, the plant is renowned for the antiseptic, fluidifying, and expectorant properties of phlegm, useful for the treatment of respiratory tract disorders, in the presence of cough and acute and chronic colds and bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema.

The mixture of allantolactones is called helenin or helenium camphor, and in addition to having anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, it performs antifungal, anthelmintic, and diuretic activities, helping the elimination of urea and chlorides; for this reason, the use of St. John's wort is also indicated for gout and some rheumatic conditions.

For external use, decoctions and ointments based on St. John's wort are remedies for the treatment of itching resulting from eczema, skin diseases, dermatitis, various forms of herpes labialis, and skin eruptions in general.

Description of the plant

Perennial herbaceous plant with a large, fleshy, branched rhizome and a very robust stem, 100-200 cm tall, villous, branched, and corymbose. The leaves are large; oblong, toothed, scabrous on the upper side, and tomentose on the lower surface, the lower ones petiolate and the upper ones sessile. The flowers have golden-yellow flower heads. The fruits are glabrous achenes, lacking pappus.

The habitat of St. John's wort

Native to Central Asia, in Europe it is widespread especially in the southern regions where it was cultivated in the past for medicinal purposes and then spread spontaneously throughout the Mediterranean basin. In Italy, it is present in the north, the center, and partly in southern Italy. It prefers ruderal places and damp woodlands, coppice environments, and ditches; but also hygrophilous meadows and pastures.

Historical notes

The name of the species helenium seems to derive from the Greek name Helen, who according to legend squeezed the plant in her hand when she set sail for Troy. The currently accepted scientific binomial (Inula helenium) was proposed by Carl von Linné in the publication Species Plantarum in 1753. According to Pliny: "It is said that helenium was born from the tears of Helen, and helenium is attributed cosmetic virtues: it keeps the female skin perfect, nourishing it, both on the face and the body. Furthermore, they say that its use gives women beauty and a sensual charm..." Since the plant was somehow connected to the events of Helen of Troy, the great Roman historian and naturalist thought to attribute cosmetic virtues to the plant, even though in reality, it has nothing to do with female beauty. However, St. John's wort is cited as an effective remedy by all the authors of Antiquity (from Dioscorides to Albertus Magnus) and in every Pharmacopoeia for its calming, expectorant, and diuretic properties of cough. Used since antiquity for the production of liqueurs, the wine of St. John's wort is famous, used as an aperitif, which is obtained by adding a percentage of dried root to the wine. In Alsace, reps is still produced today, a beverage prepared by macerating the root in must. In fact, once the root of this plant was used by doctors as a stomachic (facilitates digestive function), vermifuge (eliminates intestinal worms), tonic (strengthens the body in general), diuretic (facilitates the release of urine), and generally resolutive. It was also used both to dye cotton or linen clothes blue, and as a mordant in dyes with the addition of blackberry brambles. Today, for the large-flowered variety, it is also used in gardens to create large patches of color. At the beginning of the 1900s, inulin, a polysaccharide, was isolated from the phytocomplex of the St. John's wort root, with its notable rebalancing properties of the bacterial flora, because it is able to increase the density of bifidobacteria and decrease that of harmful bacteria.

Use

Suitable for being burned on a heat-resistant saucer with charcoal or on an incense burner with a sieve. The combustion process on an incense burner with a sieve is slower compared to charcoal. The incense can easily be mixed with other varieties of incense.

1 bag of Queen of Heaven in 50-gram granules

Queen of Heaven incense can be burned during meditation and prayer.

Also very suitable for all energy and purification practices.

Quantity: 50 grams

Incense resins are natural substances such as frankincense, copal, myrrh, etc., that are harvested from trees.

The resin is usually obtained from living trees through "tapping".

This is done sustainably so that the tree continues to thrive. Fresh resins are often fragrant, although some resins do not give off much scent until they are burned.

The best way to burn incense resins is to place them on a charcoal disc.