17 Facts About Incense

Incense is aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt.

Incense is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremony.

Incense is composed of aromatic plant materials, often combined with essential oils.

Incense was burnt to counteract or obscure malodorous products of human habitation, but was widely perceived to deter malevolent demons and appease the gods with its pleasant aroma.

Incense-burning was used both to create pleasing aromas and a medicinal tool.

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Incense was used by Chinese cultures from Neolithic times and became more widespread in the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties.

Incense usage reached its peak during the Song dynasty with numerous buildings erected specifically for incense ceremonies.

Incense is available in various forms and degrees of processing.

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.

Incense is used on special occasions like weddings or on Fridays or generally to perfume the house.

Incense-stick burning is an everyday practice in traditional Chinese religion.

Incense made from materials such as citronella can repel mosquitoes and other irritating, distracting, or pestilential insects.

Incense is used often by people who smoke indoors and do not want the smell to linger.

Incense clocks are used to time social, medical and religious practices in parts of eastern Asia.

Incense is claimed to cleanse and restore energy in healing stones.

Incense smoke contains various contaminants including gaseous pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds, and adsorbed toxic pollutants.

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.