6 Fascinating Facts About Oriental Incense Sticks

The word incense is derived from incendere, a Latin word which means ‘to burn’. The reasons for burning incense have changed dramatically over time. Oriental incense sticks were previously used as part of ceremonial rituals in parts of China from as early as 2,000 BC. Nowadays, the burning of aromatic plant materials combined with essential oils is the most common way to create a fragrant paradise inside your home. Here are 6 fascinating facts about oriental incense sticks that you may not have known:

Incense Sticks Have Two Different Types of Burning

Oriental incense sticks come in two different types: direct (combustible incense) and indirect (non-combustible incense). Direct burning means that the incense will continue to burn away once initially lit and therefore requires no additional application of heat. By contrast, the traditionally used indirect burning incense is not made of combustible material and therefore requires a separate heat source.

Incense Sticks Can be Used as an Insect Repellent

The oil from lemongrass and citronella can be used as a repellent against flies and mosquitoes. Placing these low-burning citronella incense sticks in gardens, picnic areas and campsites throughout warm summer evenings will provide you with maximum protection against bites as they are toxic to insects.

Incense Comes in a Variety of Forms

Unknown to many, incense does not just come as sticks but comes in a number of different forms such as loose, coil and cone incense. The oldest form, loose incense, does require a constant supply of heat through materials such as charcoal to enable it to burn. Despite this, using loose incense can be beneficial as it allows individuals to create their own incense recipe according to personal preference.

Although used less in western cultures, the increasingly popular cone incense is another type of incense which emits a slightly different smell to what the traditional stick produces as there is nothing else burning apart from the raw materials.

Incense Sticks have Cultural Variations

The use of incense sticks varies between cultures, such as the Chinese and Japanese culture. For instance, within the Japanese culture, incense stick burning is often used within tea ceremonies. By contrast, within the Chinese culture, incense sticks are most commonly used for religious ceremonies as incense burning is an important component of Chinese religion. Despite this, the core ingredients of sandalwood and agarwood remain the same across both cultures.

Incense Sticks Can Act as a Time-keeping Device

The use of oriental incense sticks as an ‘incense clock’ is common in parts of China, Japan and Korea. Oriental incense sticks can be manufactured to a known rate of combustion, making them useful for time-keeping purposes. Although still used today for this purpose, one of the earliest reports of incense time-keepers was written in a diary entry in 1601 by Matteo Ricco, a founder of a mission in Beijing.

Incense Sticks Can be Used for Medicinal Purposes

Incense can have a positive effect on the mind and body through practices such as aromatherapy which can deliver healing benefits. Different incense fragrances are said to have different benefits. For example, frankincense is believed to help manage depression and anxiety, sandalwood thought to be effective in relieving stress and improving concentration, while a pine scent may assist in easing congestion associated with respiratory problems such as bronchitis.

If you are interested in using incense sticks, check out the full range of oriental incense sticks we have available online and instore!