Did you know? Incense isn't just about burning. In traditional Chinese incense appreciation culture, there are different ways to enjoy incense at different temperatures. Cold incense, warm incense, and high-temperature incense each have their characteristics and suitable materials.
Cold Incense (Room Temperature)
Cold incense, enjoyed at room temperature, is the most natural way to appreciate fragrance. Suitable materials for cold incense include aromatic woods like sandalwood and agarwood, dry flowers as well as resinous fragrances, such as benzoin, frankincense. These materials are often made into sachet, bracelets, pendants, or handheld pieces, and their fragrance is released through slight heating from friction or body temperature. Cold incense does not require an external heat source, making it ideal for everyday wear or carry, allowing one to enjoy natural fragrances at any time.
Warm Incense (80-160 degrees)
Warm incense is more forgiving in temperature control, typically ranging from 80 to 160 degrees, without the worry of scorching or smoke irritation. At this temperature, most natural floral materials can retain their original scent, suitable for high-oil-content woods like kyara (highest grade of agarwood). Warm incense materials include incense chips, honeyed pills, and powders, heated by charcoal or electric heat sources, releasing a delicate and lasting aroma.
High-Temperature Incense (Burning Incense)
High-temperature incense releases fragrance by directly igniting the incense materials and is suitable for forms such as stick incense, coil incense, incense seals, and cone incense. Burning incense is the most challenging practice in the art of incense due to the rapid and intense combustion reaction, which makes it difficult for many natural flowers and fruits to maintain their original scent. The scent of incense woods also becomes more uncontrollable at high temperatures, making a thorough understanding of the materials and the pre-burning processing of the incense materials particularly important. Processing can remove unpleasant odors and enhance the purity and complexity of the fragrance. In incense making, it is also necessary to consider the coverage and balance of aromas between materials, making the craftsmanship of high-temperature incense more complex.
The allure of incense lies in the fact that each type of incense material displays different scents at different temperature ranges, and the proportion of blends can vary infinitely, leading to a diverse array of ways to appreciate incense. Appreciating incense is not just about burning; bring the natural fragrances into your room in the way you like best.