Among the many choices of incense, handcrafted incense is highly esteemed for its traditional craftsmanship and pure natural ingredients. In contrast, chemical incense may be cheaper but can contain substances harmful to human health. Here are five common techniques to distinguish between the two.
1. Naturalness of Color
Handcrafted incense usually retains the color of its natural ingredients, typically a natural brown, with soft and uniform hues, without overly bright colors. Chemical incense, aiming to attract consumers' attention, may add artificial dyes, resulting in a variety of colors such as pink, green, purple, etc., which are not found in natural materials.
2. Texture Differences
Handcrafted incense, made with pure natural powders and binders, has a consistent and compact texture. It feels somewhat coarse to the touch, allowing one to sense the texture of the natural materials. Chemical incense, which may include synthetic materials, tends to have an overly smooth or uniform texture.
3. Ash Texture
After burning, the ash of handcrafted incense is typically light, fine, and easily scattered, due to the absence of chemical binders. The ash from chemical incense may be coarse and sometimes clumpy, likely a result of the burned chemical binders.
4. Scent Before Burning
Unlit handcrafted incense usually has a quite faint aroma, with the original scents of plants or wood detectable. Chemical incense may emit a stronger fragrance of synthetic essences, without the smell of natural aromatic materials, due to the addition of artificial fragrances.
5. Naturalness of Aroma
Once lit, handcrafted incense releases a pure and lasting fragrance. The scent is released slowly over time, gradually filling the space and lingering longer. In contrast, the scent of chemical incense may be abruptly intense and dissipate quickly, leaving behind a chemical residue.