Chinese Incense

 

Incense, Inkstone, and Flowers by Liu Xiling

There are records concerning the burning of incense in China going back as far as the Xia dynasty (2070 - 1600 BC), though incense burning goes back further than that - plant burning is known to have occurred 4000 BC, and there are incense burners surviving from 3000 BC.  Incense burning developed and increased during the Han period with active trading along the Silk Road to Persia.  Incense reached its height during the Song dynasty, with rich people constructing special rooms dedicated just to burning incense. 

Incense is widely used in China today, with thousands of small producers. Incense is popular for ceremonies and temples, and much incense is designed to look attractive. A report on incense production in Yongchun, a part of the city of Quanzhou in the South-east of China, with a population less than 500,000, has "more than 300 incense manufacturers" making approx $1.4 billion worth of incense annually, though very little of that gets exported. 

The Chinese incense I have experienced has been low, everyday quality. Made to look pretty, and sold in volume to be burned several sticks at the same time, with more of an emphasis on appearance, smoke, and the act of burning, than on fragrancing the home. The Chinese follow the Asian tradition of using wood powder blended with joss powder and perfumed lightly with fragrance oils. Sandalwood is widely used as the wood powder, though mostly the sandalwood used doesn't contain much oil. 

Reviews

*= Review over 5 years old, so may not be reliable

Yujing Mou Dan (Peony Fragrance) Joss Sticks (P)
 Nov 2024 - Score: 22

   

Dr. Jieer Incense Cone All Handmade 6 Color
Oct 2022 - Score: 22

 

SHHT GmbH Incense Cones
Oct 2022 - Score: 22 

   

Jin Wan Lai Wealth Offering
Aug 2013 - Score: 22*

   

BML Aromatize Incense Sticks

June 2014  Score: 20*

    

Chan Luen Hing San Po Joss Sticks (D)
Nov 2024 - Score: 20

   

Hebei Gucheng Sandalwood Incense Coils
Feb 2017 - Score: 19*

     

Backflow cones from China (P)
Dec 2017 - Score: 02*

Scents burned: 8
Top score: 22
Bottom score:  02

Average: 18

Conclusion: I'm not a fan of wood based incense, especially when the wood is not fragrant. There is a long tradition, and a significant culture of incense in China, so I'm still interested in the country, but I've not yet found an incense that has really impressed me. 

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Incense by Country