I do find these incense coils the Chinese make, called "small auspicious cloud", to be quite delicate and charming. What a wonderful idea. And I only found out about them because David Hardy, owner of Ancient Wisdom, went on a little rant about Temu's import strategy which exploits a loophole in customs regulations.
I had been curious about Temu for a little while, but that rant just pushed me into exploring the company. I was also interested in discovering more about Chinese incense (of which I had a low opinion), and this seemed a cheap and easy way of doing it. My opinion of Chinese incense has improved, though not to the extent where I think I will be exploring much more, once my second Temu bundle has been used up - unless this bundle turns up something unexpected. Or unless someone directs me to some particularly interesting Chinese incense. I no longer think that Chinese incense is low quality. But I do feel that the scents are too delicate for my taste, and - mostly - are too simple. And, while my opinion of perfumed wood paste incense has improved, it's still not a style of incense that suits me, especially as burning wood releases carbons which damage the ozone layer, contributing to climate change, which is harming the planet, and killing people. I feel uncomfortable with the idea that burning wood for fun actually kills people. It takes away a fair degree of my pleasure. Indeed, I'm wondering if I should now totally stop buying incense which uses wood as a combustible. Use up what I have, but just don't buy any more. Only burn incense that uses coconut charcoal or biochar. India appears to be leading the way on this.
I had been curious about Temu for a little while, but that rant just pushed me into exploring the company. I was also interested in discovering more about Chinese incense (of which I had a low opinion), and this seemed a cheap and easy way of doing it. My opinion of Chinese incense has improved, though not to the extent where I think I will be exploring much more, once my second Temu bundle has been used up - unless this bundle turns up something unexpected. Or unless someone directs me to some particularly interesting Chinese incense. I no longer think that Chinese incense is low quality. But I do feel that the scents are too delicate for my taste, and - mostly - are too simple. And, while my opinion of perfumed wood paste incense has improved, it's still not a style of incense that suits me, especially as burning wood releases carbons which damage the ozone layer, contributing to climate change, which is harming the planet, and killing people. I feel uncomfortable with the idea that burning wood for fun actually kills people. It takes away a fair degree of my pleasure. Indeed, I'm wondering if I should now totally stop buying incense which uses wood as a combustible. Use up what I have, but just don't buy any more. Only burn incense that uses coconut charcoal or biochar. India appears to be leading the way on this.
Anyway. These small auspicious clouds. They are quite delicate. They break easily. And they are difficult to burn. But the coil incense holder - bought off Temu for just £1.19 - is ideal. And is quite funky looking.
This Ciqcai Dragon Blood Flower (sedum spurium) has a subtle and curious aroma - honey cake spikes in fenugreek and a bed of dried nettles. Mildly interesting. But not great. I've not enjoyed this Ciqcai branded incense as much as I enjoyed the "Fujian Incense" from my previous Temu bundle. But none of the Fujian Incense was small auspicious clouds. Perhaps its not the brand that's at fault, but the little coils. The scents in these clouds is just too delicate for my taste. Perhaps that is what is expected in China - just a hint of a fragrance. That's cool. But it's not for me. And if I get impatient and try to catch the fragrance quickly, all I get is the burning wood. This is an incense that needs to be burned and left alone to burn away - then the delicate flower scent remains in the room. But not for long. It's not my thing. And this scent has not engaged me at all.
This Ciqcai Dragon Blood Flower (sedum spurium) has a subtle and curious aroma - honey cake spikes in fenugreek and a bed of dried nettles. Mildly interesting. But not great. I've not enjoyed this Ciqcai branded incense as much as I enjoyed the "Fujian Incense" from my previous Temu bundle. But none of the Fujian Incense was small auspicious clouds. Perhaps its not the brand that's at fault, but the little coils. The scents in these clouds is just too delicate for my taste. Perhaps that is what is expected in China - just a hint of a fragrance. That's cool. But it's not for me. And if I get impatient and try to catch the fragrance quickly, all I get is the burning wood. This is an incense that needs to be burned and left alone to burn away - then the delicate flower scent remains in the room. But not for long. It's not my thing. And this scent has not engaged me at all.
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