Material

  • Myrrh

  • Frankincense

  • Pistacia Khinjuk

  • Borneol

  • Benzoin

  • Cinnamon

  • Clove

  • Turmeric

  • Spikenard

  • Sand Ginger

  • Agastaches

  • Patchouli

  • Foenum Graecum

  • Star Anise

  • Cuddy Shell

  • Musk

  • Ambergris

  • Narwhal Tusk

  • Calculus Bovis

Myrrh

Resin of Commiphora trees

Source
Arab region, Africa
Feature
One of the oldest incense materials. Used in ancient Egypt for embalming mummies. Effective as a sedative and as an anodyne
Use
incense (to be heated), preservatives etc.

Frankincense

Resin of boswellia carteri

Source
Arab region, Ethiopia, India etc.
Feature
One of the oldest incense materials. Still in use mainly at churches.
Use
incense (to be heated), incense sticks etc.

Pistacia Khinjuk

Resin of xunluxiang.

Source
India, Iran, Indonesia, etc.
Feature
Semi-fossil resin produced under the ground. Stored in Shosoin. Although it used to be an important incense material as one of the five-incense, it is no longer used frequently.
Use
Kneaded incense etc.

Borneol

Resin of borneol tree

Source
Indonesia
Feature
Crystallized white scale resin. Smells cool and fresh. Widely used in granulated incense, incense sticks etc. Effective as a repellent and as a preservative
Use
insect repellent sachets, scented sachets, granulated incense, incense sticks etc.

Benzoin

Resin of Benzoin tree that belongs to Styracaceae

Source
Thailand, Indonesia etc.
Feature
Used for keeping fragrance of incense and for cosmetics. It smells sweet and is effective for respiratory problems. Generally used in a ground form
Use
Kneaded incense, incense sticks, granulated incense etc.

Cinnamon

Bark of an evergreen that belongs to Lauraceae

Source
Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam
Feature
Used widely in various incense products. Used as a herbal medicine to treat stomach problems.
Use
Incense, food flavor, medicine

Clove

Bud of an evergreen that belongs to Myrtaceae

Source
Molucca Islands, Indonesia, East Africa
Feature
Called “丁字（Choji）” in Japanese as the bud looks like the character “丁” (“字” means “character”.) One of the popular spices used in cooking along with pepper. Effective as a preservative and for stomach problems
Use
Food flavor, medicine, incense sachets, incense sticks, granulated incense etc.

Turmeric

Rhizome of a perennial plant Turmeric of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae.

Source
India, South Asia
Feature
Used to be an important incense material as one of the five-incense in the Heian Period. Used as incense, dye and medicine. Famous as an ingredient of curry powder. Effective as a herbal medicine for stomach problems
Use
Dye, medicine, food coloring etc.

Spikenard

Root and stalk of a plant that belongs to Caprifoliaceae

Source
China, India etc.
Feature
The root is suitable for incense. The stalk is used as a herbal medicine for calming pain or treating stomach problems. Although its own smell is not a good one, when it is mixed with other incense it smells robust. Therefore it is used for mixed incense frequently.
Use
Incense sachets, incense sticks, granulated incense etc.

Sand Ginger

Root and stalk of a perennial that belongs to Zingiberaceae

Source
South of China
Feature
Used in dried slices. Effective as a repellent and used for protecting clothes from insects.
Use
Incense sachets, granulated incense etc.

Agastaches

Root and stalk of a Chinese plant

Source
China
Feature
Smells cool and fresh. Used in a ground form for mixed incense
Use
Incense sticks, molded incense, kneaded incense etc.

Patchouli

Leaf of a perennial that belongs to Lamiaceae

Source
Indonesia
Feature
Used mostly as essential oil and also for mixed incense. Commonly known as Patchouli. Effective as a repellent, an antipyretic and an anodyne
Use
Incense sachets etc.

Foenum Graecum

Leaf of a plant that belongs to Primulaceae

Source
China
Feature
Smells as strong as Nader Spikenar and is used as a spice in curry powder.
Use
Food flavor, incense powder etc.

Star Anise

Fruit of evergreen that belongs to Schisandraceae

Source
South China, North of the Indochina peninsula
Feature
Eight-point star shaped and used as a spice in Chinese food. Effective as a preservative and a herbal medicine for stomach problems
Use
Spice, incense sticks, incense sachets, granulated incense, molded incense etc.

Cuddy Shell

Operculum of spiral shell

Source
Africa
Feature
Used in a ground form for mixed incense. Plays an important role as a fragrance preservative.
Use
Kneaded incense, incense sticks etc.

Musk

Secretion of male Musk deer

Source
China, Nepal, Siberia
Feature
Although the smell of musk itself is hardly a good one, it changes to a great fragrance when considerably diluted. It is widely used for preserving fragrance. As natural musk is extremely expensive, synthetic musk is used in most cases except for high quality goods. Used in Chinese medicine as a cardiac stimulant
Use
Incense sachets, incense sticks, kneaded incense etc.

Ambergris

Secretion of sperm whales

Source
South Seas
Feature
Waxy substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. Used for preserving fragrance. Musk and ambergris are the two most important animal-derived incense materials. Effective as a cardiac stimulant and an anodyne
Use
medicine

Narwhal Tusk

Tusk of narwhals

Source
Arctic Ocean
Feature
An incisor tooth of the male narwhal developed to approx. 2m in length. Effective as an antipyretic and an antidote.
Use
medicine

Calculus Bovis

Gallstone

Source
Australia etc.
Feature
Calculi formed within the gallbladder or bile duct of an ox. About 1-4cm in size in a spherical or irregular shape. Effective as an antipyretic, a sedative or a cardiac stimulant.
Use
medicine