Quiet Xiang 香事志 · Chinese incense field notes

中国香事 · Cultural library

Chinese Incense

Explore Chinese incense through its materials, history, objects, and place in everyday life. Begin with a subject, then follow the questions that matter to you.

Editor's introduction

Chinese Incense: A Culture of Scent and Craft Foundations · 5 min read

Chinese Incense: A Culture of Scent and Craft

From the blending of aromatics to finely made vessels and books devoted to fragrance, Chinese incense opens a window onto a rich culture of making, appreciating and living with scent.

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All articles

7 articles
Chinese Incense vs Japanese Incense vs Indian Incense Foundations Chinese Incense vs Japanese Incense vs Indian Incense Compare Chinese, Japanese, and Indian incense by scent, construction, smoke, and room fit—and choose the right place to begin. 8 min read · Read article Agarwood vs Sandalwood Incense: What’s the Difference? Materials & Craft Agarwood vs Sandalwood Incense: What’s the Difference? Compare agarwood and sandalwood incense: what the materials are, how to read scent descriptions, why prices differ, and how to choose your first sample. 4 min read · Read article Bamboo-Core vs Coreless Incense: Which Should You Choose? Materials & Craft Bamboo-Core vs Coreless Incense: Which Should You Choose? Learn how to tell bamboo-cored and coreless incense apart, what each means for scent, and whether the sticks will fit your holder. 3 min read · Read article What Is Natural Incense? Ingredients and Labels Explained Materials & Craft What Is Natural Incense? Ingredients and Labels Explained Shopping for natural incense sticks? Learn what ingredient claims mean, how organic labels differ, and which three questions to ask before buying. 4 min read · Read article Is Expensive Incense Worth It? Materials & Craft Is Expensive Incense Worth It? Where incense price differences may come from—and when scent, a well-chosen holder, or gift packaging is worth paying more for. 5 min read · Read article Why Is Incense Sometimes Part of a Chinese Tea Setting? Rooms & Rituals Why Is Incense Sometimes Part of a Chinese Tea Setting? A gathering imagined by the Ming painter Wen Zhengming offers a way to understand tea, incense, and the pleasure of company. 3 min read · Read article Why Was Incense Part of the Chinese Scholar’s Study? Rooms & Rituals Why Was Incense Part of the Chinese Scholar’s Study? One burner, a few incense boxes, a change of material with the seasons: a late Ming writer’s precise preferences offer a glimpse of incense’s place in the Chinese study. 4 min read · Read article

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