Incense is a preparation of aromatic plant matter, often with the addition of essential oils extracted from plant or animal sources, intended to release fragrant smoke for religious, therapeutic, or simply aesthetic purposes as it smolders.
Powdered or granulated incense is thrown onto hot coals or into a censer or thurible. Incense is also available in a more convenient stick, cone or wedge form; with these, one sets the incense on fire and then extinguishes the flame so that the incense continues to glow and smoke.
Fragrances used include:
agarwood
amber
ambergris
gum benzoin
camphor
cedar
clove
copal
frankincense
galbanum
jasmine
juniper
labdanum or ladanum (rockrose)
myrrh
musk
nutmeg
patchouli
rose
sandalwood
storax
Dangers
Some incense smoke may contain very small amounts of PM10 and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).
