Incense Varieties and the Charm of Brass Incense Burner

Incense varieties and the charm of Brass Incense Burner

Types Of Incense

I have always liked incense and have gradually learned about their types. Incense can be classified from different angles. For example, according to the shape, there are incense sticks, incense trays, etc., according to the raw materials, they can be divided into sandalwood, agarwood, etc. Therefore, a kind of incense can often be classified into several categories. For example, incense sticks made of natural sandalwood are ‘incense sticks’ in terms of shape, ‘sandalwood’ in terms of raw materials, and ‘natural incense’ in terms of natural properties.

Classification According To The Natural Properties Of Raw Materials

Incense has a very long history and a wide range of uses. I found that different combinations of spices can create a variety of fragrances. At first, people directly used a single sandalwood or agarwood to make incense. Later, they gradually developed perfume blending technology to mix two or more spices together to create a richer world of fragrance.

Single-Product Incense

Single-product incense is an incense made directly from only one spice. Common wood blocks or powders include sandalwood and agarwood. This type of incense focuses on the unique aroma and effect of the spice itself, and will not be mixed with other spices. However, some single-product incense is easy to be a bit dry. Although the fragrance is pure, it may not really help meditation or healing, so there are more restrictions on its use.

The most common single-product incense now is agarwood. I particularly like agarwood because its smell is very mild, which can make people relax, and there is very little smoke when burning, which is considered a very high-quality single-product incense.

In order to use it more conveniently, many people (including myself) like to grind various incense materials into powder, and then make them into stick incense, cone incense, coil incense, sheet incense, pill incense, etc., which is simple and comfortable to light.

 

Harmonious Incense

Harmonious incense, also called combined incense, is an incense made by combining several spices together. Every time I go to the temple, I can always smell the kind of calming fragrance. Many of them are made of sandalwood, agarwood, and other spices.

Harmonious incense is generally made with only plant-based spices, and there is a fixed formula. Most of them do not add animal secretions or some strange-smelling ingredients. Each kind of incense has its own specific effect and its own name, such as the incense for removing obstacles, the incense for Manjusri, the incense for medicine, etc. However, just by listening to the name, you may not know what specific materials or flavors are used.

In the secret rituals of Buddhism, the five spices of sandalwood, agarwood, cloves, turmeric, and camphor are mixed together according to the proportion. This is called ‘five spices’ and is a very common kind of incense.

According to the records of Buddhist classics, making incense for Buddha is as particular as making medicine. Many kinds of natural spices and medicinal materials are often used, such as sandalwood, agarwood, cloves, wood fragrance, camphor, myrrh, etc., and some are added with precious minerals such as gold and silver. Moreover, the proportion and processing method of each ingredient are strictly regulated, and chemical spices are not added casually, which truly retains the most natural power of incense.

 

Brass Incense Burner: The Years Carried In The Ancient Agarwood

I especially like to collect incense burners, especially brass incense burners. It is like a pearl that has been precipitated for years, exuding a unique and charming charm. Brass incense burners are not only practical for burning incense, but also incorporate culture, art, and the flavor of history.

The Texture And Color Of Brass

Brass is a very special metal. It is strong and shiny. Even after many years, it can still remain the same, witnessing the stories of generations. Its color is sometimes like warm sunshine, and sometimes like deep bronze, flowing with a different beauty in the light and shadow.

 

The Beauty Of Various Shapes

The shapes of brass incense burners are really varied. Some are simple and majestic, such as the antique tripod-style furnace, which has symmetrical ears and three legs, which reminds people of the heavy sense of history at a glance. Some have smooth lines, such as the cauldron-style furnace, which has a round body and outward-slanting edges, which is simple and elegant. There are also small piano furnaces designed for literati, playing the piano while burning incense, which is very romantic just by imagining it.

 

Exquisite Decorative Craftsmanship

Many brass incense burners are also carved with fine patterns, some with lifelike flowers, birds, fish and insects, and some with auspicious cloud patterns and auspicious beasts. Craftsmen are like painting with a knife, carefully carving on brass. Some incense burners also use inlaid gold and silver crafts to embed gold and silver wires into the body of the burner. The patterns are gorgeous and elegant, making the incense burner itself a work of art.

 

Multiple Uses Of Ancient Incense Burners

In ancient times, brass incense burners had many uses. In temples, it is an important instrument for gods, and the smoke seems to connect the bridge between people and gods. In the study of literati, it is an elegant object on the table. Reading, painting, and lighting incense can make the mood more peaceful. In the halls of wealthy families, it is also a symbol of status and taste. An exquisite incense burner placed there can add an elegant atmosphere to the entire room.

As time goes by, the brass incense burner is no longer just an instrument for burning incense, it has become a carrier of culture and history. Behind every incense burner, there may be a touching story, it may be the painstaking work of a craftsman, or it may be a treasure that a family has treasured for generations.

 

Scenarios Of Incense Use And Mental Healing

In my daily life, incense has long been an item for blessing and offering. They also have become my little helper for spiritual healing. Different types of incense can bring unexpected sense of stability and comfort in different scenarios.

For example, after a busy day, I like to light a stick of agarwood incense and let the curling smoke slowly diffuse in the room. The warm and lingering fragrance seems to slowly take away the fatigue of the whole day and calm the mood. Especially in autumn and winter, the wind outside is cold and the fire inside is slightly warm. A wisp of warm fragrance is more like a silent companion.

The brass incense burner has become an indispensable part of all this ritual. It carries the fragrance, and also carries my respect and love for the details of life. The fire is warm and the incense is lingering. Every time I light incense, it is like a small ceremony, allowing me to find a moment of tranquility in the chaotic world.

Incense products are not just incense. They are a life attitude and a soothing of the soul. Whether in the bells of the temple or in a corner of the study, I can feel the gentle and firm power that spans ancient and modern times.