A Brief History of Burning Incense

Long before incense was sold in neatly wrapped boxes, people were burning plants, resins, and woods for very practical reasons. Ancient civilizations in China, India, Egypt, and the Middle East discovered that certain natural materials released pleasant aromas when burned. These scents helped mask unpleasant smells, repel insects, and preserve sacred spaces.

Over time, incense became closely tied to ritual and reflection. Temples, churches, and shrines across cultures used fragrant smoke as a way to mark moments of importance—prayer, meditation, remembrance, and transition. Smoke rises, disappears, and changes shape, making it a perfect symbol for ideas like impermanence, breath, and connection to something beyond the physical.

But incense was never only about religion. People also burned it at home, during gatherings, or simply to make daily life feel calmer and more refined.