By Kristen Owen

Incense burning is a time honored tradition. Since ancient times incense has been used for cultural, religious, and spiritual reasons. Today incense remains popular worldwide, for olfactory satisfaction as well as traditional service.

Benefits of incense range abundantly. Scent, a most primordial sense, often moves us beyond reason to experiences including psychological rejuvenation and enhanced sensory reception. Scents also capture and recall pleasant memories increasing the desire for nostalgic fragrances.

Quality incense makes a perfect gift for a house-warming or birthday party, anniversaries or even weddings. Naturally incense would make the perfect complement to any home. Choose a scent you enjoy to enhance the mood and atmosphere you wish to create.

Continuing with the creative theme, incense fragrance is deemed a note. Incense scents evolve throughout the burning process. No stagnant scents or one-notes here. The top note starts it off progressing to the middle note and finishes with the base note. Each note carries a distinct fragrance and intensity which persists for predetermined length of time. The notes’ evolution enhances the overall experience of the incense.

The top note is the introductory fragrance; high and strong yet short lived. Top notes are emited prior to burning. A dry stick or cone carries the top note until lighting commences. The top note fades quickly once burning begins and is referred to as low-persistence.

The medium note mingles the top and base notes, lasts longer than the top note though is less persistent than the base note. Medium notes surface shortly after the incense begins burning. Slowly the medium note melts into the base note, a perfect harmony playing for the senses.

Base notes linger long after the incense has burned to ashes. This remaining scent is often woody and earthy, creating a tranquil atmosphere for spiritual and mental relaxation. The note combinations vary from one fragrance to another, allowing the individual to select and personalize each sensory experience.

Selecting incense utilizes an array of senses and preferences. From the style of incense, be it stick or cone, coil or otherwise to burner selection, simple or intricate, artistic or novelty, individuals create the experience. Uses of incense are about as abundant as scent selection, including religious and spiritual uses, perfuming a space or even for meditative or relaxation purposes. Memories derived from a specific sent can influence scent style as well.

Consider offering incense for any number of reasons: aromatherapy, inspiration, or as an introduction to your favorite scents. Burn incense to boost your environment. Give incense as a gift you can share. Compliment incense with a selection of burners and incense styles. Incense’s versatility makes it the perfect gift for all occasions. There’s no better gift than a healthier environment, a sound mind, and a nostalgic air. Our ancestors embraced the power of incense, a tradition hundreds of thousands of years in the making can’t be wrong!

Kristen Owen writes for ContentWorth (http://www.contentworth.com) and freelance. She is a work-at-home mother with a broad spectrum of writing, from SEO to incense, child bearing to viral marketing. For details or to contact Kristen please email kowen[at]contentworth[dot]com.