For millennia, on all continents, men have fumigated to honor God, increase their level of consciousness and heal themselves. Whether they were shamans in Asia or America, sorcerers in Africa or priests in Egypt, they had discovered that the smoke of certain woods and plants could bring serenity, inner peace, which is the foundation of well-being. The word “health” comes from the Indian shanti, which means inner peace.

The term “incense”, from the Latin incendere (to burn), refers to woods, plants and gums which give off perfumes when consumed. But true frankincense, or frankincense, is resin from trees in the boswellia family, which only grow in a few areas of Sudan, Ethiopia, Yemen and Somalia.

When incense is consumed, the odorous molecules, located just below the point of incandescence, are agitated by the heat and diffused without burning. Their journey is rapid: when they reach the nasal cavities, they trigger a signal that the olfactory nerve will directly transmit to the limbic brain, the seat of our emotions. “This is what explains their effect on our feelings and moods.” But they also act on our neurovegetative system and on the regulation of our hormones. Some incense has an antibacterial action, passing into the blood through the lungs. In ancient Egypt, oliban was used to treat lung and liver diseases.
In India, in the street, even beggars have their sticks for their devotions. In Japan, we “listen” to incense with different smells depending on the season. And with us, as if we unconsciously felt its virtues, everyone invents their own rituals, reconnects in their own way with ancient traditions. Beyond the religious or therapeutic gesture, incense remains a harmony that we can carry with us.

Which incense for which moment?

To purify the house: frankincense, myrrh, benzoin, sage.
To calm down: benzoin, sandalwood, storax and cinnamon.
For better sleep: sandalwood, cinnamon and agarwood.
To meditate: olibanum, mastic, cedar, sandalwood, myrtle, agarwood.