A gentle incense scent...

Incense cones that release smoke. Photo: H. LIEN

Agarwood products, particularly agarwood incense sticks, are not only known for being used in traditional religious ceremonies but also for creating a fragrant aroma.

When incense cones are burned, a stream of smoke flows downwards because agarwood contains a large amount of essential oil, making it heavier than air. This essential oil is then released into the air along with the smoke, creating a pleasant aroma.

When burned, incense cones placed on an object called an "incense waterfall" release smoke, with the smoke flowing downwards like a beautiful waterfall. The Thành Công smoke-releasing incense cones, produced by the Trần Thị Kim Phượng business, were born from this trend and this refined pleasure.

According to Ms. Tran Thi Kim Phuong, the raw materials for producing agarwood incense sticks are Aquilaria and Litsea cubeba. Aquilaria trees produce agarwood when subjected to external factors such as storms, natural causes of tree injury, or fungal infections, releasing a fragrant resin that counteracts these attacks.

Over decades and centuries, the wounds on the tree will form agarwood. To build trust with customers and consumers, Ms. Phuong's establishment uses completely natural agarwood incense made from Aquilaria and Acacia auriculiformis trees grown in the mountainous forests of Dai Loc.

To create agarwood incense cones, two basic ingredients, Aquilaria wood and Litsea cubeba wood, must be ground and mixed together to give them the natural, characteristic aroma of agarwood.

According to the process, Thanh Cong agarwood incense cones are produced through steps such as: receiving raw materials (Aquilaria and Litsea cubeba), drying, cutting, grinding, mixing, molding, drying, packaging, labeling, and selling.

Besides burning incense cones in a smoke waterfall, burning incense cones on a ceramic, porcelain, or earthenware plate is the simplest and most common method. However, burning incense cones using a smoke waterfall is considered an elegant pastime by many.

When burned, agarwood incense cones produce smoke that spreads quickly and strongly, retaining the fragrance for quite a long time. Consumers tend to use this type of incense to spread its fragrance throughout a large space, such as for fumigating homes and offices, and for deodorizing effectively.

Depending on consumer preferences and budget, Ms. Phuong's establishment offers a variety of agarwood incense sticks to meet consumer tastes.

Some incense products have been accumulating resin for decades, resulting in different values and fragrance durations. In particular, special agarwood incense cones are made from Aquilaria trees that have accumulated resin for 30-35 years, offering the richest and longest-lasting fragrance.

Especially on important occasions like Tet (Vietnamese New Year) and other holidays, many people not only use agarwood incense for burning, but also give it as a gift with the meaning of bringing good luck and peace.

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