Agarwood, an incense whose origins are shrouded in the mysteries of the ancient, owes its unshakeable status in Chinese culture to its unique fragrance and cultural connotations. It is said that agarwood, also known as “oud” in English and other languages, was first introduced to China’s Central Plains alongside frankincense, pepper, and other spices and incenses by Zhang Qian, an early diplomat operating in Central Asia during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (156-87 BCE). Its elegant bouquet and scarcity secured its place as the incense of choice among the nobility, leading to its eventual popularity across China.

The height of agarwood’s fame came during the Tang Dynasty (618-607 CE) when elaborate incense customs were prevalent at court. Offered as a tribute to emperors, agarwood flowed into the capital Chang’an, its fragrance emanating into every corner of the palace. The women at court would fumigate their clothing with agarwood smoke, while nobles would appraise the quality of different varieties, both testament to the incense’s key role in court life.

The Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE) saw the practice of burning incense formalized as one of the “four domestic arts,” alongside serving tea, hanging paintings, and flower arranging, becoming an indispensable ritual among the well-heeled and well-read. Lighting incense was now an intellectual and spiritual pursuit that saw agarwood elevated to a subject of poetry and other literary musings. Scholars would ascribe various metaphysical qualities to the incense as it became a central medium in their spiritual practices. For them, nothing could bring them greater inner peace after a busy day than immersing themselves in the heady aroma of agarwood.

As incense production technology advanced and ways of experiencing incense diversified during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911), agarwood gained the “common” touch, bursting out from the palace gates and into wider society. Craftspeople made various stationery and objects from Aquilaria tree heartwood (from which agarwood incense is derived), such as brush pots and paperweights, melding the cultural with the practical. The resinous, caramel-colored heartwood was also favored by highly skilled artisans who carved it into prized art pieces that showed off the wood’s unique charms.

Burning and inhaling agarwood incense follows a ritualized process. First, the person should bow to the censer before loosening the ashes contained therein and wiping the rim. Then, the cinder block is placed inside before the ashes are piled up and compressed. A well is formed, as well as channels to allow the fire source to breathe. The person then bows to the incense before shaving off small pieces and placing them into the censer. Each step should be completed with the utmost respect and focus. As the fragrance gently rises from the censer, the heart and mind empty, and one is removed from distraction. Inhaling the fragrance in seclusion relieves one of one’s cares and opens one’s mind to the way where the past and future fall away, enabling one to enjoy the peace of the present moment.