Food incense. Contraindications and restrictions. Mask for split ends

Each of us is familiar with the pleasant aroma of incense that we feel when entering the temple. Frankincense was one of the gifts that the Magi presented to Jesus Christ as God and High Priest. During censing, a person's reverence for God is symbolically expressed. It seems that the aroma of incense immediately makes your soul calmer, and your thoughts come into order...

What is incense? How do you get it? What types of incense are there and how to understand all this diversity?

How is incense produced?

Frankincense is an fragrant tree resinobtained from various plants, most often these are trees of the genusBoswellia. In February or March, small cuts are made in the trees, from which resin flows out over a long period of time. When it covers the tree trunk and begins to dry out, they begin to collect it.

The resin is ground into flour, water and aromatics are added. The mixture is then stirred until it reaches the consistency of dough, rolled out and formed into long strips, which are cut and dried. To prevent the pieces from sticking to each other, they are sprinkled with magnesia. Dried pieces of resin are incense. Previously, only natural resins were used in the production of incense, without aromatic additives.

Although there is no single classification of incense, three groups can be distinguished depending on the ingredients: incense made from natural resins with aromatic additives; pure natural resins, which serve as the basis for production, but can themselves be used for incense; mixtures of resins and herbs.

Flavored incense

Scented incense can be classified by place of production.

The most famous is the incense made in the monasteries, monasteries and cells of Athos.

Stands out here "Vatopedi" incense, which is considered one of the highest quality. It has a deep rich aroma, does not smoke,can be stored for a long time and its fragrance remains in the air for a long time after censing. ForIn its production, high-quality aromatic oils are selected. Conventionally, they can be divided into woody and floral groups, artificial, and natural. For example, such aromas as Night Flower, Desert Flower, Flowers of Athos, Wild Rose, Cherubic, Violet, Walnut and Amber, partly Miro, Byzantium - combine several aromas at once and are attractive for this reason. Others - Rose, Lemon Flower, Cypress, Gardenia, Cinnamon - repeat the natural smell of plants.

On Athos, incense is also produced in the monasteries of Philotheus, Hilandar, the monasteries of the Great Martyr Demetrius, the Holy Righteous Anna, the cells of St. Nicholas, the Holy Apostle John the Theologian (Provata) and Great Martyr Artemy (Provat) of the Great Lavra Monastery and others.

Each type is slightly different from the other, but the recipes are kept strictly secret,You can feel the differences only by burning incense yourself.

Enjoys great respect incense made at the Stavrovouni Monastery in Cyprus. A centuries-old tradition is carefully preserved here. Abbot Daniel wrote about the trees from which resin is collected to make incense back in the 13th century. Incense from Stavrovouni has a rich aroma.

Athenian incense. The next category is incense made in private workshops in Greece. These include such types as “Athensian”, “Patriarchal”, “Agios Afon”, “Mountain”, “Sketsky”, etc. Its main difference lies in the concentration and quality of the aroma used.

The uniqueness of Jerusalem incense lies in its appearance. It is not presented in the form of small pieces, but in the form of thin plates 3 millimeters thick and 10-15 centimeters in area.

Incense is also made in monasteries in Lebanon.

The production of incense has also been mastered in Russia. Masters use ancient technologies preserved and transferred from Athos. For example, the “Athos” incense is created according to the recipes of the monks of the New Skete on Mount Athos, and the “Festive” incense is created with the blessing of the New Thebaid desert brotherhood of the Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery of Mount Athos. Frankincense is made from boswellia resin (olibanum) with the addition of high quality fragrant oils.

Natural resins

Natural resins in their natural form can also be used as incense, without the addition of aromatic oils.: cedar of Lebanon, cypress, myrrh, dammar, but most importantlyThis is boswellia resin (olibanum). It gives off a smoky, tart, sweet, slightly oily aroma.

Boswellia grows in a number of countries - Yemen, Oman, Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia. Shades in aromas may differ depending on the place of origin, growing conditions of the tree, purity and time of collection. To appreciate the aromas,I'll have to poop resin, to notice the difference.

Mixtures of natural resins and herbs

The third category is mixtures of natural resins and herbs. A certain composition of herbs is added to natural resin and a new bouquet of odors is obtained. For example, Palestine Valley Frankincense recreates the fragrance of the East by combining the natural resins of Boswellia Papyrifera, Benzoin Sumatra and Styrax Benzoin with the aroma of crushed clove buds, spicy rosemary, delicate lavender and the balsamic notes of Sandlewood.

How to choose incense?

When choosing incense, you need to rely on your own feelings and preferences. U everyone There are several more subspecies of the species,which are different from each otherdepending on the combination of flavors. For example, “Vatopedi” incense has as much 15 varieties. In order to make the right choice, it is best to try burning incense yourself and “listen” to the smell.

It is also necessary to remember that the price of incense is determined by the quality and naturalness of the ingredients. The cheapest incense cannot have all the properties and depth of smell of an expensive one.

You can get acquainted with all the variety of varieties, aromas and packaging of incense in the store"Orthodox Word" , where the largest assortment in Russia is presented

The smell of incense is known to everyone who has ever been to church.

It is this soothing aroma, coupled with the atmospheric architecture and dim light from the candles, that helps you detach yourself from worldly problems and immerse yourself in prayer to God.

And it is with its help that incense is carried out, when the fragrance can be felt many times stronger. So what is this substance?

What is incense

Frankincense is the name given to the resin of the Lebanese cedar tree. This is a very rare type of tree, which can only be found in Africa, India or Arabia. In another area, the tree does not grow or take root, despite numerous attempts by researchers to spread the cedar. Due to the fact that the tree can grow only in certain conditions, it is listed in the Red Book. In addition, cedar does not produce much resin, so it is quite difficult to find real incense; substitutes are often used instead.

One of the plants included in the substitute is Indian red pear, whose resin has a similar odor to incense, but is much easier to obtain. In addition to India, the pear grows in China and Vietnam.

Real incense is known both in Europe and in Arab countries, but is called differently. So, the British gave it the name “incense of the Franks”, since the substance became known to them from the French. The Arabs call it milk, finding the external similarity of the sap flowing from the tree with this drink. The Latin name for the aromatic resin sounds like olibanum, which is what it is called in Russia.

Composition and properties of incense

Incense includes many components, but some of them can be distinguished: three main:

plant boswellic acid, which is the main component of the resin;
tree bark sap, called gum or gum;
aromatic hydrocarbons contained in essential oils.

Thanks to such components, olibanum only partially dissolves in water, forming a cloudy emulsion. Prolonged heating leads to softening of the substance, which then ignites to produce a thick, pleasant odor. Antidepressant effects of smoke on the nervous system is largely determined by the presence of incensol acetate in its composition. This substance can even lead a person to a state of euphoria.

Resin varieties

Real incense can only be obtained in places where Lebanese cedar grows. It is very valuable because one tree can produce no more than 400 grams of resin at a time. But if you collect olibanum from all growing cedars, you can get up to several thousand tons of incense per year.

Of all the countries where cedar grows, Somalia leads in the amount of incense produced. The plantations of this African country account for more than 80% of the collected resin. This is due to the fact that Somalia has the most favorable conditions for tree growth.

Incense production begins with the collection of resin. This process has been known for many millennia and is not complicated. The main thing is to collect before the rainy season begins.

At the end of February and beginning of March there is a period of active spilling of sap inside the tree. At this time, deep cuts are made on mature cedars, from which a milky liquid flows out.

This liquid is given time to flow out as much as possible and harden. The resulting substance thickly covers the tree trunk and the area under it.

When collected, the resin is broken into pieces, varying in color and density, with a diameter of up to 10 mm. Because of this, olibanum is divided into varieties not only depending on the deposit, but also on which pieces of resin were used in production. There are two varieties.

Selected incense. It is a transparent shiny oval-shaped piece. They can be white, yellow or pink. If you rub them against each other, a light dust will appear on the surface. Selected olibanum is soft enough that it can be ground into powder, which immediately begins to emit a tart odor.
Ordinary. All parts of the resin that cannot be classified as selected are included in this grade. They are dark in color and contain many side inclusions in the form of particles of bark or earth.

How did incense begin to be used?

People learned what incense smells and what it is like long before the beginning of our era. The incense was actively sold in Phenicia and was so valued that queues lined up for it.

In religion

Just as incense is used now, for religious rituals, it was also used then, at the dawn of our era. The use of incense was found in rituals of different religions.

In mystical rites

It was believed that incense has the ability to protect a person and his home from evil spirits. Smoking it indoors increased the positive energy in the home and drove out everything bad from it, so they did not move into a new house until it was cleansed with incense smoke.

People believed that the valuable resin brought health not only to people, but also to pets. With its help, they protected property from theft, and themselves from witchcraft and damage.

In addition, a small piece of olibanum was sewn into a bag and used as a talisman. This one protected travelers on a long journey and helped in important matters.

In medicine

Even in Ancient Egypt, olibanum began to be used for medicinal purposes. With its help, they not only expelled demons from people, but also treated very real mental disorders. The aroma calmed patients, eliminated anxiety, and helped fight insomnia. In rare cases, doctors insisted on taking olibanum to treat internal organs.

Ointments and rubbings were made using incense. The healing power of the resin was used to heal joints and cleanse the skin. Thanks to the latter, the Egyptians made masks from incense that had a rejuvenating effect.

Photos of incense and its uses

Modern research on beneficial properties

It was not for nothing that ancient healers included incense in their arsenal of medicinal drugs. Scientific research has confirmed the benefits of Lebanese cedar resin. Modern doctors know the following about the benefits of incense:

All these healing properties are provided by the chemical elements contained in olibanum. With the right recipe, which includes not only resin, but also other useful components, you can get a very powerful medicinal product.

Application today

In the modern world, incense has found its use thanks to the properties described above. There are several areas in which it is successfully used to this day.

Perfumery and cosmetology

The sweet scent of powdered incense is used in perfumery. One of its valuable properties is its compatibility with other scents, which allows you to create a beautiful perfume composition with oriental notes.

Olibanum essential oil, which is a concentrate of all the beneficial components of this resin, participates in skin regeneration processes, heals wounds, and has a tonic effect. In addition, it has a beneficial effect on hormonal levels and accelerates metabolism.

Homeopathic medicines

In alternative medicine, the resin of the Indian tree is mainly used. Homeopathic remedies for pain relief and wound healing contain frankincense extract. Tinctures are also prepared on its basis, which patients are recommended to use for gynecological diseases, diseases of blood vessels and body tissues. Resin helps maintain healthy skin, hair, and teeth. Homeopaths use a patch with the addition of incense to treat joints, purulent diseases, and stop bleeding.

Church rituals

No matter how many ways this wonderful substance can be used, the most common is church incense. Every parishioner knows from his own experience why incense is used in church. The aromatic smoke calms the senses, helps to concentrate on the service, and carries prayers and requests straight to God.

But, besides this, it also brings quite physical benefits. A lot of people come to church, so the House of God simply needs to cleanse the air. The antiseptic and bactericidal properties of incense allow you to refresh the air space and protect it from infections.

Church incense is made in monasteries. The most widespread are the products of the monasteries of Athos and Jerusalem. Incense granules are divided into varieties depending on their composition, qualitative and quantitative content of impurities. In addition, each type of incense has its own purpose; according to the purpose of use, it is divided into the following varieties:

Tsarsky, has the highest quality and price, is used during services for important events.
The altar one is slightly inferior in quality to the royal one and is used for daily incense.
The cell phone was mainly used in the homes of monks; sometimes it is also used in churches, but this usually happens during fasting.

Home use

If you want to purify the air and feel the aroma of incense at home, incense can be bought at any church store. For censing you will need kacea, which will make the process safe. It has the same operating principle as a church censer, but is smaller in size. A piece of incense is placed in it, which is set on fire and immediately begins to release fragrant smoke.

Incense should be carried around the entire perimeter of the house, starting from the front door. According to the rules, you need to move clockwise and do not forget to cross doors and corners. Each prayer should be accompanied by the prayer “Our Father.”

During the entire process, the windows in the house must be open. The smoke emitted has a very strong smell; it will be difficult to tolerate in a closed room.

If everything is done correctly, the fragrance of incense will help bring peace and tranquility to your home, calm your nerves, and lift your spirits. It tunes a person to prayer and heals the body. Purifying the air is accompanied by purifying thoughts and feelings, which leads not only to physical but also mental health.

The history of frankincense goes back centuries to Babylon and Ancient Egypt, where frankincense oil was used for embalming. The references go back to the times of the Bible and the Christ child. Here are three wise men bringing gifts for Jesus.

Gold is a precious and valuable metal at all times
Myrrh - Powerful Essential Oil and Resin
Incense - a “magical” fragrant resin

What is incense - a transparent resin or a gift from the gods

These gifts had more than just symbolic meaning. At that time, incense was considered sacred and more valuable than gold or silver. Today you might wonder, “How can a nice-smelling oil make such a big difference?”

Incense is much more than just a pleasant smell. This is the most powerful essential oil in terms of its effect on humans, the “king” among the rest. What is incense? How is this substance obtained? Why is incense so important?

Fragrant incense - healing resin of a magic tree

Frankincense tree resin before harvest

Frankincense is a substance of natural origin - the resin of the rare tree Boswellia carterii or Boswellia sacara. This tree grows in East Africa (Somalia), Arabia, and India. The whimsical tree grows at an altitude of about 2000 meters under certain conditions, humidity and temperature.

It can grow in arid and desert conditions with insufficient soil. No one has been able to grow Boswellia in a place other than its natural habitat. Boswellia sacara is protected by law and is listed in the Red Book.

Resin is released from the bark of the tree, hardens, it forms pieces with a diameter of 2-10 mm from a translucent yellow to greenish tint. The resin from the Boswellia sacara tree is called frankincense. Even in Babylon, incense was called a substance that prolongs life.

In ancient civilizations, divine properties were attributed to incense. The ancient Greeks believed that incense was created by the Sun itself. Frankincense essential oil has long proven its effectiveness and beneficial effects on a person’s state of mind.

The history of incense is 5000 years old - who is older?

There was a brisk trade in incense on the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa and the territory of the modern state of Somalia 5,000 years ago. A fresco depicting bags of incense brought from the land of Punt adorns the walls of the temple of the Egyptian queen Hatshepsut (whose death dates back to 1458 BC).

The ancient Greeks were very familiar with incense. The Greek historian Herodotus described the process of collecting resin from trees in southern Arabia as dangerous and labor-intensive. In ancient times, Arabia was the main supplier of incense and traded even with China. This is how an ancient Chinese historian describes the process of extracting incense:

Incense comes from the depths of distant mountains. The tree that produces this substance is similar to pine. The trunk is cut with a hatchet, and resin flows out from the depths. When it hardens, it turns into incense. It is collected and transported on elephants to the coast, loaded onto ships and traded all over the world.

Fragrant resin turns into beneficial essential oil

The collected resin is graded based on color, purity, aroma, shape and age. In terms of quality, white and silver resin is considered the best. The amber color that the Western world associates with incense is actually characterized as a less pure resin and a more processed form.

Modern production amounts to several thousand tons per year. More than 82% is produced by Somalia. The rest of the product is collected in neighboring South Arabia, Ethiopia, Sudan and other African countries. Incense is used in perfumery, aromatherapy, and cosmetology.

After a sufficient amount of resin has been collected from the tree, the production of oil begins. obtained by steam distillation of dry resin. The result is a powerful, earthy-smelling, healing oil.

Frankincense is used in the Christian Church, both Orthodox and Catholic. According to the Gospel of Matthew, gold, frankincense and myrrh were presented to the baby Jesus by the biblical wise men. Frankincense is a sacred incense described in the Bible and Talmud, used in religious ceremonies.

When burned, the resin emits a fragrant odor, a symbol of the Divine Name. The sacred smell is a peace offering and a prayer of the soul for salvation. Church incense is made in monasteries and churches from incense resin, oil with the addition of aromatic substances.

Quality largely depends on the resin, place of origin, and technology. We will not touch on this process. It is quite difficult to purchase truly natural, high-quality incense.

For home use, it is more effective to use 100% natural frankincense essential oil. Essential oil has a lighter and more pleasant smell and has all the healing properties of magic resin.

Frankincense in folk medicine

Frankincense resin is considered an edible substance. In folk medicine in Asia and Africa, in places of natural growth, it is used to improve digestion and improve skin health, and is used as chewing gum. For internal use, use high quality white or translucent incense without dark inclusions.

Ayurveda recommends using incense to treat arthritis, heal wounds, strengthen female hormonal systems, and purify the air. In Somalia, Ethiopia, India, and Arabia, it is believed that daily smoking of incense at home brings good health.

Frankincense was brought to Europe by French crusaders during the Crusades. During the Middle Ages, incense, in addition to church ceremonies, was an integral part of medicine. In France, incense was used to strengthen memory and mental abilities. Eye diseases were treated in the Czech Republic. In China, incense was used to heal wounds, skin inflammations, and treat the stomach. In Russia they drank water infused with frankincense to improve health.

Frankincense essential oil is a powerful remedy

In aromatherapy, frankincense is a well-known and common essential oil. It alleviates a person’s condition with various ailments. The balsamic sweetish aroma can reduce symptoms and anxiety, soothe pain and inflammation, and improve immunity.

In everyday life, frankincense oil is added to aromatic baths to relieve stress and is used as an indoor air purifier. It is a natural hygiene product and cosmetic against aging and wrinkles.

When applied to the skin as part of ointments, it helps reduce the appearance of acne, promotes faster wound healing, and a reduction in stretch marks and scars. This is a versatile oil that can be combined with several other essential oils and carrier oils. Frankincense has no known side effects and is safe and effective.

Home Uses of Frankincense Oil

An aroma bath with frankincense essential oil relieves anxiety
Adding a few drops to a household humidifier improves the health of the air and kills harmful bacteria.
Promotes oral hygiene. Add a drop to your toothpaste or mouthwash.
To maintain healthy skin, add a few drops to cosmetic products.
Slows down visible signs of aging and the formation of wrinkles
To support your immune system, try inhaling natural aroma
Make your own massage oil
To support healthy sleep, try applying this unique oil blend before bed
from incense and lavender.

Cautions: Essential oils should be used with caution. Do not apply pure concentrated oil to the skin. Always dilute in a carrier oil and apply topically only. It is also extremely important that frankincense should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding (without consulting a medical practitioner) and given to young children.

Church workers and believers, of course, know what incense is, but not only can it be used in church, its properties can also be used at home. Below we will provide information so that you can certainly know about the beneficial qualities of incense, use the oil to the maximum, and use it at home.

Uses of Frankincense Oil

Frankincense or laden is a substance that is created from a resin that has bright aroma properties. The resin is produced by a small tree of the cistus family. Plants of this variety grow on the Arabian Peninsula. This aromatic resin is obtained by making a cut in a tree. Then you need to dry the resulting liquid. They collect both whole pieces of frozen resin and tear off the remains from the bark and soil where the incense dripped. Hence there are 2 types of incense - selected and ordinary.

The resulting frozen piece of resin is very easy to grind into a powder using a mortar. This is the prepared incense that is lit.

During the period of frankincense extraction there are a number of obstacles. The whole problem is that cistus is considered a rather rare plant crop. This substance is incredibly valuable on the planet. But the primary secret lies in its ancient religious history. Even in very ancient times, when people prayed to idols and many deities, incense was used as a sacrifice. This was a kind of sacrifice, without shedding the blood of a living creature. The deity was appeased with a unique aroma and asked for various benefits.

It went like this:

The substance was placed on hot coals;
This caused strong aromas to dissipate throughout the entire circumference;
The couples rushed high into the heavens, towards the deities.

So people seemed to give a sign that they wanted to receive from the deity and, in parallel, said their requests out loud. Over the years, the substance has not lost its quality. And believers began to use it in religious rituals. They say that when the Magi hurried to the birth of Jesus Christ, one of the gifts was also incense. And today this aromatic substance is widely used in rituals in temples and churches, by clergy.

Incense: properties and applications

In ancient times, Laden was also associated with paganism. For example, it was still a very popular means of scaring away evil spirits. The church even suggested wearing it together with a pectoral cross.

They fumigated the house with it and placed it in the corners of the house so that no demonic force could penetrate the house.

Also, with the help of oil, they searched for a person who was possessed by a demon and fumigated him, driving out evil spirits. There are many more stories from the world of mysticism that report the magic of incense. However, it was not only in the church that they practiced the use of a substance made from the resin of the incense tree.

The oil is also known for its qualities:

Healing;
Anti-aging;
Calming.

For example, in ancient Egypt it was combined with other aromatic oils and rubbed into the hands and feet. This helped get rid of pain in the joints. The substance was also added to medicinal cosmetic masks. After all, it protected the face from old wrinkles and prevented the appearance of new ones. Today, all these qualities are also widely used both for cosmetic purposes and in perfumery.

Properties of Frankincense Essential Oil

Since cistus is now included in the Red Book, its resin is very expensive. Therefore, nowadays in practice they use incense, which is extracted from the resin of coniferous plants - cedar, spruce. Even in ancient times, people knew the many qualities of incense. These days they also remain relevant.

The beneficial qualities of incense are as follows:

Helps in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis and other similar pathologies. Helps in the treatment of varicose veins.
Frankincense is excellent at fighting seasonal diseases. eliminates the manifestations of chronic bronchitis.
Helps with inflammatory processes on the skin, rashes, and manifestations of acne. Protects against bacteria and fungi.
Helps in the treatment of pathology of the urinary tract.
In symbiosis with other vitamins, it improves the functioning of the immune system.
It has a positive effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and copes with digestive system disorders.
Has a positive effect on brain function. Frankincense is included in traditional medicines and improves memory.
Excellently calms and normalizes the functioning of the central nervous system.
Frankincense is an excellent antiseptic. Therefore, it is used as a healing agent.
A good carminative and phlegm remover.
Frankincense is widely used for cosmetic purposes, medicinal purposes and aromatherapy.
Sometimes incense is even used in cooking. It is usually included in drinks as a flavoring additive, such as tea.

Knowing what qualities a substance has, many products are created from it. For example, a tincture that helps fight coughs due to colds and even chronic coughs in people who have been smoking for many years.

Frankincense oil: properties and uses

Also, medicinal ointments and nourishing face creams are made using incense. But still, the main function of incense is a unique aroma that fumigates spaces. But experts have long proven the fact that this substance is similar to a narcotic drug.

When a person inhales the vapors produced by essential oil, he receives a significant boost of energy.

At this moment, the human brain receives a lot of energy charge and the body feels especially cheerful. Any tension in the psyche and central nervous system is also dulled. Complete calm occurs. The person becomes at ease and relaxes. If there is a lot of incense vapor, you can fall into a state of euphoria. If all this is accompanied by several glasses of alcohol, the effect will be significantly enhanced. Therefore, you need to be very careful with this essential oil. There is also a negative point. Oil can trigger the development of allergies.

In the event of an allergic reaction, a person develops the following symptoms:

Strangulation;
Dizziness;
Memory loss.

To get high-quality pleasure from the aromas of floating incense, you do not need to visit a temple. You can light it at home on your own.

To do this you will need the oil itself, as well as:

Censer or brazier;
Coals;
Candle and matches.

The oil itself will not burn. Therefore, you need a special device that will maintain the required temperature. This will subsequently cause the substance to float. Such a special device in churches is a censer. At home, you can use a brazier, a cup made of fire-resistant material, or you can make it even simpler and take a metal plate under the structure of which you can place a candle or lamp. It should retain heat.

How to use incense at home (video)

Frankincense is a fragrant tree resin collected from trees and shrubs in eastern countries, originally from the Lebanese cedar, which probably gave the name to one of the scents - Lebanon, which in Russian became the word incense.

The easiest and most natural way to make incense is to go into a pine forest and collect resin. Spruce, pine, cedar. But there's a catch. It is necessary to remove turpentine from it, which gives an unpleasant overtone to the smell when censing. Therefore, you have to either keep the resin for several years, waiting for the turpentine to wear off, or boil it and clean it of impurities. But you need to be able to do this. If the resin is digested, it loses a significant part of its original pleasant odor and becomes close in aroma to rosin. Anyone who has done soldering can imagine what burning rosin smells like. One can hardly call this aroma the best of the odors offered as a sacrifice to God.

Wanting to improve the aroma of resin, Russian people from ancient times began to mix fragrant herbs and other aromas, such as anise, into it (incense with anise aroma was found during excavations of the Church of the Tithes in Kyiv). And this already requires a complex technological process and famous art - if you simply throw rose petals into pine resin, you will not get a fragrance when censing.

Before the revolution in Russia, they knew how to cook incense, centuries of experience had an effect. In some parishes, these amazing examples of the pre-revolutionary art of incense-making are still preserved in the collections of priests. Beautiful, large ingots from dark brown and ocher to greenish and lilac, they surprise with their fragrance, conveying the fresh sweetness of the Russian forest, garden, honey, and herbs. At the same time, they are not at all similar to perfumes or other secular perfumes, but only remind of the unearthly sweetness of Paradise...

Unfortunately, the Russian Church, having gone through the hard times of revolutionary upheavals and years of godless power, lost many unique technologies, and recipes for making high-quality incense from natural Russian ingredients also disappeared into oblivion. And even if there are still craftsmen-incense makers somewhere in Rus', almost nothing is known about them and it is almost impossible to get their incense.

Until the 70s, quite decent Russian incense was still produced in the patriarchal workshops, but later it also changed greatly for the worse. The recipe by Sofrino masters often changes, they even began to make a pretty good semblance of Greek incense from Malaysian incense and resins (varieties “Patriarchal”, “Bishops”), but so far they have not been able to achieve either ancient or Athonite quality.

Attempts to brew good incense, however, are still being made to this day by craftsmen in monasteries in the Urals and in some other places.

Quite good incense of different varieties (especially “Oakmoss”, “East”, “Golden”, “Nikolsky”, “Rose” can be noted) is made by the rector of the Moscow Church of St. Vmch. Irina. But all the components included in its products are imported, and the fumes of incense, its “aftertaste,” are quite unpleasant.

An unknown manufacturer offers in a church store on Pyatnitskaya in Moscow neat pieces of incense of the varieties “Khilandar”, “Lesnoy”, “Mountain” with a pleasant, slightly confectionery smell and a long-lasting burn, however, not offensive.

Very good incense of the Athonite type is made in the Mordovian Sanaksar monastery by the cell attendant of the famous deceased elder Schema-abbot Jerome, Hierodeacon Ambrose, and by the brethren of the Ryazan monastery of Danilov Monastery in Moscow.

Beautiful incense, dark brown with a delicate fragrance and light, silky smoke, was brewed by a secret nun, an altar attendant in one of the churches near Moscow. But many years ago she died in Bose, and the recipe was irretrievably lost.
Particularly rare was the so-called “dewy incense”, “Lebanon”, brought by merchants from southern countries and highly valued.
This is the hardened resin of a special boswellia tree (lat. boswellia), which we often call Lebanese cedar.

Since ancient times, this resin has been used not only for incense, but also added to ointments, balms and other medications. The Egyptians often mixed frankincense with oil of cinnamon and rubbed the mixture to relieve pain in the limbs, and also included frankincense in anti-aging masks, and the Chinese considered it an effective remedy for scrofula and leprosy. Nowadays, incense is also used in the production of perfumes as a fixative.

However, the aroma of smoky “Lebanon” itself has a strong healing effect in aromatherapy.

This resin, “Lebanon” (olibanum), is still imported into Russia in large quantities and is, perhaps, the best natural incense on Earth. Yellow translucent drops of different sizes, when burned, give a pleasant natural sweet aroma with a clear lemon overtone.

Incense is used during worship - it is lit on the burning coals of a censer, a metal bowl-shaped vessel suspended on several chains.
When incense burns, fragrant smoke is formed - incense.

Burning incense and incense is the oldest form of sacrifice to God. Long before the formation of Old Testament rituals, almost all developed cultures of the ancient world used incense with fragrant resins and mixtures of these resins with fragrant herbs and branches of special trees as a peace offering to God, an attempt to gain His mercy.

Incense was placed on hot coals, and its smoke went under the dome of the temple or into the sky, carrying away with the aroma of incense and all the requests of a person, tears, prayers and gratitude to God.