Stepping into the world of Chinese incense (Xiang/香, yes, same Japanese character) can feel like entering a new universe. Like the well-studied Japanese incense houses, traditional Chinese incense is a deep cultural practice rooted in history, medicine, and meditation.
If you are browsing a tea shop or an online boutique and feel overwhelmed by the labels, don’t worry. Here are the 6 most common terms you need to know to navigate the world of Chinese aromatics.
1. Xiang Dao (香道): "The Way of Incense"
Just like the word Kōdō in Japanese, think of this as the "Tea Ceremony" but for scent. Xiang Dao translates literally to "The Way of Incense." It is the art of appreciating incense with mindfulness and reverence. It’s not just about making a room smell nice; it’s about the ritual, the breathing, and the spiritual focus that comes with "listening" to the scent.
2. Chen Xiang (沉香): Agarwood
If there is a "King" of Chinese incense, this is it. Chen Xiang refers to Agarwood (or Aloeswood, oud). It is a dark, resinous wood formed when Aquilaria trees are injured and produce a protective resin over decades.
3. Tan Xiang (檀香): Sandalwood
If Agarwood is the King, Sandalwood is the Queen. Tan Xiang is the Chinese term for Sandalwood. It is the most common staple in traditional incense. Sandalwood has a creamy, woody, and bright scent. It is widely used for daily rituals, religious offerings, and purifying spaces. You will often see "Lao Shan" (Old Mountain) on labels, which refers to high-quality Mysore sandalwood.
4. He Xiang (合香): Blended Incense
If the woods above are "single malts," He Xiang is the masterfully crafted cocktail. Literally meaning "Combined Fragrance," this refers to recipes created by blending multiple ingredients, usually herbs, woods, fruits, and florals.
Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), these blends are often designed to balance the body's energy (Qi). A famous example is the "Goose Pear" blend, a fruity, sweet mix historically used to scent bed curtains.
5. Xian Xiang (线香): Stick Incense
This describes the form of the incense. Xian Xiang literally translates to "Thread" or "Line" incense. Unlike Indian incense sticks which often have a bamboo stick core, traditional Chinese Xian Xiang is pure incense material extruded into a thin stick. This means you are smelling 100% ingredients with no burning wood core.
6. Pan Xiang (盘香): Coil Incense
You have likely seen these hanging from ceilings in temples or packed in round tins. Pan Xiang refers to Coil Incense. Because of the spiral shape, these burn for a very long time—often 2 to 4 hours, or even weeks in temple settings. They are perfect for long meditation sessions or keeping a space scented throughout the entire day.
