FAQ

How to Choose Incense

With so many varieties of Chinese herbal incense, how should a beginner start？

Simply choose a scent you enjoy; there is no need to be overly restrictive. If there were a guiding principle, it would be: "Clear out the old to welcome the new." This means cleansing both your external environment and internal spirit first. Once purified, you naturally attract positive relationships and prosperity.
 
For example：
  • Atractylodes (Cang Zhu): To dispel poverty/misfortune.
  • Eupatorium (Lan Xiang): For mindfulness and peace.
  • Patchouli (Huo Xiang): For purification.
  • Peony (Mu Dan): For restful sleep.
  • Lysimachia (Ling Ling): To remove obstacles.
  • Acronychia (Jiang Zhen): To ward off evil and negativity.
  • God of Wealth (Caishen): For wealth and career success.
You may also choose based on the specific "state of mind" you wish to achieve. Ultimately, incense is a medium of freedom; there’s no need to over-define it. Once you understand the basic attributes (essence) of each herb, your personal experience will guide your understanding. As the saying goes: "The master leads you to the door, but the practice is up to the individual."

What makes your herbal incense special, and how should I choose？

Each of our herbal incense blends serves a specific purpose, rooted in both traditional Chinese medicine and spiritual practices. To help you choose, we categorize them by their "Form" (physical properties) and "Spirit" (spiritual benefits)：
 
  • God of Wealth (Caishen): Harmonizes the Five Elements to promote career advancement and prosperity.
  • Acronychia (Jiang Zhen): Invites divine energy while dispelling evil spirits and negativity.
  • Peony (Mu Dan): Symbolizes success, nobility, and auspicious wealth.
  • Patchouli (Huo Xiang): Cleanses the soul, bringing inner peace and physical comfort.
  • Eupatorium (Lan Xiang): Calms the mind, removes impurities, and aids restful sleep.
  • Atractylodes (Cang Zhu): Purifies the home, clears humidity, and dispels misfortune.
  • Lysimachia (Ling Ling): Dissolves obstacles and allows for restorative rest.
  • Osmanthus (Gui Hua): Attracts noble mentors and brings a "glow" to your household.
  • Borneol (Long Nao): Awakens the senses, clears the mind, and exudes noble elegance.

Does each incense contain only the herb it's named after, or does it include Agarwood, Sandalwood, and other ingredients?

Our herbal incense is crafted based on ancient texts and traditional medicinal formulas. While they do not contain Agarwood (Chen Xiang), some blends do include Sandalwood (Tan Xiang) as a base—our God of Wealth (Caishen) incense is a primary example.
 
Although each main ingredient has its own unique benefits and aroma, a single herb cannot create a balanced "profile" on its own. Therefore, we meticulously blend specific herbal formulas to enhance the fragrance, making it more uplifting and harmonious. We believe our collection offers an excellent alternative for those seeking a unique experience beyond traditional Agarwood and Sandalwood.

In the past, only Agarwood or Sandalwood were used for offerings. Is herbal incense suitable for Buddha?

The essence of offering to Buddha lies in purity and naturalness. Any high-quality incense that is natural and untainted is suitable. What truly matters is the sincere connection between humanity, heaven, and earth.
 
Even if one offers Agarwood, if it contains synthetic fragrances, it is far less meaningful than offering pure, natural herbal incense. Our herbs are the concentrated essence of the sun, moon, and earth. When combined with the craftsman's dedication and the practitioner's sincerity, they are a profound expression of respect and devotion to the Buddha.

What kind of incense should I use for daily smoke offerings? I’m looking for something suitable for afternoon offerings to sentient beings on my balcony.

For smoke offering powders (Sang powder), Patchouli (Huo Xiang), Eupatorium (Lan Xiang), Atractylodes (Cang Zhu), and Lysimachia (Ling Ling) are all excellent choices.
 
You can use a single type of powder or create multiple layers with different herbs. There’s no need to mix them thoroughly—simply stack them layer by layer to create a rich, layered offering.

Usage Instructions

How to Judge the Quality of Incense?

It is not easy to explain how to judge the quality of incense in simple terms. As modern technology advances, chemical engineering has become increasingly sophisticated. If you do not regularly smell natural incense and understand the difference, it is quite difficult to distinguish between various products on the market.
However, we have organized a few points for your reference:
There are many methods on the market. Some emphasize that the ash should not burn your hand (to avoid added lime), while others look at the burning speed (large sparks or fast burning may indicate the addition of industrial accelerants like potassium nitrate). Chemical incense also often has a distinct perfume or synthetic fragrance smell.
In fact, truly natural incense initially gives off a woody, smoky sensation, followed by a light, elegant, and rhythmic herbal fragrance. For Agarwood or Sandalwood, because they contain wood fibers, there will also be a slight woody smoke scent initially, followed by their elegant natural aroma. If the scent is overly strong or obvious, it likely contains synthetic fragrances or chemical oils.
Furthermore, while natural incense may have a slight woody smoke feel in the nose, it feels smooth on the throat. Conversely, while chemical fragrances may smell "fragrant" to the nose without the smoky feel, they often leave the throat feeling dry. This is a sensory method you can try when comparing scents.

Storage Issues

Regarding storage, under normal conditions, unless the area is very humid or the box has been open for a long time, you might occasionally see white spots (mildew). This can be resolved by placing the incense in a well-ventilated area with indirect sunlight for one to two hours. However, we include desiccant packets in our boxes, so storage should not be an issue under normal conditions.

Gemini 說了 How to Distinguish Between Kalimantan and Xing Zhou Agarwood?

Both Xing Zhou and Kalimantan agarwood belong to the Indonesian series. Currently, natural Vietnamese Hoi An agarwood is extremely rare and precious, making its price significantly higher than the Indonesian series. While we do not exclude it—and plan to produce small batches of high-end agarwood incense sticks in the future—we refuse to use cheap, fragrance-infused "Hoi An" imitations often sold at high prices elsewhere. Our principle is to use 100% natural raw materials, which is why we currently focus on the Indonesian series.
The differences between Xing Zhou and Kalimantan agarwood are as follows:
Kalimantan Agarwood It has a richer oil content and fewer fibers compared to Xing Zhou, resulting in a more steady and intense aroma. It leans towards a "water-submerged" (high density) character. Since it is not flavored with artificial essences, it lacks the overwhelming heaviness of perfume. Its natural scent is delicate and soft, providing a sense of stability and calm.
Xing Zhou Agarwood Although the wood appears lighter in color, it is not harsh or drying. Its scent is very elegant, fresh, and pleasant, with a layered quality that creates a very comfortable and relaxing experience.
If you have the opportunity, we recommend trying both. Each has its own unique characteristics, and alternating between them offers a completely different sensory atmosphere.

What is the length of the incense sticks?

Our incense sticks—including agarwood, sandalwood, and herbal varieties—are approximately 19 to 21 cm in length. Because these are "coreless" sticks (without a bamboo stick inside), they naturally tend to curve slightly during the drying process.
Common industry practice often involves adding lime powder to increase hardness and ensure the sticks remain perfectly straight. However, at Shi-Jin-Yu Mu Xiang Zhai, we insist on not adding synthetic fragrances, lime, potassium nitrate (accelerants), or any other unnecessary chemicals.
We do not add lime just to achieve straightness. Therefore, if you notice that our incense sticks are not perfectly straight, please be assured that this is a natural result of using 100% pure natural herbs and Phoebe zhennan bark powder as a natural binder. You can use them with complete peace of mind.

Why does the incense coil extinguish during use?

  1. Natural Ingredients: Our incense is made from 100% pure natural Chinese herbal formulas. Because we use premium herbs with high natural oil content and strictly avoid adding chemical accelerants like potassium nitrate or gunpowder-based additives, the incense may extinguish if it encounters wind or if the underlying ash contains moisture.
  2. Ash Management: We recommend using the ash collected from burning natural incense in your burner. Natural ash helps maintain the necessary temperature to keep the coil burning. Before placing a new coil, you should level and smooth the ash. This prevents the coil from sinking into the ash, which can cut off oxygen and cause it to go out.
  3. The Issue with Commercial Ash: Most commercially available "incense ash" is actually stone powder rather than true ash. This material stays cold and causes natural incense to extinguish easily. If you cannot obtain natural incense ash, we suggest using an incense clip to elevate the coil. Elevating the coil is the most effective way to prevent it from going out.

The Issue of Unburned Incense Ends

Regarding the issue of incense ends (bamboo sticks) not burning completely, here is a detailed explanation:
Handmade Characteristics and Lighting Tips Our incense sticks are handmade. When crafting thin incense, the powder coating at the very tip and the base may occasionally be slightly thinner. Combined with our strict refusal to use chemical accelerants like potassium nitrate (making the incense more sensitive to wind or humidity), we recommend lighting the tip a bit more deeply. Under normal conditions, the stick will burn through, though a small segment may occasionally remain. If this happens with only a few sticks, it is considered normal. However, if it occurs frequently, please take a photo and email it to scymsj@gmail.com or call us so we can assist you.
The Craftsmanship of Natural Incense The process of making 100% natural agarwood, sandalwood, and herbal incense is significantly more difficult than producing chemical or machine-pressed incense. We are limited by the natural characteristics of the materials (viscosity, oil content, and fiber), weather conditions, and the challenges of manual labor. This is why the market is flooded with chemical fragrances (where scent and fiber are easily controlled) and machine-injected incense (which allows for mass production without manual drying).
The "Soup Stock" Analogy To put it in culinary terms: it is like modern soup bases made from instant powders for speed and convenience rather than being simmered from real bones. Real bone broth requires time, labor, and higher costs. As consumers become accustomed to heavy, artificial flavors, fewer businesses are willing to put in the heart and soul required for traditional brewing. This is ultimately a loss for the consumer.
The Essence of True Incense Why were ancient royalty and scholars so passionate about natural incense? It is because "incense" is a medium that enlightens the spirit, purifies the soul and space, and transmits messages. Good incense is like a high-quality smartphone: the hardware must be excellent (the essence of the incense), and the signal must be clear (the heat energy releasing the correct "energy factors"). When combined with our intentions, it delivers the right message to the right place.
Many people believe that incense only needs to "smell good" or prefer no smoke at all, but this overlooks the true purpose of lighting incense. Focusing only on the form and scent while ignoring the essence is like buying a toy phone—it looks real, but you can’t make a call; there is no communication.
Our Commitment Regardless of changing public perceptions, we remain committed to using the purest, most original natural herbal formulas. We overcome numerous challenges to strive for perfection in crafting "true incense" without chemical additives. If you encounter any issues or have questions while using our products, please let us know. Your feedback is the driving force behind our progress.

Purchasing Guide

Online Stores

  • PChome
  • Shopee
  • Yahoo! Shopping Center

Physical Store

[Shi-Jin-Yu Mu Xiang Zhai] Changlu Store
  • Address： No. 372, Sec. 7, Changlu Rd., Fuxing Township, Changhua County
  • Phone： 04-777-8435
  • Business Hours： Monday – Sunday, 09:00 – 21:00

Phone Orders

Toll-Free Customer Service Line： 0800-00-1756

Shipping Information

Logistics & Shipping Methods

  • Phone Orders: All phone orders are shipped exclusively via Taiwan Pelikan Express.
  • PChome Online Store Street: Available options include Takkyubin (Black Cat), Taiwan Pelikan Express (Cash on Delivery available), and Convenience Store Pickup (7-11, FamilyMart, OK Mart, and Hi-Life).
  • Shopee Mall: Available options include Takkyubin (Black Cat) (Cash on Delivery available), Taiwan Pelikan Express, and Convenience Store Pickup (7-11, FamilyMart, OK Mart, and Hi-Life).
  • Yahoo! Shopping Center: Available options include Taiwan Pelikan Express and Convenience Store Pickup (FamilyMart only).

Payment Methods

  • Phone Orders: Exclusively accepts Cash on Delivery (COD).
  • Official Website: Payment options include Convenience Store Payment, Convenience Store Pickup & Pay, ATM Transfer, and Online Credit Card Payment.
  • PChome Online Store Street: Available options include Cash on Delivery (COD), Convenience Store Payment, Convenience Store Pickup & Pay, ATM Transfer, and Online Credit Card Payment.
  • Shopee Mall: Available options include Cash on Delivery (COD), Convenience Store Payment, Convenience Store Pickup & Pay, ATM Transfer, and Online Credit Card Payment.

Shipping Fee Calculation

  • Phone Orders: Home delivery shipping is NT$130. Free shipping is available for a single order totaling NT$2,000 or more.
  • Official Website: Home delivery shipping is NT$130. Free shipping is available for a single order totaling NT$2,000 or more.
  • PChome Online Store Street: Home delivery shipping is NT$130 (Free shipping over NT$2,000). For Convenience Store Pickup fees, please refer to the specific promotion plans provided by the platform.
  • Shopee Mall: Home delivery shipping is NT$130 (Free shipping over NT$2,000). For Convenience Store Pickup fees, please refer to the specific promotion plans provided by the platform.

Customer Support

What should I do if I have questions or issues with the product?

Please feel free to call our toll-free customer service hotline at 0800-00-1756. Alternatively, you can take photos of the product’s condition and email them to scymsj@gmail.com. We will assist you and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
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