Incense and Its Etymology

Incense is a substance used to produce a pleasant aroma. It may be derived from a variety of plant materials, including resins such as frankincense and myrrh, bark, seeds, roots, twigs, and aromatic woods. It can also be produced from synthetic ingredients such as those used in perfumery. It is usually burnt to produce a pleasing scent, but can also be used for spiritual purposes or simply for its therapeutic properties. In the latter case it is often combined with a resin or essential oil.

The Bible contains many references to the use of incense, particularly in connection with the Jewish Temple. In ancient Israel the chief incense was a mixture of the resins storax and onycha, together with cinnamon, nutmeg, and galbanum, and it was used in the daily and weekly liturgy as well as in the special services of the Sabbath and Day of Atonement. In modern Judaism the ritual use of incense is restricted to havdala, an evening prayer service to mark the end of the Sabbath.

The Christian Church makes frequent use of incense. It is burned at the Eucharist and formerly was used to incense the altar, books of Scripture, crucifixes, coffins, remains, and other objects. It is also swung at certain festivals, such as Christmas and Epiphany. It was a regular feature of the funeral and memorial services of the Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Church.

Various substances are used for incense, but the most common in Western Europe is thyme and oregano mixed with benzoin and myrrh. The word incense is probably a Latinized form of a Greek verb meaning “to ascend” or “to rise.” The name may refer to the idea of a fragrant fragrance, which was one of the effects attributed to the incense used in religious ceremonies.

For the burning of incense, a special vessel called a thurible (Greek: , Thymiato, or , Kadilo, Church Slavonic: адилник) is used. This consists of a metal bowl, on which charcoal is placed, with a lid pierced by holes. It is carried by a server, traditionally called a boat boy but more commonly referred to as a thurifer or a censer bearer. Alternatively, it may be carried by a deacon.

Before the incense is lit, a wet binding powder, typically made from a mucilaginous plant material such as the gum arabic tree (“Boswellia sacra”) or the bark of the tabu-no-ki (Machilus thunbergii) or other plants, is sprinkled over it. It is then mixed with the fragrant materials to make a paste which, when dry, becomes a compact and cohesive mass. A natural plant-based binder such as the mucilage from the wet binding or cellulose from the dry binding powder binds the fragrant materials, which then combust when lit.

After the incense is loaded into the thurible and lit, it is presented to the priest or deacon who uses it. The thurible is swung in two directions: upwards to the height of the eyes and then outward, towards the object to be incensed. The thurifer may swing it once or twice, depending on the dignity of the person or thing being incensed.