New items coming to the shop on October 16th at 3pm CST! Join us at the Inky Octopus Virtual Halloween Market and see all of the new goodies.
 A guest blog post by Matt from Ethereal Aromas Incense Company Resin incense is one of the world's oldest forms of incense. These are naturally occurring in various plant species, especially in trees from the Torchwood (Burseraceae) family. You might have heard resins referred to as “sap”, such as the aromatic sap that is produced by pine, fir, and spruce trees. Some of the oldest and most widely known incense resins include Frankincense (Boswellia), Myrrh (Commiphora), and Dragon’s Blood (Dracaena/Daemonorops). The New World resins known as Copal (Bursera/Protium) are famous for their use as incense by the Maya and various other cultures throughout Central and South America. Many resins have been historically used in religious settings, for purifying the air, for repelling insects, and even for medicinal uses.  Traditionally, small pieces of pure resin are placed on top of a hot piece of charcoal so that the resin smolders and releases its fragrance. In modern times, special charcoal is now widely produced with the intent to be used for this style of incense, such as the Three Kings brand. Many other methods have been devised over the course of the centuries, but they all have one thing in common: they all produce a heat source. Resin incense must be heated to release its naturally-stored aroma.  Electric incense heaters are now becoming more widely available at an affordable price and are optimal for using naturally fragrant material. Rather than producing smoke, these heaters warm the resins and unlock the aromatic essential oils, releasing them into the air. This method is becoming more common and is preferred for indoor use. This method releases the therapeutic aspects of many plant materials without the hazard of smoke being released into the air. Some electric heaters, such as the Golden Lotus, provide a wide range of heat settings by thermostat control and may be also used for dried plant leaves and flowers, fragrant woods, and even essential oils. For those who love natural fragrances, but are turned off by the smoke produced by most incense, electric heaters are the way to go.  I have been making my own resin-based incense blends for almost 10 years now. Acquiring unique and interesting resins from all over the world has moved from being a hobby to a business venture. This has allowed me to merge my background in graphic design with my love for creating artwork and creating incense blends. The incense blends created under Ethereal Aromas Incense Company are unique in that they are mostly resin-based. Other natural ingredients such as fragrant wood, leaves, spices, flowers, homemade extracts, and essential oils help make up the unique blends that are sold in the Ink ’n Scents store. I strive to use all natural ingredients and to be able to identify the sources of the ingredients used in all of the incense blends. If you or someone you know loves incense, perfume, or aromatics, resin incense provides a unique window into the traditions rooted in thousands of years of history and lore. Shop our selection of gift-able resin incense blends in our new Island Octopus shop!   Find these fun Valentine goodies in the shop!
1. Agarwood Incense Sticks 2. Dragon's Blood Resin 3. I Like Hanging Out with You Cards  “Fallen leaves rustle, as the cool winds of Autumn blow across the quieting fields. Jack-o lanterns are abound and the scent of sweet spiced goods heralds the coming of the encroaching winter. This is the season to dance through the colored leaves and to let the bonfires burn high.”
Ethereal Aroma’s Pumpkin Harvest Incense returns with its 2016 edition to be released this October! Every year brings a unique vision of this classic scent. This year’s offering has been carefully blended using all natural ingredients such as: agarwood, benzoin, cardamon, cinnamon, clove, copal, dammar, ginger, halmaddi, nutmeg, opoponax, orange, vanilla, and more. Can we send you an email to let you know about new incense resins? Join our Ink 'n Scents email list!  A few recent photos of our succulent collection.
 We're excited to offer some new products at this year's St. Louis Pagan Picnic, including Agarwood incense sticks, elegant incense sets, new artwork, art prints, and cards!
Find us in our booth, Ink 'n Scents, at the St. Louis Pagan Picnic on June 4th and 5th.  Frankincense (from the Boswellia genus of trees) has been used for thousands of years as a religious and magical incense. The aromatic smoke produced by smoldering Frankincense resin upon a hookah-style charcoal is thought to be spiritually cleansing and is used as an aid for meditation and sanctifying areas of prayer. It is also commonly burned for its antidepressant, insect repelling and medicinal properties.
Out of the 28 recognized species of Boswellia, we have 10 available for sale. Try all of them in our Frankincense sample set. Boswellias are found primarily in the Arabian Peninsula and on the northeastern coast of Africa, however the genus is also known throughout greater Africa and extends far east throughout southern Asia. Pictured above: A. Boswellia carteri - 'Beyo' (Common Frankincense from Somalia) B. Boswellia dalzielii - 'Cricognimu' (West African Frankincense from Burkina Faso) C. Boswellia elongata - 'Hammaderoh' (Sweet Frankincense from Soqotra) D. Boswellia frereana - 'Maydi' (Coptic Frankincense from Somalia) E. Boswellia neglecta - 'Dakkara' (Black Frankincense from Ethiopia) F. Boswellia papyrifera - 'Makker' (Church Frankincense from Ethiopia) G. Boswellia rivae - 'Matabut' (Sweet Ogaden Frankincense from Ethiopia) H. Boswellia sacra - 'Hojari' (Superior White Frankincense from Oman) I. Boswellia serrata - 'Salaai Gugul' (Olibanum from India) J. Boswellia socotrana - 'Zama'ano' (White Frankincense from Soqotra) Can we send you an email to let you know about new incense resins? Join our Ink 'n Scents email list!  Myrrhs and Other Species of Commiphora
a guest post by Matthew of EAIncense.com The various species of Myrrhs are members of the Burseraceae family, also known as the Torchwood or Incense Tree family. This family also consists of members from the Boswellia (Frankincense), Bursera (Copal), Canarium (Damar), and Protium (Copal) genus. The members of the Commiphora genus are found in hot and dry regions through out Africa, Arabia and the Indian subcontinent. These shrubs and medium sized succulent trees have long provided fragrant resins that are repeatedly mentioned in the Bible and other Classical texts of the ancient world. A small sampling of Commiphora resins from right to left...  A guest post by Matthew of EAIncense.com
Sweet Grass Hierochloe odorata We are introducing our very own homegrown Sweet Grass braids for the very first time at Strange Folk Festival 2014. Also known as Buffalo Grass, Holy Grass, Manna Grass, and Vanilla Grass; Hierochloe odorata has been used as a smudging incense by many indigenous North American people. The smoke is used to lift prayers towards the heavens, for purification, and for keeping away both bugs and evil spirits. Various other medicinal and ritualistic uses have been reported across both the new and old worlds. We find that it gives off a very pleasant fragrance when hung in our closets. Our Sweet Grass was freshly harvested this September. Can we send you an email to let you know about new incense? Join our Ink 'n Scents email list! |
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