This strong smelling resin from the stalk of an herb was burned in the Temple of Jupiter. Anciently it was used for guilding and preparing vellum and also for medicinal purposes. Use... more
Also known as devil’s dung, Asafoetida is an exorcism and protection herb. It is traditionally worn around the neck to ward off bad luck and illnes, and sprinkiled into the censer during... more
In the 16th century Spaniards shipped this thick liquid resin to Europe from the Callao and Lima shipping ports in Peru, resulting in the name Peru Balsam. It has a deep earthy masculine... more
Benzoin Siam is less like Benzoin Sumatra and more like true storax, for which it can substitute. It has an intensely sweet fragrance with a floral note, but if burned too quickly... more
This sweet balsamic fragrance is widely used in Hindu and Russian Orthodox rituals as a cleansing incense. Benzoin is also of Mercury and can be used in astral travel, all blends that... more
Holy resin of the Mayans, Breuzinho is the spirit of the mighty Jaguar. Exuded from Amazonian trees, forest bees deposit pollen in the still soft resin. It is similar in scent to... more
Burgundy is the resin from the Norway spruce after the turpentine has been removed. It can be used in incense, or, more commonly, in the creation of sealing waxes and balms. more
Real camphor has been almost completely replaced by synthetics; ours is real. A strongly moon resin, use camphor to open psychic awareness or to induce psychic dreams. It can also... more
White copal has a lighter, cleaner scent than frankincense. Traditionally, it is burned to purify the home, the temple, and on shrines to honor the gods and household spirits. Copal... more
This golden copal from the Phillipines has a scent and appearance very similar to Copal Oro, with which is it often confused. This copal is ethically harvested as part of an economic... more
Dark copal has a heavier scent than copal blanco; use during dusk, dawn, and rituals for a change of seasons, both literal and metaphoric. Traditionally, it is burned to purify the... more
Black copal has a dark balsamic-floral scent that is unique among the copals. It is burned during the Day of the Dead, and to honor nighttime and underworld deities. Use to honor... more
Gold copal has a fuller scent than copal blanco, with less of an airy quality and more fire. Traditionally, it is burned to purify the home, the temple, and on shrines to honor the... more
Dammar is a Malaysian word meaning 'light', and this resin has a light airy lemon like smell that is said to lift the spirit and bring light to the darkness of the soul. more
A deep red resin from the fruit of a palm, Dragon's Blood is an intensifying resin, a pinch added to other herbs for magical purposes will increase their potency. It is used in exorcism... more
This soft resin has a high essential oil content that makes it soft at room temperature. It also has an intense citrus fragrance with a sharp, piney undertone. Because of its dual natured... more
A darker, less sharp version of the citrus scented elemi. Unlike normal elemi, Manila elemi is hard and not gooey, and thus easier to work with. This resin is collected in the Philippines... more
Frankincense was burned each morning in Egyptian temples to welcome the rebirth of the sun. With its rich lemony-pine scent, it is burned to raise vibrations, purify and exorcise... more
A semi-liquid resin from a giant fennel, galbanum has a bitter, green scent which develops into a greek musk similar to green spikenard as the top notes volatilize. Galbanum is an ingredient... more
Guar gum is a superior binder for rolled incense. It is not sticky like gum arabic, creating a consistency more like clay than dough, but it is a stronger binder and can be substituted... more
Gum Arabic is a resin with little scent of its own that creates a mucilage when powdered and added to water. As such, it is added to incense blends as a binder at about 5-10%. Alone... more
Labdanum, or rock rose, is the resin from an evergreen shrub. It is a sweet, warm, honey-floral scent similar to davana, with strong Sun energy. It is a main ingredient in chypre, and... more
Mastic only grows on the Isle of Crete, and is thus very precious. It is the quintessential incense of air and Mercury, and is used in High Magic for controlling and to bind entities... more
Myrrh is burned to purify and consecrate, traditionally mixed with frankincense for this purpose. In general, myrrh darkens a blend, though myrrh was burned in Egypt during midday... more
Known as sweet myrrh, opoponax has none of the burnt rubber scent associated with low quality myrrh. Opoponax is associated with the Scorpio/Mars/Pluto complex of sex and death. Use... more
Piñon is one of the cleansing herbs used by several native tribes in the American southwest. It has a strongly balsamic scent when burned, and is best when mixed with cedars and copals... more
Thought by Aristotle to have come from bees, this resin is actually from a type of Juniper tree that grew outside the temple complex at Delphi. more
Storax is a liquid resin with a cold, sweet, spicy scent; small amounts are all that is needed. The storax of ancient texts is not available in commerce (substitute benzoin siam)... more
