Processed Agarwood Incense - Processed Sinking TARAKAN

Pure agarwood incense

Tarakan, in northeastern Borneo, is a source of exceptional agarwood, prized for its distinctive minty and cooling notes. When burned, it releases a rich, powerful fragrance, bringing together the depth of agarwood and a refreshing clarity.

To create this batch of incense, we spent several months sourcing and gathering agarwood materials from the Tarakan region. Our aim was to bring its distinctive character into each stick, offering you a truly exceptional and unforgettable agarwood experience.

As the world’s finest agarwood grows increasingly rare, we cherish every exceptional piece that comes into our hands. It is a privilege to work with such precious material and share its beauty through this carefully crafted batch of incense.

A Note on Our Traditionally Processed Agarwood Incense：

Traditional incense preparation shares much in common with cooking. Our ancestors regarded fragrant materials as nourishment for the whole being, rather than simply a pleasure for the nose. Much like cooking, traditional processing methods known as paozhi, including steaming and roasting, were intended to reduce toxicity, enhance beneficial properties, and make the materials easier for the body to absorb.

Agarwood has been treasured for thousands of years. As it comes from tropical regions, our ancestors believed it carried a strong “fire” element that could irritate the body. To make the best use of this precious material, they passed down traditional processing methods, as recorded in the following passage:

“沉香制：沉香细剉，以绢袋盛于铫子当中，勿令著底，蜜水浸，慢火煮一日，水尽更添。” It means: cut the agarwood into small pieces and place them in a silk bag, suspended inside a pot without touching the bottom. Immerse the bag in honey water and simmer gently for a full day, adding more water as it evaporates.

This slow, careful preparation brings out the best in agarwood. How does it differ from the raw material? To me, it is like the difference between appreciating an ingredient and enjoying a beautifully prepared meal, a fragrance experienced not only through the nose, but with the whole body.