Elenatura Incense
For centuries, the legendary Silk Road was the most important connection between the Orient and the Occident. However, there was a second important trade route in the Orient: the incense trade route. Outside of Arabia, it is not as well known as the Silk Road, but it is much older. As early as the 8th century BC it connected the eastern Mediterranean with the South Arabian kingdoms Hadramaut, Ma'in, Qataban and Saba. The caravans that set off from there transported one of the most coveted raw materials of the antiquity: frankincense.
Frankincense is the dried resin of the Boswellia sacra tree. As early as Ancient Egypt, incense made of resins, woods and herbs were burned in religious ceremonies. The smoke symbolized the proximity to the gods. In the temples of the sun god Ra, incense offerings were made three times per day: frankincense in the morning, myhrr at noon and the incense mixture "Kyphi" in the evening. Incense was also burned in special pans at the sickbed and while the deceased were mummified. Frankincense held a special position in the ancient Orient. It was considered sacred in many cultures, the Egyptians even called it "sweat of the gods". Only the priests were allowed to burn incense. Everybody else war prohibited from doing so. Misuse of incense was even punishable by death.
The Greeks and Romans, on the other hand, had no reservations when it came to the use of incense. Since incense offerings were not only performed in temples but also in front of the statues of the Caesars, their need for incense was particularly high. Due to lavish behaviour of wealthy Romans, laws were passed to restrict the private use of incense. In the early Christian church incense was forbidden, because it was such a vital part of the imperial cult and the deification of dead or living rulers. It was not until the 4th century that bishops were allowed to use it. However, it would still take almost 500 years for incense to establish itself in the churches of Western Europe.
Just a few hundred years ago, incense was an important religious component of almost all cultures. Only in Asia is it still part of people's daily spiritual practice to this day. The fragrant blends of herbs, woods and resins are burned in temples, in front of house altars or before graves. Nowadays, the inhabitants of the western world are increasingly fascinated by the forgotten art of burning incense. They use it for a wide variety of reasons: to support rituals, for energetic cleansing, for individual calming or simply to improve the room air. Incense can help to leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind and focus on the here and now. Anyone who would like to experience the beneficial effects of incense on the soul will find classic incense as well as aromatic incense blends at Elenatura. These are made by hand in a small factory in the Allgäu and bottled in high-quality Weck jars. Elenatura mainly uses ingredients from certified organic cultivation.
The Elenatura incense sets are a good introduction to the world of incense burning. They contain everything you need: sand, charcoal, incense tongs, a mini incense bowl, an incense blend as well as a detailed instruction manual. Choose between the Elenatura incense sets "Love", "Happiness", "Courtyard & Garden", "My New Home" and "Guardian Angel". Elenatura's incense blends contain carefully coordinated herbs, woods and resins. The "Incense blend Day" with sandarac, rosemary, mastic and white sage helps you to face everyday life with a clear mind. While the harmonizing "Incense blend Thanksgiving" with frankincense, sandalwood and tolu strengthens the cohesion, the "Incense blend Love" with the scent of Palo Santo, Dammar and Benzoin can help to open the heart to the beautiful aspects of life.
Due to the colouring with food colours, the Elenatura "frankincense" is available in black, green, red, blue and gold. The chunky "Tolu balm" spreads a spicy, intense scent with a slight oriental note when burned. The bitter-tart and smoky note of "Myrrh Somalia" has a warming, harmonizing and meditation-promoting effect. The Elenatura "Sandalwood Powder" is also suitable for making your own mixtures thanks to its delicate fragrance profile. The tangy "dragon's blood" is a light, carmine-red and powerful resin from the fruits of the dragon's blood tree. Enjoy the beneficial effects of high-quality incense with Elenatura.
