Incense is a slow burning combination of plant-based materials, including fragrant woods, plant sap and essential oils which emits fragrant smoke upon lighting.  Incense is first lit by flame and quickly put out once the flame 'catches'.  In its wake, the flame leaves a smoldering ember which catalyzes a slow burn of the incense, allowing it to release a fragrant smoke whose scent is created by the combination of its burning components.  In this way, incense’s fragrant aroma can be expertly manipulated and strengthened by varying the amount and intensity of its underlying materials.  The subtle combination of biotic materials can unlock scents and aromas which serve numerous purposes.  The word 'incense' itself is derived from the Latin word ' incendere ' which means 'to burn'.  The word 'incense' is also closely tied to the Latin word ' incensus ' which means 'to cause a passion or emotion to become aroused'.  As such, incense often evokes sentiment and states of mind which go far beyond the physical manifestation of its scent.  Incense is frequently used in meditation as an agent to bring alertness to the mind and help cleanse distracting thoughts.  Incense is a staple in religious and spiritual practices in the East and West as both a means to cleanse and sanctify physical spaces and also express reverence and connect with the divine.  The fragrant smoke from incense can have the remarkable property of creating a spiritual atmosphere which can have diverse uses from priming a space or practitioner for prayer or simply imbuing the everyday household with a sense of calm and transcendence. Box contains 12 sticks.