10 Famous Chinese Incense Formulas: History, Ingredients & Traditional Uses
More Than Just a Pleasant Scent
For over two thousand years, Chinese incense has been far more than a pleasant fragrance. It has been a part of meditation, tea culture, poetry, medicine, and daily rituals — a way for people to create moments of stillness and connection.
Traditional Chinese incense formulas, known as He Xiang (合香), are carefully crafted blends of natural aromatic materials such as agarwood, sandalwood, herbs, flowers, spices, and resins. Unlike single-note incense, Chinese blended incense focuses on balance, harmony, and the gradual evolution of fragrance as it burns.
Throughout Chinese history, these incense formulas were recorded in ancient texts and refined by scholars, physicians, monks, and artisans. Some were created for imperial courts, while others became part of everyday practices for contemplation and relaxation.
In this guide, we explore 10 famous traditional Chinese incense formulas, their historical origins, key ingredients, aroma characteristics, and the cultural stories behind them. Whether you are new to Chinese incense or looking to deepen your understanding of natural incense traditions, these ancient recipes offer a glimpse into one of the world’s oldest fragrance arts.
What Are Traditional Chinese Incense Formulas?
Traditional Chinese incense formulas are carefully balanced combinations of aromatic ingredients created according to the principles of harmony and refinement.
Unlike modern incense products that often focus on a single fragrance note, traditional Chinese incense uses multiple ingredients to create layered aromatic experiences. A formula may combine woods such as agarwood and sandalwood with herbs, flowers, spices, and natural resins.
The art of combining these ingredients is called He Xiang (合香), which literally means “combined fragrance.” Historically, incense makers considered not only the scent itself but also how each ingredient interacted, developed over time, and complemented the surrounding environment.
A traditional incense formula was not simply designed to make a room smell good. It was created to support moments of reflection, tea appreciation, meditation, reading, and personal rituals.
10 Famous Chinese Incense Formulas
1. Han Jianning Palace Incense (汉建宁宫中香) — The Earliest Recorded Blend
Historical Background
Period: Eastern Han Dynasty (168–172 CE)
This is the earliest recorded blended incense formula in Chinese history — preserved in the Xiang Sheng (《香乘》), a Ming Dynasty encyclopedia that remains the most comprehensive text on Chinese incense.
By the 2nd century CE, Chinese perfumers were already blending over a dozen ingredients into a single formula, each component carefully measured to contribute to the whole. The fragrance is rich and earthy, with a medicinal depth that reminds you this was a court creation, not a commercial product.
What's striking is how little the base formula has changed in 1,800 years. Many of the ingredients — agarwood, sandalwood, frankincense — remain the backbone of Chinese incense today.
Traditional Ingredients
Agarwood, sandalwood, frankincense, angelica root, clove bark, patchouli, spikenard (a fragrant herbaceous root used in traditional Chinese medicine), fennel, and dates.
Aroma Profile
Deep woody · resinous · herbal · warmly spiced
Agarwood and sandalwood create a dense woody foundation, while frankincense adds a dry resinous lift. Angelica, patchouli, and spikenard bring an earthy herbal character, softened by warm clove bark, fennel, and a subtle trace of sweetness. The overall impression is substantial and contemplative rather than delicate.
When To Burn
Best suited to slower, more deliberate moments — long-form reading, an unhurried tea session, meditation, or a quiet evening when you want a fragrance with real presence. Its dense woody and herbal character makes it especially appealing in cooler weather or whenever lighter floral incense feels too fleeting.
2. Tang Kaiyuan Palace Incense (唐开元宫中香) — The Scent of China's Golden Age
Historical Background
Period: Tang Dynasty, Kaiyuan Era (713–741 CE)
The Kaiyuan era was the height of the Tang Dynasty — a time when China was the world's most powerful empire, and its capital Chang'an was a cosmopolitan crossroads of cultures. The expansion of Silk Road trade had brought a steady supply of Central and South Asian aromatics into China, including musk and borneol camphor, which feature prominently in this formula alongside agarwood and sandalwood.
The scent is luxurious and warm — what you might imagine wafting through the halls of the emperor's pleasure palace. Unlike the medicinally inclined Han formula, this one leans toward the sensual.
Legend connects it to Yang Guifei, the emperor's famously beautiful consort, though the Xiang Sheng does not make that connection explicitly. It's a plausible story; it's not a documented fact.
Traditional Ingredients
Agarwood, sandalwood, musk, natural borneol (a precious aromatic crystal traditionally used in Chinese incense, known for its cool and uplifting fragrance), and Jia Xiang (prepared marine gastropod operculum, used as a fixative in classical Chinese incense formulas.).
Aroma Profile
Rich woody · creamy · cool · musky
Agarwood provides depth while sandalwood gives the blend a smooth, warm body. Natural borneol cuts through that warmth with a distinctly cool, crystalline brightness, while musk adds richness and persistence. The resulting contrast between warmth and coolness gives the formula much of its luxurious character.
When To Burn
A natural choice for evenings, intimate gatherings, tea with guests, or occasions when you want the room to feel more ceremonial. Rather than an everyday background scent, its warm–cool contrast works best when the fragrance itself is meant to become part of the atmosphere.
3. Madam Huarui‘s Private Incense (花蕊夫人衙香) — An Intimate Court Fragrance
Historical Background
Period: Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (circa 10th century)
Madame Huarui (花蕊夫人 — "Flower Stamen Lady") was one of the most celebrated beauties of Chinese history — a poet and consort of the Later Shu kingdom (934–965 CE). According to legend, her name was bestowed by her husband, Emperor Meng Chang, who once declared: "You are the flower among people, the stamen among flowers".
The Song poet Su Shi captured her ethereal beauty in a famous verse: "Ice skin, jade bones — naturally cool and without sweat". But she was more than a beauty — she composed over a hundred palace poems and was said to wield a sword with striking grace.
One summer night, as the story goes, Huarui brushed powdered borneol camphor onto her white silk fan. When the fan fell to the ground below, the entire capital began copying her "Snow Fragrance Fan" — a story that captures how her presence, like fragrance itself, lingered and inspired imitation.
The incense formula attributed to her — known as Ya Xiang (衙香) — reflects this same sensibility. Its fragrance is delicate and lingering, intimate rather than grand. If the Tang palace incense was the scent of a banquet hall, this is the scent of a private chamber.
Her life ended in tragedy. When the Song conquered Shu, she was taken to the northern capital, and soon after, her husband died under suspicious circumstances. According to one account, she was later killed by an arrow — a political act framed as a warning against "beauty as a threat to the state."
Whether Huarui actually composed this formula or whether it was attributed to her posthumously is not possible to verify. What's clear is that it survives in a category of its own — smaller in scale, more personal in feeling than the court formulas that surround it.
Traditional Ingredients
Agarwood, Zhanxiang (a traditional grade of agarwood), sandalwood, frankincense, natural borneol, Jia Xiang, and musk.
Aroma Profile
Polished woody · resinous · cool · softly musky
Agarwood and sandalwood form a refined woody core, with frankincense introducing a dry resinous brightness. Natural borneol gives the fragrance a cool lift, while musk and the deeper woods add softness and intimacy. Compared with the grander palace formulas, the overall character feels quieter and more restrained.
When To Burn
Well suited to private, low-key moments: evening reading, journaling, drinking tea alone, or simply letting the day settle. Its restrained character makes more sense in an intimate setting than as a large, dramatic room fragrance.
4. Pear Chamber Incense (鹅梨帐中香) — The Most Romantic Formula
Historical Background
Period: Southern Tang Dynasty (circa 10th century)
This is probably the most widely recognized formula on our list today — largely because of its appearance in the hit Chinese TV drama Empresses in the Palace (《甄嬛传》). The Xiang Sheng attributes it to Li Yu, the last emperor of the Southern Tang, who reportedly created it for his beloved consort Zhou Ehuang.
Today, this formula is widely known as Pear Chamber Incense (鹅梨帐中香). In the Xiang Sheng, however, the related recipes appear under the historical title Jiangnan Li Zhu Zhangzhong Xiang (江南李主帐中香), or “Southern Tang Emperor Li's Chamber Incense.”
The historical basis is uncertain — as with many romantic incense stories, we cannot be certain Li Yu had anything to do with this formula. But the story has stuck, and it's easy to see why.
Traditional Ingredients
What the Xiang Sheng Actually Records:
The Xiang Sheng (Volume 14, "Methods and Blending of Many Fragrances") records not one but four different versions of the "Southern Tang Emperor Li's Chamber Incense"
Among these four, versions 2 and 4 use pears — which is why this incense became popularly known as "Pear Chamber Incense". Version 4 is the one most commonly referenced today.
Why It‘s Harder Than It Looks:
On paper, this formula is just three things: agarwood, sandalwood, and pears. But there’s a reason some incense makers compare it to fried rice — simple ingredients, but the execution separates the good from the great.
The pear you use changes everything. The original text is vague about what kind of pear the “goose pear” actually was — some say it‘s a variety that no longer exists. Modern makers substitute with whatever fragrant pear they can find, and the choice shifts the scent in ways you can’t predict without trial and error.
Moisture is the real puzzle. Steaming fruit into wood sounds straightforward, but get it wrong and the incense base turns damp — mold during aging is a real risk. There‘s no chart telling you exactly how long to steam or how much juice is enough. You learn by feel, by repetition, by making mistakes.
When it works, the result is something quiet: a soft, fruity sweetness that sits alongside the wood — not on top of it. It's lighter than the heavy court formulas. This is a scent for a bedchamber, not a ceremony.
Aroma Profile
Soft woody · mellow fruit · gently sweet · smooth
The exact aroma varies because historical sources preserve several versions of the formula. In the pear-based versions, the fruit does not read like a modern sweet pear perfume. Instead, the preparation gives the agarwood — and, in some versions, sandalwood — a softer, rounded fruit sweetness that seems integrated into the wood itself.
The result is understated: warm wood with a mellow, almost translucent fruity edge rather than an obvious fruit fragrance.
When To Burn
Ideal for a quiet evening, relaxed reading, or the early part of a nighttime wind-down ritual. Its softer profile also makes it an approachable starting point for people who find dark agarwood formulas too intense.
If you burn it as part of an evening routine, enjoy the incense while you are still awake and extinguish it completely before going to bed.
5. Ying Xiang(婴香) — The Infant Fragrance
Historical Background
Period: Song Dynasty (circa 11th century)
The name "Ying Xiang" translates as "Infant Fragrance" — a reference to Taoist texts that describe celestial figures whose bodies emitted a fragrance "like the breath of infants," meaning pure and unclouded.
What distinguishes this entry is the survival of its source document. The poet and calligrapher Huang Tingjian (黄庭坚) recorded this recipe in a personal letter to a friend. That letter survives today as a calligraphy scroll in the National Palace Museum in Taipei — one of the few physical links we have to how incense was actually made and shared in the Song dynasty.
The fragrance is clean and ethereal — less earthy than the Han formula, less warm than the Tang. It reflects the Taoist influence on Song incense culture: the belief that certain scents could elevate the spirit and connect the burner to something beyond the material world.
Traditional Ingredients
Aged agarwood, clove, natural borneol, musk, Jia Xiang and refined honey.
Aroma Profile
Aged woody · cool · dry spice · subtly honeyed
Aged agarwood gives Ying Xiang a mature, polished woody core. Clove adds restrained warmth, while natural borneol creates a cool, clear contrast. Refined honey rounds the powdered aromatics without turning the formula overtly sweet, and musk adds a deeper lingering undertone.
The character is clear and composed rather than airy or floral.
When to Burn
Particularly well suited to reading, calligraphy, meditation, or a quiet desk ritual. Its balance of aged wood, gentle spice, and cooling borneol makes it a good choice for mornings or afternoons when you want a fragrance that feels restrained rather than enveloping.
6. Snow in Spring (雪中春信) — A Cold Fragrance with a Warm Heart
Historical Background
Period: Song Dynasty (circa 11th century)
This formula is attributed to Su Shi (苏轼, also known as Su Dongpo), one of the defining literary figures of Chinese history. The formula was reportedly Su Shi's attempt to capture the scent of winter plum blossoms in a burnable form — the cold, clear fragrance that arrives before anything else is in bloom.
The preparation method, as recorded, is almost comically elaborate: collect snow that has settled on plum buds, store it in a cellar, and use that melted snow water in the incense preparation.
Whether Su Shi actually did this, or whether the story was added later to give the formula a more poetic origin, is impossible to determine. But the story has survived because it perfectly captures the Song literati ethos — the fusion of poetry, nature, and obsessive attention to craft.
The romance is what's told. The reality is slightly more complex.
Traditional Ingredients
The Xiang Sheng actually preserves three different recipes for "Snow in Spring." This suggests the formula evolved over time, with different perfumers offering their own interpretations of the same poetic idea: a fragrance that captures the feeling of plum blossoms emerging from the winter cold.
The three recipes take very different approaches:
-
Version 1 is the simplest — Zhanxiang (a traditional grade of agarwood), sandalwood, clove bark, camphor, and musk. The camphor and musk give it a cool, penetrating clarity. This version leans toward the cold side of the equation.
-
Version 2 is the most complex — agarwood, sandalwood, clove, costus root, spikenard, patchouli, angelica, and several other ingredients. With over a dozen components, it aims for richness and depth. This version leans toward the floral abundance of spring.
-
Version 3 is the most unusual. It uses only five aromatic ingredients — nutgrass, turmeric, sandalwood (boiled in tea), camphor (treated with lime), and bone charcoal. The preparation is where the magic happens: the tea-boiling and lime-treatment transform the raw materials, creating a fragrance that starts cool and gradually reveals warmth — exactly the "cold outside, warmth within" sensation of plum blossoms in snow.
Of the three, Version 3 is the most intriguing from a craft perspective. It proves that in classical Chinese incense-making, how you prepare an ingredient can matter as much as which ingredients you choose. The tea-boiled sandalwood and lime-treated camphor suggest a sophistication that goes beyond simple mixing — this is perfumery as alchemy.
The scent itself, across all three versions, is cool and floral, with a clarity that feels appropriate for meditation or concentrated work. It doesn't overwhelm — it accompanies.
Aroma Profile
Cool · clear · dry floral impression · gently warming
There is no single aroma profile for Snow in Spring because the Xiang Sheng preserves three substantially different versions.
The simpler formula emphasizes cool woods, camphor, and musk; the more complex version builds greater herbal and aromatic depth; while the unusual third version uses tea-treated sandalwood and specially prepared camphor to create a striking movement from coolness toward warmth.
Across the different interpretations, the common idea is not a literal plum-blossom perfume but an aromatic impression of cold air, restrained fragrance, and the first suggestion of spring.
When to Burn
A beautiful daytime incense, especially for reading, writing, creative work, tea, or a quiet morning ritual. Its cooler character also makes it a natural seasonal choice for winter into early spring — moments when the contrast between coldness and emerging warmth feels particularly appropriate.
7. Yang Guifei's Chamber Incense (杨贵妃帏中衙香) — The Scent That Made an Emperor Forget the Dawn
Historical Background
Period: Tang Dynasty, Kaiyuan Era (713–741 CE)
Yang Guifei (杨贵妃, 719–756 CE) — known in the West as Yang Yuhuan — was one of the most celebrated women in Chinese history. The consort of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, she is remembered not only for her legendary beauty, but also for her mastery of fragrance. According to the Xiang Sheng (《香乘》), this formula was the one she burned in her bedchamber curtains — the scent that, as the poet Bai Juyi wrote in his Song of Everlasting Sorrow, kept the emperor from rising for morning court.
The formula was first recorded in the Song Dynasty as "Kaiyuan Chamber Incense" (开元帏中衙香), named after the emperor's reign period. Later, the Ming scholar Zhou Jiazhou attributed it specifically to Yang Guifei and renamed it "Yang Guifei's Chamber Incense" in the Xiang Sheng.
According to the Tang Dynasty miscellany Youyang Zazu (《酉阳杂俎》), the kingdom of Jiaozhi (in present-day northern Vietnam) once sent the court a rare variety of borneol — so precious that the emperor gave all of it to Yang Guifei alone. Its fragrance could be detected from over ten paces away. Years later, long after her death, the grieving emperor opened an old pouch containing a scarf that had once brushed against her — and recognized the familiar scent. He wept: "This is the borneol."
The borneol in her chamber incense formula was the very same type of fragrance — cool, penetrating, and unmistakably hers. It was her signature scent, the one that would bring an emperor to tears years later.
The incense itself is complex and layered. The base is built on agarwood and zhanxiang — rich, woody, and deep. Sandalwood adds a creamy warmth. Clove and patchouli bring subtle spice. Musk contributes an animalic, sensual undertone. And borneol cuts through with a cool clarity that balances the warmth, giving the fragrance both depth and lift.
The result is a fragrance that feels both cool and warm — a fitting scent for the woman who inspired a thousand years of poetry and legend.
Traditional Ingredients
Agarwood, Zhanxiang (a grade of agarwood), clove, sandalwood, musk, Huoxiang (a historical aromatic herb often associated with patchouli in pre-Ming sources), Lingling Xiang (Lysimachia foenum-graecum, a traditional Chinese aromatic herb rich in coumarin-like sweet herbal notes), Jia Xiang, and natural borneol.
Aroma Profile
Deep woody · warm spice · sweet herbal · cool · musky
Agarwood and Zhanxiang create a dark, substantial woody base, softened by creamy sandalwood. Clove contributes warmth, while Huoxiang and Lingling Xiang introduce aromatic herbal and subtly sweet, hay-like nuances. Musk adds sensual depth, and natural borneol rises through the warmer materials with a cool, penetrating brightness.
It is one of the most layered formulas in the group, constantly balancing warmth against coolness.
When to Burn
Best reserved for evenings when you want something richer and more expressive: an intimate dinner, tea after dark, a special gathering, or simply a night when fragrance is meant to take center stage.
Because it is more layered than the quieter Song-style formulas, give it space and time rather than treating it as background scent.
8. Duke Han of Wei's Rich Plum Incense (韩魏公浓梅香) — Also Known as "Returning Soul Plum"
Historical Background
Period: Song Dynasty (circa 11th century)
This formula was created by Han Qi (韩琦, 1008–1075), later known as the Duke of Wei, a prime minister of the Northern Song. It was first recorded in the Hongshi Xiang Pu (《洪氏香谱》), a Song Dynasty incense encyclopedia compiled by Hong Chu (洪刍) — who happened to be the nephew of Huang Tingjian (黄庭坚, 1045–1105), a renowned Song poet and calligrapher.
The formula passed through a remarkable chain of hands. From Han Qi, it went to Su Shi (苏轼, 1037–1101, better known as Su Dongpo, one of the greatest poets of the Song Dynasty), then to the poet-monk Hui Hong (惠洪, 1071–1128), and finally to Huang Tingjian.
In 1103, Huang — exiled and in poor health — was resting on a boat outside Changsha when a monk sent him two scrolls of plum blossom paintings. Looking at the painted branches, Huang remarked: "Only lacking fragrance."
Hui Hong, who was visiting, brought out an incense pellet. As the smoke rose, Huang was struck by a sensation he later described as walking through a plum grove on a cold, clear dawn.
He renamed it "Returning Soul Plum" (返魂梅) — borrowing from a legend about a fragrance that could revive the dead. His point: this scent was so true to the spirit of plum blossoms that it could call them back to life, even in winter.
The formula itself is unusual. It uses black agarwood — a rare grade of agarwood — along with clove, fermented tea powder, turmeric, musk, and honey. The tea powder is distinctive: tea was a cultural touchstone in Song China, and its use in incense reflects the period's fascination with blending different sensory traditions. The ingredients are ground, mixed with honey, and aged — longer aging improves the scent.
As it burns, the fragrance starts cool and clear, then slowly reveals warmth — like a plum blossom emerging from the winter cold.
Traditional Ingredients
Black agarwood, clove, Yu Jin (Curcuma root, a traditional Chinese aromatic material), Lacha (an elite pressed cake‑tea from Song‑dynasty China, finely ground into powder for traditional compound incense.), musk, Ding‑Fen (Shao‑fen, ancient‑lead‑white powder) and honey.
Note: Ding-Fen is the traditional Chinese lead‑white pigment (basic lead carbonate), used in tiny grain‑size dosage in Song‑dynasty incense formulas, not used in modern‑day production.
Aroma Profile
Dark woody · dry tea · earthy spice · mellow sweetness
Black agarwood gives the formula a darker foundation, while finely powdered Song-dynasty cake tea contributes a dry, slightly austere dimension. Yu Jin introduces earthy aromatic warmth, clove provides spice, and honey rounds the blend.
Despite its plum-inspired name, this is not a straightforward floral fragrance. Its effect is more abstract — dark wood, tea, spice, and warmth arranged to evoke the presence of plum blossom rather than imitate the flower literally.
When to Burn
Especially evocative in late autumn and winter. Try it with tea, poetry, reading, or an unhurried evening indoors. Its darker woods and tea-like dryness make it particularly satisfying when you want something more atmospheric than conventionally floral.
9. Xuanhe Imperial Incense (宣和御制香) — The Emperor's Masterpiece
Historical Background
Period: Song Dynasty, Xuanhe Era (1119–1125 CE)
“Xuanhe” was the reign name of Emperor Huizong (宋徽宗, 1082–1135), one of China's most artistically gifted rulers — a painter, calligrapher, and connoisseur of all the refined arts. The name “Xuanhe Imperial Incense” is not simply a reference to the era; “imperial” (御制) signals that the formula was not just used in the palace, but was personally approved and overseen by the emperor himself. According to records, Huizong would visit the imperial incense workshop and involve himself in the creation of this formula — a level of personal attention that sets it apart from standard palace blends.
Among the formulas in this list, this one stands out for its complexity. Its nine ingredients include cinnabar, a mineral more commonly associated with Taoist alchemy than incense-making — a reflection of Huizong's deep engagement with Taoist ritual culture, which flourished at his court.
Huizong was known to bestow this incense upon his closest ministers as a mark of favor — a rare gift that signaled supreme trust. The fragrance is regal and layered, with a cool depth that distinguishes it from the warmer Tang formulas.
The irony, of course, is that Huizong's rule ended in disaster — he was captured by invaders and died in captivity. But his incense survived him, a small reminder of a world that was lost.
Traditional Ingredients
Agarwood, sandalwood, Jinyan Xiang(金颜香-benzoin resin, a traditional aromatic tree resin), Beiyincao (背阴草-a moisture-loving plant that grows in shaded areas, used in traditional incense for its subtle green notes), natural borneol, musk, clove, cinnabar and Jia Xiang.
Note: The original formula included cinnabar (朱砂). Modern recreations typically omit it — cinnabar contains mercury, and its use in incense is not considered safe by today's standards.
Aroma Profile
Resinous woody · balsamic · cool · green-spiced · complex
Agarwood and sandalwood give the formula its woody body, while Jinyan Xiang (benzoin resin) adds a gentle balsamic sweetness. Clove provides dry spice; Beiyincao introduces a subtler green-herbal dimension; and natural borneol brings a cool brightness above the deeper materials.
Musk adds further depth, producing a layered fragrance that shifts between resinous warmth and cool aromatic lift.
When to Burn
A strong choice for formal tea, hosting guests, cultural rituals, or evenings when you want to spend time actively noticing the fragrance itself. Its complexity rewards slower attention, making it less of an everyday background incense and more of a formula to experience deliberately.
10. Princess Shouyang's Plum Blossom Incense (寿阳公主梅花香) — A Legendary Floral
Historical Background
Period: Northern and Southern Dynasties (circa 5th century)
Princess Shouyang (寿阳公主), daughter of Emperor Wu of the Liu Song Dynasty (r. 420–422 CE), was known for her deep love of plum blossoms — so much so that she was later honored as the “Plum Blossom Goddess”. Legend has it that a plum blossom once fell on her forehead and left a mark that became the famous “plum blossom makeup” — but her real obsession went far beyond fashion.
She wanted to keep the scent of plum blossoms close, even when they weren't in bloom. So she set her ladies-in-waiting to collect snow from plum blossoms on winter mornings, believing the snow carried the flower's pure essence. She blended it with agarwood, spikenard, angelica root, sandalwood, and other spices — and created a fragrance that, when burned, evoked the feeling of walking through a plum grove in the snow.
The recipe was one of thirteen incense formulas she was said to have composed. Three of them — this one, “Snow in Spring” (雪中春信 — which was later also made famous by the Song Dynasty poet Su Shi), and “Spring Message” (春消息) — were later celebrated as the “Three Plum Masterpieces” (梅香三绝). The formula was first recorded in a Song Dynasty incense manual and later preserved in the Xiang Sheng.
Whether she actually composed it is impossible to verify — but the formula itself is real. Unlike the agarwood-heavy blends elsewhere in this list, this one uses no agarwood and no musk. Its scent is herb-forward — spikenard, angelica, tree peony root — with sandalwood and clove bark underneath. It's cool, restrained, and floral, reflecting an older aromatic tradition before the Tang Dynasty's trade routes reshaped what Chinese incense-makers had access to.
Traditional Ingredients
Spikenard (Nardostachys chinensis), Baizhi (Angelica dahurica root), Mudan Pi (Paeonia suffruticosa root bark, a traditional Chinese aromatic material), Gao Ben (Ligusticum sinense root)，fennel, clove bark, sandalwood, Jiangzhen Xiang (降真香-Chinese rosewood, Dalbergia odorifera, a rare fragrant wood traditionally used in classical Chinese incense), and white plum blossom.
Aroma Profile
Herbal floral · rooty · dry woody · gently spiced
This formula stands apart because it does not depend on an agarwood-heavy base. Spikenard, Baizhi, Mudan Pi, and Gao Ben create an aromatic root-and-herb core, supported by sandalwood and Jiangzhen Xiang. Fennel and clove bark add restrained spice, while white plum blossom completes the floral association.
The result is not a lush or sugary floral. It is cooler, drier, and more botanical — an austere interpretation of plum blossom shaped as much by roots and herbs as by flowers.
When to Burn
A good daytime choice for spring, early summer, tea, reading, or anyone who prefers botanical fragrances over heavier agarwood blends. It is also an interesting introduction to Chinese incense for people coming from floral fragrance, because it demonstrates how differently a classical formula can interpret the idea of a flower.
10 Traditional Chinese Incense Formulas at a Glance
| No. | Name (English) | Chinese Name | Period | Character | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Han Jianning Palace Incense | 汉建宁宫中香 | Eastern Han | Earthy, medicinal | Deep meditation |
| 2 | Tang Kaiyuan Palace Incense | 唐开元宫中香 | Tang | Warm, ceremonial | Evening atmosphere |
| 3 | Madam Huarui's Private Incense | 花蕊夫人衙香 | Five Dynasties | Restrained, intimate | Quiet reflection |
| 4 | Pear Chamber Incense | 鹅梨帐中香 | Southern Tang | Soft, lightly fruity | Bedroom, before sleep |
| 5 | Ying Xiang (Infant Fragrance) | 婴香 | Song | Clean, cool, spiritual | Meditation, study |
| 6 | Snow in Spring | 雪中春信 | Song | Cool, clear, floral | Focused work |
| 7 |
Yang Guifei's Chamber Incense |
杨贵妃帏中衙香 |
Tang | Rich, woody, layered | Special Evening |
| 8 | Duke Han of Wei's Rich Plum Incense | 韩魏公浓梅香 | Song | Complex, evocative | Winter, evening |
| 9 | Xuanhe Imperial Incense | 宣和御制香 | Song | Regal, layered | Formal occasions |
| 10 | Princess Shouyang's Plum Blossom Incense | 寿阳公主梅花香 | N. & S. Dynasties | Floral, herb-forward | Floral fragrance preference |
Common Ingredients in Traditional Chinese Incense Formulas
Traditional Chinese He Xiang (合香) formulas draw from a remarkably broad palette of aromatic materials. Rather than relying on a single dominant scent, they combine woods, herbs, roots, spices, resins, and other prepared ingredients to create fragrances that unfold in layers.
Agarwood (Chenxiang, 沉香) and sandalwood (Tanxiang, 檀香) form the woody foundation of many classical formulas. Agarwood can bring deep, resinous, sweet, or quietly earthy nuances, while sandalwood contributes a softer, warmer character that helps round out more penetrating ingredients.
Spices and cooling aromatics add contrast. Clove and clove bark (Dingxiang / Dingpi, 丁香 / 丁皮) introduce dry warmth, while natural borneol (Longnao, 龙脑) gives many formulas their distinctive cool, crystalline lift.
Traditional recipes also make extensive use of aromatic herbs and roots, including Huoxiang (Agastache rugosa), Lingling Xiang (Lysimachia foenum-graecum), spikenard (Nardostachys chinensis), Baizhi (Angelica dahurica root), Gao Ben (Ligusticum sinense root), Yu Jin (Curcuma root), and Mudan Pi (Paeonia suffruticosa root bark). Resins such as frankincense, storax, and Jinyan Xiang (benzoin resin) add further depth.
Some formulas also employ supporting materials such as Jia Xiang (甲香), traditionally processed marine shell material, and refined honey, which could help bind powdered aromatics into pellets or pastes.
Historical recipes occasionally contain materials that would not normally be used in modern incense, including cinnabar, lead-white powder, and animal-derived musk. Contemporary recreations therefore require interpretation as well as historical knowledge — preserving the aromatic logic of an old formula without necessarily reproducing every material literally.
Understanding the Sources: What We Really Know
Historical incense formulas rarely come down to us as simple, perfectly documented recipes. They survive through layers of manuscripts, incense manuals, literary references, later compilations, and — inevitably — legend.
Many of the formulas in this guide are preserved in the Xiang Sheng (《香乘》), compiled by the scholar Zhou Jiazhou during the late Ming dynasty. The Xiang Sheng is one of the most comprehensive surviving collections of Chinese incense knowledge and draws extensively on earlier texts and traditions.
That makes it enormously valuable — but it is important to understand what kind of source it is.
For formulas attributed to the Han, Tang, or earlier periods, the Xiang Sheng was compiled centuries after the people and events associated with them. It therefore cannot always tell us whether an emperor, poet, princess, or imperial consort personally created a particular incense.
Some formulas have earlier textual connections. Han Wei Gong's Rich Plum Incense, for example, appears in the Song-dynasty Hongshi Xiang Pu (《洪氏香谱》), while the recipe associated with Ying Xiang (婴香) has an unusually direct connection to Huang Tingjian through a surviving piece of his calligraphy.
This distinction is important.
The formula itself — its ingredients and preparation method — may be preserved in a historical text, while the story of who created it may belong to a later tradition. That is why this guide deliberately uses phrases such as “attributed to,” “reportedly,” and “according to legend” rather than presenting every traditional attribution as established fact.
The recipes were not necessarily fixed, either. The Xiang Sheng records four versions of Pear Chamber Incense and three versions of Snow in Spring, showing that a famous incense name could represent an evolving family of formulas rather than one immutable recipe.
Modern recreations add another layer of interpretation. Aromatic materials vary by region, species, age, and grade; some historical ingredient names are difficult to identify with complete certainty; and old preparation instructions often assume practical knowledge that the text never explains.
Certain historical materials — including cinnabar, lead-white powder, and animal-derived musk — also present safety, ethical, or sourcing issues that make literal reproduction inappropriate today.
For these reasons, it is more accurate to think of modern versions as reconstructions or interpretations of historical formulas, rather than exact replicas of what someone burned a thousand years ago.
Our approach throughout this guide is therefore to keep three things separate whenever possible:
what the historical text records, what later tradition attributes to the formula, and what we can reasonably infer about its aroma today.
That distinction does not make these fragrances less meaningful. On the contrary, it reveals something essential about Chinese incense culture: formulas were copied, adapted, reinterpreted, and given new meaning as they moved from one generation to another.
Frequently Asked Questions About Traditional Chinese Incense
What is He Xiang (合香)?
He Xiang (合香) literally means “combined fragrance” or “blended incense.” It refers to the Chinese tradition of composing several aromatic materials — such as woods, herbs, roots, spices, and resins — into a balanced fragrance.
Rather than simply making one ingredient smell stronger, a He Xiang formula considers how different materials interact, how preparation changes them, and how the fragrance develops over time. Many of the historical recipes in this guide belong to this compound-incense tradition.
How old are traditional Chinese incense formulas?
Chinese blended-incense traditions developed over many centuries. The formulas in this guide are traditionally associated with periods ranging from the Eastern Han dynasty through the Song dynasty.
However, the date traditionally attached to a formula and the date of its surviving written source are not always the same. Some early formulas are known primarily through later compilations such as the Ming-dynasty Xiang Sheng, which preserved material from earlier incense traditions.
Are these exact ancient Chinese incense recipes?
Not necessarily.
Historical incense was a living craft, and famous formulas could exist in several versions. The Xiang Sheng, for example, preserves four versions of Pear Chamber Incense and three versions of Snow in Spring.
Modern makers also work with different grades and sources of aromatic materials, while some historical ingredients are unavailable, uncertain in identification, or inappropriate to use today. Modern versions are therefore better understood as informed reconstructions or interpretations rather than perfect replicas.
What does traditional Chinese incense smell like?
There is no single “Chinese incense” scent.
Traditional formulas range from deep and resinous to cool, herbal, spicy, floral, creamy, or gently sweet. Agarwood may provide a dark woody foundation, sandalwood can add warmth and smoothness, natural borneol introduces cool brightness, while herbs, roots, spices, and resins create additional layers.
Because He Xiang formulas combine multiple materials, the fragrance often changes gradually as it burns rather than remaining a single, linear scent.
Do all traditional Chinese incense formulas contain agarwood?
No. Agarwood is one of the most important materials in classical Chinese incense and appears in many famous formulas, but it is not essential to every blend.
Princess Shouyang's Plum Blossom Incense, for example, builds its character from aromatic roots, herbs, sandalwood, Jiangzhen Xiang, spices, and white plum blossom rather than an agarwood base. One historical version of Snow in Spring also takes a very different approach using nutgrass, Yu Jin, specially prepared sandalwood, camphor, and bone charcoal.
This diversity is part of what makes the He Xiang tradition so varied.
Which traditional Chinese incense formula is best for beginners?
It depends on the fragrances you already enjoy.
If you prefer something soft and approachable, Pear Chamber Incense offers a gentle woody character with a subtle fruit sweetness. For a cooler and clearer profile, Snow in Spring is a good place to begin. Those drawn to richer woods and spices may prefer Yang Guifei's Chamber Incense, while Madame Huarui's Private Incense offers a more restrained, polished blend of woods, resinous notes, cool borneol, and soft musky depth.
Trying formulas with contrasting aroma profiles is often the easiest way to discover which style of traditional Chinese incense appeals to you most.
Your Turn: Which Formula Speaks to You?
From the earthy grounding of the Han Jianning Palace Incense to the romantic softness of the Pear Chamber Incense, each of these 10 formulas offers a unique window into China's 2,000-year incense tradition — and a distinct aromatic experience for your own meditation, relaxation, or daily ritual.
Which of these 10 famous scents would you like to try first?
👉 Explore our collection of handcrafted Chinese incense — each formula is recreated using traditional methods with all-natural ingredients.
👉 Or tell us in the comments below: What's your favorite incense scent, and what do you use it for? We'd love to hear from you.
Continue reading:
A Brief History of Chinese Incense: Over 5,000 Years of Daily Ritual
Chinese Incense vs Japanese Incense vs Indian Incense: Key Differences Explained
The Complete Guide to Pear Chamber Incense: History, Formulas, and Benefits
Share
