Tuesday, 11 November 2014

How To Identify The Best Nag Champa Incense

By Christa Jarvis


This popular scent has an unmistakable aroma that is a combination of earthy and flower scents. It is very popular throughout the world. It is used for the enjoyment of its aroma, as well as meditation and other spiritual purposes. Obtaining a quality product is a high priority for many shoppers. There are some shared features that define the best Nag Champa incense.

Many people connect it historically with Persia and with India for current popular brands. All around South Asia, it is renowned as a holy scented smoke and also finds secular use as a popular aromatic. The main ingredient is the flower of the plumeria rubra or frangapini. Also called the champa flower, it has a very strong and unique scent. Extracts produced from the flower are also used in perfumes.

Another crucial plant ingredient is the highly fragrant sandalwood. It is a major product used in a variety of perfumes, colognes, and incense. It has a full, earth aroma. It has a very warm tone that many describe as creamy or buttery. Paste made from sandalwood is a major sacred item in Hindu practices. Used to mark and bless the faithful, it is prepared by holy people who undertake special purification measures.

A large, branching evergreen tree provide another traditional component. When the bark is cut, it exudes a sticky sap filled with plants volatiles and aromatic compounds. Properly dried, the sap hardens to a smooth resin called halmaddi that is a crucial ingredient in many Indian incenses. It carries its own powerful aroma, but uniquely blends well with other aromatics and also helps other smells bind together. The resin is also used as a binder and burn regulator.

Many other sap and extract products are used in creating nag champa. The exacts choices are a matter of tradition and specific recipe. Some are chosen for their scent enhancement qualities and ability to blend other smells together. Others are selected for the quality of binding, burning, or other essential features of proper aromatic smoke. Typically, the ideal resins will have creamy, earthy, and/or clean smells. They also ideally help guarantee a clean and well-blended smoke.

Careful ingredient quality control is a crucial element. Below par ingredients can result in poor shelf life and less pleasant smells. Proper ingredients will produce a long burning, highly pleasing product and ensure a long shelf life. Common things to look for are freshness, ideal season, healthy plants, and correct harvesting methods. The best essential oils and gums are extracted using careful methods and from specific plant parts that are harvested in narrow seasonal windows to maximize volatiles content.

The value of a process using proper methods cannot be overstated. Each process has been honed over centuries to ensure a consistent, high value result over the course of many batches. The order of steps, handling methods, setting times, and other such features determine the end result.

Champa incense has seen increasing popularity worldwide in recent years. A wide selection of brands and retail outlets have brought it into the hands of many more people. Some consumers use it for purely aesthetic purposes to enjoy the smell and beautify their home. Others find value in its traditional religious connections or utilize it in their own spiritual and meditative practices. Reasons may vary, but you may also find great value in trying it out.




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