Incense, the original aromatherapy

Humans have been burning incense for untold millennia, with the earliest written records of the practice found in tablets dating back nearly 6,000 years. In countless cultures across the world, the burning of aromatic plants has been widely used for ceremonial, aesthetic, and medicinal purposes, with some traditions developing highly specialized techniques and formulations for a wide range of applications.

Being a vital crossroads for ancient trade routes, Tibetan incense makers benefitted from a diverse range of techniques, ingredients, and healing knowledge, and centuries of unbroken lineage have made Tibetan and Himalayan incense crafters among the greatest in the world. In the Tibetan Medical tradition, incense is featured as a special external therapy for a number of imbalances, particularly related to rlung (wind) and gdon (provocation).

In the western tradition, incense is an oft-forgotten element of traditional herbalism - truly the first form of aromatherapy. While it’s usually relegated to the realm of spiritual practice, the use of incense remains widespread in the western world, whether it involves “smudging” with sage, creating sacred space for meditation practice, or burning a bit of highly-atmospheric Nag Champa from the corner store for an evening with friends.

Our Shrīmālā incense is 100% natural and free from synthetic additives, fragrance oils, and chemical burning agents. Our formulas are made strictly of whole plant materials, all of which are sustainably sourced (or wildcrafted), hand-processed and powdered, and organically grown whenever possible. All of our incense sticks are hand-rolled and lovingly packaged here in London.

A note on availability

Our handmade incense line is prepared in small batches in alignment with planetary cycles, and therefore availability can be somewhat sporadic. If your favourite blend is unavailable, please sign up to receive an update when more is in stock.