The Violet Flame has a Superior Selection of Quality Incenses from all over the world.

The fragrance of incense -- carried lightly through the air -- may evoke thoughts and feelings, setting the mind at rest or into a receptiveness for images of all kinds. It is for this reason that incense has been used for aeons in conjunction with worship, meditation and prayer.

Incense is unlike other kinds of perfumes because it is designed to spread fragrance to its target right away, to do its work in creating an atmosphere or setting a tranquil pace for whatever activity is intended. It is also infinitely more versatile than other perfumes, because it goes far beyond being just a perfume; good incense makes use of substances (tree barks and saps, roots, flowers and other botanical products) which cannot be liquified or isolated into a perfume or cologne. And in the burning, ingredients of extremely differing forms combine into a single, unique bouquet containing subtle tones or shadings.

Indian incenses ("agarbatties") represent literally thousands of different ingredients and compounds, and usually contain liquid perfumes as well as solid base ingredients such as sandalwood powder, charcoal and a resin known as "jigit". Any given incense can be expected to have thirty or more ingredients. Japanese incenses are equally complex, but lean heavily toward woody, resinous fragrances, containing extracts of rare plants that are never used in Western perfumery. All Tibetan incense ("zimpo") starts with the same basic botanical ingredients (principally derived from the Himalayan Cedar or cedrus deodarus), but there are subtle differences and striking variations in quality in different zimpos, to the degree that some are considered among the greatest incenses of the world.

And of course there are the resins (from plants, mainly trees) which vaporize when burned on charcoal, producing the never-to-be-forgotten smells of ancient basilicas, temples and churches. Resins -- especially that contained in aloes wood -- reconstitute themselves on the surface of walls and ceilings in microscopically thin layers, eventually giving the place where they are used an olfactory character which is essentially permanent.

Incense is a kind of "mental stimulant" which can transform the ordinary into the very special, and do so easily and at no great expense. Fine incense burning in a plain room with gentle lighting and a few special artifacts can product the setting that subtly calls the psyche to relax, lighten and flow with the moment. Whether the space is a temple or a bedroom, the effect is the same. A mood is set: the moment takes on a heightened, special meaning.

Of course, how well that special meaning is evoked depends greatly upon the quality of the incense used, as well as the personal tastes of the user. That is why The Violet Flame stocks such great variety -- to allow those who know the delights of incense burning to find what is just right for their own purposes. And each choice will be outstanding in its own right.

What matters is that you are pleased, and that you can rely on a quality source of supply. That is exactly what The Violet Flame always attempts to provide.

Many of the products listed on this site and that are sold in our Auctions are made by the oldest and most prestigious firms in Asia. Some are made by religious orders in Europe; others by Tibetan refugees living in India; and not a few by master perfumers working from prized secret family recipes handed down for centuries. Many are world famous. A good number are used in temples, churches, monasteries, ashrams, zendos...even palaces. Most are found, at last, in quiet places where people meditate, or worship, or celebrate the special events of life. The finest and most gracious homes in Japan and India would never be without a complement of incense for any number of occasions, and for daily use as well.

While we have tried to give descriptions of these remarkable products which are helpful, we recognize that it is experience which will help you decide which types might really be "yours"; so in cases where products are expensive, we have made up reasonably priced samplers or assortments which will assist your selection. We hope you will enjoy these superior products as much as we have enjoyed finding them and bringing them into our collection. And if there is something missing -- a favorite that we don't have -- please tell us about it, and we'll do our best to get it.