incense

Any resin, gum, balsam, or other substance that, when burned, gives off aromatic smoke. It is used in religious ceremonies, as air freshener, or to deter insects.

In a Taiwanese study published in August 2001, the burning of incense was found to release polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are highly carcinogenic. PAH levels in some Buddhist temples were found to be 40 times higher than in the homes of smokers.

Incense was used in the ancient Jewish temple as an offering to God, and its use is described in detail in the Torah. It is not generally used in modern Judaism. Hinuism, Buddhism, and Taoism all make use of incense as part of prayer or meditation. The symbolism is of a sweet smell rising to heaven. Incense was, according to the Bible, offered to the infant Jesus by the magi, and is described in the Book of Revelation as representing the prayers of saints; but its use was not general in the Christian church till the 6th century. It is thought to have some preservative power, valuable in wooden-roofed churches.