Step One: Harvesting the Ingredients · In Harmony with Nature’s Gifts
All of our raw materials are sourced from pristine regions at elevations above 4,000 meters, such as Nagqu and Shannan in Tibet. We follow the traditional principle of “taking only what is needed, without harming the land,” harvesting each ingredient entirely by hand. Every blade of grass and every pinch of spice carries the nourishment of high-plateau sun and rain—pure, unadulterated, and free from impurities. After harvesting, the materials are promptly air-dried and carefully stored to preserve their freshest and most full-bodied aromas.
Step Two: Traditional Processing · Flavors Refined by Time
Once harvested, the ingredients undergo a series of intricate traditional processing methods. Cypress wood, for example, is repeatedly treated using the “Nimu water-milling” technique to remove impurities and bitterness, leaving behind a deep, refined woody fragrance. Saffron, on the other hand, is gently soaked in warm water and then drained, allowing its rich and mellow aroma to fully awaken.
Step Three: Handcrafted Incense · The Warmth of the Hands, the Heart of the Artisan
Incense making is the ultimate test of craftsmanship. First, the prepared ingredients are placed into stone mortars and ground by hand into a fine powder. Machine grinding can damage aromatic molecules, while hand grinding produces a finer texture and a longer-lasting scent. The powders are then blended according to ancient formulas, mixed evenly, and combined with an appropriate amount of Tibetan spring water to form a supple incense paste.
Next, the artisan places the paste into a specially made incense extruder crafted from Tibetan yak horn. Through steady, manual pressure, the paste is gently extruded through a small opening, forming slender incense sticks. This step demands precise control to ensure uniform thickness and durability. The freshly formed sticks are then carefully laid out on drying racks and left to dry naturally in a cool, well-ventilated, shaded space—never under direct sunlight, which would damage the aroma, and never in damp conditions, which could cause mold. Depending on the weather, the drying process typically takes 7 to 15 days, until the incense is completely cured.
We have always believed that true craftsmanship takes time. When you light one of our incense sticks, what you experience is not merely a fragrance, but the quiet depth of 1,300 years of tradition—and the warmth of hands devoted to their craft.
