ingredient
Agarwood (Chen Xiang) — What It Is, Grades & How to Tell Real from Fake
沉香 chénxiāng Aquilaria spp.
Aroma woody · resinous · sweet · complex
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Ingredients
Direct answer: an ingredient entry names the botanical material, its Chinese term and pinyin, its scientific source, and its aroma profile — then explains how it is processed, graded, used and authenticated.
ingredient
Ambergris (Long Xian Xiang) — The Animal-Derived Fixative
龙涎香 lóngxiánxiāng Physeter macrocephalus (sperm whale) — an animal secretion, not botanical
Aroma marine · sweet · earthy · waxy
Read entryAroma herbal · aromatic · sweet-bitter · slightly spicy
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Benzoin (An Xi Xiang) — The Sweet Vanilla-Balsamic Resin
安息香 ānxīxiāng Styrax tonkinensis (Siam); Styrax benzoin / S. paralleloneurus (Sumatra)
Aroma sweet · vanilla · balsamic · woody
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Borneol (Long Nao) — The Camphoraceous 'Dragon Brain' Aromatic
龙脑 lóngnǎo Dryobalanops aromatica (natural d-borneol); also Blumea balsamifera (l-borneol); plus synthetic borneol
Aroma camphoraceous · cooling · minty · woody
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Calamus (Chang Pu) — The Spicy Aromatic Rhizome (With a Safety Caveat)
菖蒲 chāngpú Acorus calamus (and related Acorus spp.)
Aroma herbal · spicy · sweet · earthy
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Cedar (Xue Song) — A Woody Note With a Naming Problem
雪松 xuěsōng Cedrus spp. (true cedar); note 'cedarwood' often = Juniperus virginiana
Aroma woody · clean · slightly sweet
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Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua) — The Herbal-Floral Flower of Tea
菊花 júhuā Chrysanthemum morifolium (and C. indicum)
Aroma floral · herbal · bittersweet
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Cinnamon (Gui Pi) — Chinese Cassia, and the 'Cinnamon vs Cassia' Distinction
桂皮 guìpí Cinnamomum cassia (Chinese cinnamon/cassia); cf. C. verum (Ceylon cinnamon)
Aroma warm · spicy · sweet
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Clove (Ding Xiang) — A Warm Spice Note (and a Naming Trap)
丁香 dīngxiāng Syzygium aromaticum
Aroma spicy · warm · aromatic
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Frankincense (Ru Xiang) — The Aromatic Resin of Ritual & Incense
乳香 rǔxiāng Boswellia spp. (B. sacra, B. serrata, B. carterii)
Aroma resinous · citrus · earthy · creamy
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Jasmine (Mo Li Hua) — The Sweet Flower of Chinese Tea & Fragrance
茉莉 mòlì Jasminum sambac (and other Jasminum spp.)
Aroma sweet · floral · heady
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Mugwort (Ai Cao) — What It Is & Its Role in Chinese Tradition
艾草 àicǎo Artemisia spp. (A. argyi, A. vulgaris)
Aroma herbal · bitter-green · camphoraceous
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Myrrh (Mo Yao) — The Bitter, Balsamic Resin
没药 mòyào Commiphora myrrha (and other Commiphora spp.)
Aroma balsamic · earthy · bitter · medicinal
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Orange Peel / Chenpi (陈皮) — The Aged Mandarin Peel
陈皮 chénpí Citrus reticulata (aged mandarin/tangerine peel)
Aroma citrus · bittersweet · woody
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Osmanthus (Gui Hua) — The Sweet Chinese Flower of Fragrance & Tea
桂花 guìhuā Osmanthus fragrans
Aroma sweet · floral · apricot · honey
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Patchouli (Guang Huo Xiang) — The Earthy East-Asian Incense Leaf
广藿香 guǎnghuòxiāng Pogostemon cablin
Aroma earthy · woody · balsamic · spicy
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Pine Resin (Song Xiang) — The Woody-Balsamic Tree Resin
松香 sōngxiāng Pinus spp. (rosin / colophony from pine oleoresin)
Aroma piney · woody · balsamic · resinous
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Rose (Mei Gui) — The Sweet Floral of Tea, Perfume & Incense
玫瑰 méiguī Rosa rugosa (Chinese rose); also Rosa damascena
Aroma sweet · floral · romantic
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Sandalwood (Tan Xiang) — What It Is, Species & Traditional Use vs Modern Evidence
檀香 tánxiāng Santalum album (and other Santalum spp.)
Aroma creamy · sweet · soft · woody
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Sweetgum (Feng Xiang) — The Sweet-Balsamic Resin
枫香 fēngxiāng Liquidambar formosana (Chinese sweetgum); cf. L. orientalis (storax)
Aroma sweet · balsamic · resinous · warm
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Vetiver (Yan Lan Cao) — The Deep, Earthy Root Note
岩兰草 yánláncǎo Chrysopogon zizanioides (syn. Vetiveria zizanioides)
Aroma earthy · woody · smoky · warm
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