Process of Producing All-natural Incense Sticks

The production of our incense sticks requires 8 major steps, namely cutting, pounding, pressing, washing, boiling, curing, kneading and drying, further broken down into a total of 24 minor steps. The key principle of our incense making is to make incense that nourishes the mind and body. To achieve this effect, the production process is complicated and demanding. Depending on the specific type of incense, the production process will also be adjusted. Overall, below is the path taken to get to the final product.

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我们线香的制作，需要8大项、24小项的工序，即切、捣、压、洗、煮、治、揉、晒。我们制香原则是使香养神、养生，要达此功效，生产工序之复杂，要求之高，绝非易事。因合香所用香药不同，工序也会有所调整，步骤大体如下。

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1. [Material selection]【选材】
The most important process is material selection. As the quality of various spices in the world varies greatly due to different origins, we select high-quality spices from the same origin for a particular fragrance. 其中最重要的是选材。因世界上各种香料因产地不同，质量亦相去甚远，因此，一款香我们甄选优质同产地香料。

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2. [Grinding ]【研磨】
Various aromatic herbs are pulverized separately, and then the pulverized granules are grounded. Usually, stone mortars, stone mills and other tools are used for grinding. And different fragrances have different requirements depending on the fineness of the fragrance powder.将各种香药分别粉碎，然后将粉碎后的颗粒物进行研磨。通常使用石臼、捣子、石磨等工具进行研磨。并且不同的香品对香粉的细腻程度有不同的要求。

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3. [Concoction]【炮制】

The processing of concocting fragrances is similar to that of Chinese medicine, through steaming, boiling, frying, moxibustion, firing, roasting, etc. The purpose of processing is to correct or strengthen certain characteristics of the incense, and to help it achieve the expected fragrance.

香药的炮制与一般药物的炮制类似，经过蒸、煮、炒、灸、炮、焙、飞手法。炮制的目的就是为了纠正或加强香中的某种特性，或者为了使某种香达到预期的香味。

4. [Ensuring Compatibility]【配伍】
The compatibility of incense prescriptions is the key to incense making. The ratios of aromatic herbs, the compatibility of combined aromatic herbs, and fine-tuning of the hierarchy of scents between aromatic herbs are major criteria. It is carried out through mastering the rhythm and timing of incense making and the theory of harmony between man and nature in traditional Chinese medicine.

香方配伍是制香之关键。单方香药比例的使用，合方香药的配伍，处理香药间的君臣搭配。通过掌握合香的节律和时间及中医天人合一的理论进行。

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5. [Hand molding ]【手制成型】
After the incense powder is synthesized, natural binders are added to form an incense mud ball; it is then kneaded and beat repeatedly, so that all kinds of incense medicine powders are fully integrated, the texture of the whole incense mud becomes tighter, and the produced incense becomes not easily breakable. Then the fragrant mud is put into an earthen pot for a period of time to make it softer and more elastic. After this, it can be shaped according to the shape of the fragrance.

香粉合成后，加入天然黏合剂并和成香泥团，反复揉搓、摔打香泥，使得各种香药药粉充分融合，并且使整个香泥的质地更加紧密，使得保证制作出来的香不容易断裂。 再把香泥放入陶罐中饧上一段时间，让香泥更加柔软有弹性。饧好后可根据香品形状进行定形。

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6. [Drying] 【阴干】
In order to prevent the incense from deforming during the drying process, a hemp rope is placed in the middle of a wooden frame, and the incense is placed on the hemp rope to dry in the shade. It needs to be placed in a ventilated place without sunlight to allow it to dry naturally, so as to ensure that the spices and medicinal materials are better blended.

为了防止香品在阴干过程中变形，使用木框，在木框中间穿上麻绳，然后将香放在麻绳上阴干。为保证其品质，均需将其置于通风且不见阳光之地，使其自然干燥，保证香料及药材更好地达其功效。

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7. [Storage]【窖藏】
After the incense is dried in the shade, it is stored in a place away from light and of suitable humidity and temperature, so that the spices and medicinal materials can better integrate and interact with each other; in this way the aroma becomes layered and integrated. River clay pots are used to store incense, so the cool air of river mud can drive away the hotness and dryness in the incense.

香品阴干后，在避光且湿度、温度适宜的地方储藏，是使香料及药材更好地互相融合、作用，如此可使香气既有层次又浑然一体。

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8. [Packing]【包装】
This depends on the type of fragrance. The incense is packed in a container chosen for the attributes and characteristics of the component spices.

根据香品种类分类。用容器装好。并根据各种香料的属性特点选择容器，容器便于时时开合，以方便我们查看香品情况。使用河泥罐存香，以河泥的阴凉之气驱除香中的燥气。