Incense
Incense (from Latin incendere "to burn") is composed of aromatic biotic materials,which release fragrant smoke when burned. The term incense refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odour that it produces. It is used in religious ceremonies, ritual purification, aromatherapy, meditation, for creating a spiritual atmosphere, and for masking unpleasant odors.
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Famous quotes containing the word incense:
“You might sooner get lightning out of incense smoke than true action or passion out of your modern English religion.”
—John Ruskin (1819–1900)
“Here the sausage and garlic booth
Sent unholy incense skyward;
There a quivering female-thing
Gestured assignations, and lied
To call it dancing;”
—Anne Spencer (1882–1975)
“Flies, acolytes
of the death-in-life temple
buzz their prayers
and from the altar
of excrement arises
an incense ...”
—Denise Levertov (b. 1923)