{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Dataset",
  "@id": "https://data.incenseherbs.com/datasets/materials.json",
  "name": "LanDeng Incense Material Database",
  "description": "Machine-readable definitions of the functional materials used to make Chinese botanical incense — binders, bases, cores, fuels, and loose aromatic materials. Extracted from the LanDeng (澜灯) incense encyclopedia; values are traceable to source pages and no value is fabricated.",
  "url": "https://data.incenseherbs.com/datasets/materials.json",
  "publisher": {
    "@id": "https://incenseherbs.com/#organization"
  },
  "dateModified": "2026-09-19",
  "inLanguage": [
    "en",
    "zh"
  ],
  "isAccessibleForFree": true,
  "distribution": {
    "@type": "DataDownload",
    "encodingFormat": "application/json",
    "contentUrl": "https://data.incenseherbs.com/datasets/materials.json"
  },
  "mainEntity": [
    {
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "termCode": "makko",
      "name": "Makko",
      "alternateName": [
        "抹香"
      ],
      "description": "Makko (抹香) is the powdered inner bark of the Machilus thunbergii tree (tabunoki), the traditional combustible wood-powder binder of East Asian stick incense.",
      "additionalProperty": [
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Type",
          "value": "natural binder (combustible wood powder)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Source",
          "value": "powdered inner bark of Machilus thunbergii (Lauraceae), the tabunoki tree"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Processing",
          "value": "dried and ground inner bark"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Physical characteristics",
          "value": "fine, light-colored, nearly odorless powder"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Aroma",
          "value": "low-odor / nearly odorless"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Burning behavior",
          "value": "combustible — burns cleanly and evenly, leaving little ash and no glue smell"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Applications",
          "value": "binder and combustion aid for stick, cone and coil incense; forms a workable paste with water that dries into a firm, self-supporting form"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "termCode": "bamboo-core",
      "name": "Bamboo Core",
      "description": "A bamboo core is a plant-based combustion base used as the central support of formed stick incense.",
      "additionalProperty": [
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Type",
          "value": "combustion agent / base (core)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Source",
          "value": "bamboo"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Processing",
          "value": "coated with incense paste (hand-rolled onto the splint) or machine-coated/dipped in fragrance"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Physical characteristics",
          "value": "a thin bamboo splint"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Burning behavior",
          "value": "serves as the combustion base that keeps the stick burning evenly"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Applications",
          "value": "core of stick incense, onto which paste is coated (machine-made/dipped sticks)"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "termCode": "wood-powder",
      "name": "Wood Powder / Chips",
      "description": "Ground aromatic wood — sandalwood (檀香) or agarwood (沉香) powder or chips — is the loose pure-material form that is heated rather than burned to release scent.",
      "additionalProperty": [
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Type",
          "value": "aromatic material (loose wood)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Source",
          "value": "ground sandalwood (Santalum album) or agarwood (Aquilaria) wood"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Processing",
          "value": "ground into powder or cut into chips"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Physical characteristics",
          "value": "loose powder or chips"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Aroma",
          "value": "slow, complex aroma as it warms"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Burning behavior",
          "value": "smolders / warms rather than melts; heated indirectly (electric heater or 隔火焚香) for minimal smoke"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Applications",
          "value": "pure-material scent via heating on charcoal or an electric heater; seal-pattern (篆香) powder"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "termCode": "resin",
      "name": "Resin",
      "alternateName": [
        "乳香",
        "没药"
      ],
      "description": "Dried tree resins — frankincense (乳香) and myrrh (没药) — are loose aromatic materials that melt and release scent when heated.",
      "additionalProperty": [
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Type",
          "value": "aromatic material (loose resin tears)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Source",
          "value": "dried tree resins (frankincense Boswellia, myrrh Commiphora)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Processing",
          "value": "tapped gum resins, dried into tears; heated on a charcoal disc or electric heater"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Physical characteristics",
          "value": "resin tears that melt on heat"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Aroma",
          "value": "rich, fresh scent released on heat"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Burning behavior",
          "value": "melts (rather than smolders); heated, not burned — minimal smoke on an electric heater, more on charcoal"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Applications",
          "value": "indirect-fire (隔火焚香) appreciation; traditional bakhoor-style heating on charcoal"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "termCode": "charcoal",
      "name": "Charcoal",
      "description": "Charcoal is a combustible filler base used in cheap, synthetic incense to carry a fragrance oil.",
      "additionalProperty": [
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Type",
          "value": "combustion agent / base (synthetic filler)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Source",
          "value": "charcoal"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Processing",
          "value": "soaked in synthetic fragrance oil"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Burning behavior",
          "value": "burns to carry the fragrance oil"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Applications",
          "value": "filler base in cheap / synthetic incense"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "termCode": "sawdust",
      "name": "Sawdust",
      "description": "Sawdust is a combustible filler base used in cheap, synthetic incense to carry a fragrance oil.",
      "additionalProperty": [
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Type",
          "value": "combustion agent / base (synthetic filler)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Source",
          "value": "sawdust"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Processing",
          "value": "soaked in synthetic fragrance oil"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Burning behavior",
          "value": "burns to carry the fragrance oil"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Applications",
          "value": "filler base in cheap / synthetic incense"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "termCode": "honey",
      "name": "Honey",
      "alternateName": [
        "蜂蜜"
      ],
      "description": "Honey (蜂蜜) is a traditional plant-derived binder and fixative used in classical Chinese incense, including 柏子香 and 合香 blends.",
      "additionalProperty": [
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Type",
          "value": "natural binder / fixative"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Source",
          "value": "honey (traditionally jujube-flower honey)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Processing",
          "value": "used to bind powder into pills or sticks; sealed with the material in 柏子香"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Aroma",
          "value": "as a processing treatment it softens and sweetens the roasted-seed character (柏子香)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Burning behavior",
          "value": "acts as a guide/binder — binds the powder into a burnable form"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Applications",
          "value": "traditional binder and fixative in classical 合香 blends; seals 柏子香 seeds"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "termCode": "guar-gum",
      "name": "Guar Gum",
      "description": "Guar gum is a plant-derived natural binder that appears (less centrally than makko) in natural incense.",
      "additionalProperty": [
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Type",
          "value": "natural binder (plant gum)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Source",
          "value": "guar gum (plant gum)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Applications",
          "value": "plant-derived binder in natural incense"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "termCode": "gum-arabic",
      "name": "Gum Arabic",
      "description": "Gum arabic is a plant-derived natural binder that appears (less centrally than makko) in natural incense.",
      "additionalProperty": [
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Type",
          "value": "natural binder (plant gum)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Source",
          "value": "gum arabic (plant gum)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Applications",
          "value": "plant-derived binder in natural incense"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "termCode": "gum-tragacanth",
      "name": "Gum Tragacanth",
      "description": "Gum tragacanth is a plant-derived natural binder that appears (less centrally than makko) in natural incense.",
      "additionalProperty": [
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Type",
          "value": "natural binder (plant gum)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Source",
          "value": "gum tragacanth (plant gum)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Applications",
          "value": "plant-derived binder in natural incense"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "termCode": "synthetic-binder",
      "name": "Synthetic Binder",
      "description": "A synthetic binder is a chemical adhesive or gum used in cheap, machine-made incense sticks.",
      "additionalProperty": [
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Type",
          "value": "synthetic binder (chemical adhesive)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Source",
          "value": "chemical adhesive / gum"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Aroma",
          "value": "can impart a glue-like smell"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Burning behavior",
          "value": "can burn unevenly"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Applications",
          "value": "holds cheap machine-made sticks together"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "termCode": "fragrance-oil",
      "name": "Fragrance Oil",
      "description": "Fragrance oil is a manufactured, often petroleum-derived scent used in synthetic incense in place of real plant material.",
      "additionalProperty": [
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Type",
          "value": "synthetic aromatic material"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Source",
          "value": "manufactured scent, often petroleum-derived, with no plant material behind it"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Processing",
          "value": "soaked onto a charcoal or sawdust base"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Physical characteristics",
          "value": "a manufactured liquid scent (dipped/coated onto a base)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Aroma",
          "value": "strong, uniform, often 'perfumey'"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Burning behavior",
          "value": "carried on a neutral base (charcoal/sawdust) that burns; fragrance-oil sticks burn with a louder, uniform 'perfumy' character"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Applications",
          "value": "the aromatic component of dipped / fragrance-oil sticks"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "termCode": "cypress-seed",
      "name": "Cypress Seed",
      "alternateName": [
        "柏子",
        "bǎi zǐ"
      ],
      "description": "柏子 (bǎi zǐ) — the seed of the oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis, 侧柏) — is the single humble material of 柏子香, the scholar's incense.",
      "additionalProperty": [
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Type",
          "value": "aromatic material (seed)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Source",
          "value": "seeds of the oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis, 侧柏)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Processing",
          "value": "scalded in boiling water, soaked in wine, sealed with honey for seven days, then dried in the shade"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Physical characteristics",
          "value": "green, unopened seeds; a loose roasted material (not a pressed stick)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Aroma",
          "value": "roasted-seed character, softened and sweetened by the honey-and-wine soak"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Burning behavior",
          "value": "burned as loose roasted seed on charcoal or an electric heater (not a pressed stick)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Applications",
          "value": "the single-material 柏子香 incense; a cheap, simple scholar's incense"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "termCode": "plum-powder",
      "name": "White Plum",
      "alternateName": [
        "白梅",
        "bái méi"
      ],
      "description": "白梅 (bái méi) — the dried/pickled white plum — is the fruit material that builds the tart-sweet 'plum' character in the 梅花香 (plum-blossom) accord.",
      "additionalProperty": [
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Type",
          "value": "aromatic material (dried fruit)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Source",
          "value": "white plum (白梅), the dried/pickled plum fruit — /blog/shouyang-princess-plum-recipe/"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Processing",
          "value": "roasted dry and ground to a coarse powder, then aged (窨) in a sealed vessel for a month before burning"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Aroma",
          "value": "tart-sweet 'plum' character — an accord, not the flower"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Applications",
          "value": "the 佐 (assistant) 'plum' note in 梅花香 / 寿阳公主梅花香"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "termCode": "clove-powder",
      "name": "Clove Powder",
      "alternateName": [
        "丁香",
        "dīngxiāng"
      ],
      "description": "丁香 (dīngxiāng) — the dried flower bud of Syzygium aromaticum — is a warm-spice aromatic material used ground or whole in 合香 blends.",
      "additionalProperty": [
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Type",
          "value": "aromatic material (spice — dried flower bud)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Source",
          "value": "Syzygium aromaticum dried flower buds (丁香) — /ingredients/clove/"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Processing",
          "value": "buds harvested before opening and dried; sold whole or ground"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Physical characteristics",
          "value": "dark, brown 'nail'-shaped dried buds"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Aroma",
          "value": "spicy, warm, aromatic (eugenol)"
        },
        {
          "@type": "PropertyValue",
          "name": "Applications",
          "value": "spice accent in 合香 blends; a five-spice (五香粉) component"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}