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.
Aroma minty · herbal · sweet · anise-like
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Ambergris (龙涎香) — Animal 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
Read entryAroma herbal · woody · pungent · earthy
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Benzoin (安息香) — Sweet Resin
安息香 ānxīxiāng Styrax tonkinensis (Siam); Styrax benzoin / S. paralleloneurus (Sumatra)
Aroma sweet · vanilla · balsamic · woody
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Borneol (龙脑) — 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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Borneol Oil (龙脑油) — Aromatic Extract
龙脑油 lóngnǎo yóu Dryobalanops aromatica (Borneo camphor tree); also Cinnamomum camphora
Aroma camphoraceous · cooling · balsamic · woody
Read entryAroma herbal · spicy · sweet · earthy
Read entryAroma camphoraceous · cooling · woody · fresh
Read entryAroma camphoraceous · spicy · eucalyptus · warm
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Cedar (雪松) — Woody Note
雪松 xuěsōng Cedrus spp. (true cedar); note 'cedarwood' often = Juniperus virginiana
Aroma woody · clean · slightly sweet
Read entryAroma sweet · floral · fruity · heady
Read entryAroma floral · herbal · bittersweet
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Cinnamon (桂皮) — Cassia Distinction
桂皮 guìpí Cinnamomum cassia (Chinese cinnamon/cassia); cf. C. verum (Ceylon cinnamon)
Aroma warm · spicy · sweet
Read entryAroma citrusy · lemony · fresh · grassy
Read entryAroma spicy · warm · aromatic
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Costus (木香) — Earthy Root
木香 mùxiāng Saussurea costus (syn. Dolomiaea costus, Aucklandia lappa)
Aroma earthy · woody · musky · animalic
Read entryAroma woody · spicy · earthy · smoky
Read entryAroma roasted · nutty · woody · resinous
Read entryAroma herbal · aromatic · sweet · fresh
Read entryAroma sweet · anise · warm · herbaceous
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Frankincense (乳香) — Ritual Resin
乳香 rǔxiāng Boswellia spp. (B. sacra, B. serrata, B. carterii)
Aroma resinous · citrus · earthy · creamy
Read entryAroma sweet · creamy · white-floral · heady
Read entryAroma sweet · floral · heady
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Jiangzhenxiang (降真香) — Resinous Wood
降真香 jiàngzhēnxiāng Acronychia pedunculata (classical); cf. Dalbergia odorifera (modern conflation)
Aroma woody · sweet · resinous · subtle
Read entryAroma herbal · aromatic · spicy · woody
Read entryAroma sweet · hay-like · herbaceous · coumarin
Read entryAroma herbal · bitter-green · camphoraceous
Read entryAroma balsamic · earthy · bitter · medicinal
Read entryAroma warm · spicy · sweet · woody
Read entryAroma citrus · bittersweet · woody
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Orris Root (鸢尾根) — Perfume Fixative
鸢尾根 yuānwěi gēn Iris germanica / I. pallida (orris); cf. Iris tectorum (Chinese iris)
Aroma powdery · floral · violet · woody
Read entryAroma sweet · floral · apricot · honey
Read entryAroma earthy · woody · balsamic · spicy
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Pine Resin (松香) — Woody Resin
松香 sōngxiāng Pinus spp. (rosin / colophony from pine oleoresin)
Aroma piney · woody · balsamic · resinous
Read entryAroma delicate · sweet · almondy · green-floral
Read entryAroma woody · sweet · rosy · spicy
Read entryAroma sweet · floral · romantic
Read entryAroma camphoraceous · spicy · earthy · floral
Read entryAroma creamy · sweet · soft · woody
Read entryAroma earthy · woody · sweet · musky
Read entryAroma sweet · licorice · warm · spicy
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Storax (苏合香) — Imported Resin
苏合香 sūhéxiāng Liquidambar orientalis (Oriental sweetgum / storax)
Aroma sweet · balsamic · resinous · warm
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Sweetgum (枫香) — Sweet Resin
枫香 fēngxiāng Liquidambar formosana (Chinese sweetgum); cf. L. orientalis (storax)
Aroma sweet · balsamic · resinous · warm
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Vetiver (岩兰草) — Earthy Root Note
岩兰草 yánláncǎo Chrysopogon zizanioides (syn. Vetiveria zizanioides)
Aroma earthy · woody · smoky · warm
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