Aroma woody · resinous · sweet · complex
Read entryIngredient encyclopedia
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
Read entryAroma sweet · floral · fruity · delicate
Read entryAroma resinous · warm · sweet · balsamic
Read entryingredient
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 spicy · camphoraceous · warm · slightly bitter
Read entryAroma herbal · aromatic · sweet-bitter · slightly spicy
Read entryAroma sweet · licorice · warm · spicy
Read entryAroma sweet · nutty · almondy · bitter
Read entryAroma woody · fresh · green · slightly resinous
Read entryAroma earthy · camphoraceous · warm · slightly bitter
Read entryAroma pungent · sulfurous · savory · resinous
Read entryAroma pungent · spicy · rooty · camphoraceous
Read entryAroma herbal · woody · pungent · earthy
Read entryAroma green · fresh · grassy · slightly sweet
Read entryAroma sweet · fruity · floral · banana
Read entryAroma sweet · floral · honeyed · green
Read entryAroma sweet · green · spicy · anise-like
Read entryAroma herbal · camphoraceous · fresh · slightly sweet
Read entryAroma waxy · honeyed · warm · slightly sweet
Read entryingredient
Benzoin (安息香) — Sweet Resin
安息香 ānxīxiāng Styrax tonkinensis (Siam); Styrax benzoin / S. paralleloneurus (Sumatra)
Aroma sweet · vanilla · balsamic · woody
Read entryAroma citrus · floral · fresh · slightly bitter
Read entryAroma neutral · slightly sweet · earthy · starchy
Read entryAroma camphoraceous · herbal · cooling · slightly sweet
Read entryingredient
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
Read entryingredient
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
Read entryingredient
Cassia Twig (桂枝) — Aromatic Branch
桂枝 guìzhī Cinnamomum cassia (the young twig); syn. C. aromaticum
Aroma warm · spicy · sweet · woody
Read entryAroma animalic · leathery · smoky · sweet
Read entryingredient
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 · apple-like · floral · hay-like
Read entryAroma sweet · floral · fruity · heady
Read entryAroma floral · herbal · bittersweet
Read entryingredient
Chuanxiong (川芎) — Aromatic Root
川芎 chuānxiōng Ligusticum chuanxiong (syn. Conioselinum anthriscoides)
Aroma herbal · aromatic · spicy · slightly bitter
Read entryingredient
Cinnamon (桂皮) — Cassia Distinction
桂皮 guìpí Cinnamomum cassia (Chinese cinnamon/cassia); cf. C. verum (Ceylon cinnamon)
Aroma warm · spicy · sweet
Read entryAroma citrus · floral · sweet · slightly bitter
Read entryAroma citrusy · lemony · fresh · grassy
Read entryingredient
Civet (灵猫香)
灵猫香 língmāoxiāng Civettictis civetta (African civet); Viverricula indica (small Indian civet) — animal-derived, not botanical
Aroma animalic · musky · sweet · warm
Read entryAroma spicy · warm · aromatic
Read entryAroma woody · balsamic · resinous · slightly sweet
Read entryAroma citrus · woody · spicy · floral
Read entryingredient
Costus (木香) — Earthy Root
木香 mùxiāng Saussurea costus (syn. Dolomiaea costus, Aucklandia lappa)
Aroma earthy · woody · musky · animalic
Read entryAroma spicy · peppery · woody · camphoraceous
Read entryAroma warm · spicy · earthy · slightly bitter
Read entryAroma woody · spicy · earthy · smoky
Read entryAroma roasted · nutty · woody · resinous
Read entryAroma sweet · floral · spicy · green
Read entryAroma herbal · fresh · anise-like · slightly sweet
Read entryAroma herbal · sweet · warm · slightly spicy
Read entryingredient
Dragon's Blood (血竭) — Red Resin
血竭 xuèjié Daemonorops draco (syn. Calamus draco) — the fruit resin
Aroma resinous · sweet · woody · balsamic
Read entryAroma spicy · pungent · warm · slightly citrusy
Read entryAroma minty · herbal · spicy · slightly sweet
Read entryAroma camphoraceous · fresh · sharp · slightly medicinal · clean
Read entryAroma herbal · aromatic · sweet · fresh
Read entryAroma sweet · anise · warm · herbaceous
Read entryAroma sweet · maple-like · nutty · slightly bitter
Read entryAroma citrus · floral · sweet · bright
Read entryingredient
Frankincense (乳香) — Ritual Resin
乳香 rǔxiāng Boswellia spp. (B. sacra, B. serrata, B. carterii)
Aroma resinous · citrus · earthy · creamy
Read entryAroma spicy · gingery · camphoraceous · woody
Read entryAroma green · balsamic · earthy · sharp
Read entryAroma sweet · creamy · white-floral · heady
Read entryAroma nutty · sweet · mild · slightly bitter
Read entryAroma citrus · fresh · bittersweet · green · slightly woody
Read entryAroma sweet · floral · warm · caramel
Read entryAroma sweet · floral · honeyed · green
Read entryAroma sweet · floral · heady
Read entryingredient
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 woody · piney · resinous · fresh
Read entryingredient
Katsumadai (草豆蔻) — Alpinia Seed
草豆蔻 cǎodòukòu Alpinia katsumadae (syn. Alpinia hainanensis)
Aroma camphoraceous · spicy · warm · slightly bitter
Read entryAroma citrus · sweet · floral · bright
Read entryAroma resinous · balsamic · leathery · amber
Read entryAroma floral · herbal · fresh · camphoraceous
Read entryAroma citrus · bright · zesty · sweet · slightly sour
Read entryAroma lemony · herbal · fresh · slightly sweet · green
Read entryAroma sweet · woody · earthy · slightly bitter
Read entryAroma herbal · aromatic · spicy · woody
Read entryAroma floral · green · sweet · fresh · delicate
Read entryAroma sweet · hay-like · herbaceous · coumarin
Read entryAroma fruity · sweet · floral · woody
Read entryAroma spicy · pungent · warm · sweet
Read entryAroma floral · sweet · aquatic · fresh
Read entryingredient
Magnolia Flower (辛夷) — Spicy Floral
辛夷 xīnyí Magnolia biondii (Flora of China: Yulania biondii)
Aroma floral · spicy · green · slightly camphoraceous
Read entryAroma resinous · piney · fresh · balsamic
Read entryAroma cooling · minty · fresh · sweet
Read entryAroma citrus · lemony · spicy · floral
Read entryAroma herbal · bitter-green · camphoraceous
Read entryAroma green · fresh · tea-like · slightly sweet
Read entryingredient
Musk (麝香) — Historical Animal Fixative
麝香 shèxiāng Moschus spp. (musk deer) — an animal secretion, not botanical
Aroma animalic · musky · sweet · warm
Read entryingredient
Mustard Seed (芥子) — Pungent Spice Seed
芥子 jièzǐ Sinapis alba (white mustard); Brassica juncea (brown/leaf mustard)
Aroma pungent · sharp · spicy · green
Read entryAroma balsamic · earthy · bitter · medicinal
Read entryAroma floral · citrus · sweet · green
Read entryAroma warm · spicy · sweet · woody
Read entryingredient
Onycha (甲香)
甲香 jiǎxiāng operculum of marine gastropods (mollusc) — animal-derived, not botanical
Aroma marine · briny · animalic · musky
Read entryAroma citrus · bittersweet · woody
Read entryAroma floral · sweet · green · delicate
Read entryingredient
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 herbal · sweet · hay-like · woody
Read entryAroma earthy · woody · balsamic · spicy
Read entryAroma floral · rosy · sweet · green
Read entryAroma spicy · pungent · warm · woody
Read entryAroma cooling · minty · sharp · camphoraceous · sweet
Read entryAroma herbal · minty · sweet · anise-like
Read entryAroma sweet · vanilla · balsamic · warm
Read entryAroma piney · conifer · fresh · green
Read entryingredient
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 citrus · bittersweet · floral · woody
Read entryingredient
Quince (木瓜) — Fragrant Scholar's Fruit
木瓜 mùguā Pseudocydonia sinensis (syn. Chaenomeles sinensis)
Aroma fruity · sweet · floral · tart
Read entryAroma woody · sweet · rosy · spicy
Read entryAroma sweet · floral · romantic
Read entryingredient
Rosemary (迷迭香) — Camphoraceous Herb
迷迭香 mídiéxiāng Salvia rosmarinus (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis)
Aroma herbal · camphoraceous · fresh · woody
Read entryAroma bitter · herbal · green · woody
Read entryAroma herbal · camphoraceous · green · slightly peppery
Read entryAroma camphoraceous · spicy · earthy · floral
Read entryAroma creamy · sweet · soft · woody
Read entryAroma fruity · berry · sour · slightly woody
Read entryingredient
Schizonepeta (荆芥) — Aromatic Herb
荆芥 jīngjiè Schizonepeta tenuifolia (syn. Nepeta tenuifolia)
Aroma herbal · minty · spicy · fresh
Read entryAroma spicy · warm · camphoraceous · slightly sweet
Read entryingredient
Shellac (紫草茸) — Lac Resin
紫草茸 zǐcǎoróng Kerria lacca (lac insect; formerly Laccifer lacca) — lac resin
Aroma resinous · waxy · subtle · slightly sweet
Read entryAroma spicy · citrus · numbing · woody
Read entryAroma sweet · floral · delicate · slightly powdery
Read entryingredient
Sophora Flower (槐花) — Sweet Blossom
槐花 huáihuā Styphnolobium japonicum (syn. Sophora japonica)
Aroma sweet · floral · delicate · honey-like
Read entryAroma sweet · floral · heady · green
Read entryAroma cooling · minty · sweet · fresh · green
Read entryAroma earthy · woody · sweet · musky
Read entryAroma sweet · licorice · warm · spicy
Read entryingredient
Storax (苏合香) — Imported Resin
苏合香 sūhéxiāng Liquidambar orientalis (Oriental sweetgum / storax)
Aroma sweet · balsamic · resinous · warm
Read entryAroma herbal · camphoraceous · fresh · slightly sweet
Read entryingredient
Sweetgum (枫香) — Sweet Resin
枫香 fēngxiāng Liquidambar formosana (Chinese sweetgum); cf. L. orientalis (storax)
Aroma sweet · balsamic · resinous · warm
Read entryAroma herbal · anise-like · green · slightly sweet
Read entryAroma woody · cedar-like · resinous · slightly smoky
Read entryAroma herbal · green · spicy · slightly medicinal
Read entryAroma nutty · woody · resinous · roasted
Read entryAroma floral · rosy · sweet · green
Read entryAroma rooty · earthy · woody · faintly floral
Read entryingredient
Tsaoko (草果) — Smoky Aromatic Fruit
草果 cǎoguǒ Amomum tsao-ko (FOC: Amomum tsaoko; syn. Lanxangia tsao-ko)
Aroma smoky · spicy · camphoraceous · warm
Read entryingredient
Tuberose (晚香玉) — Night-Fragrant Flower
晚香玉 wǎnxiāngyù Agave amica (syn. Polianthes tuberosa)
Aroma sweet · floral · creamy · heady
Read entryAroma earthy · warm · spicy · bitter
Read entryAroma earthy · musky · woody · rooty
Read entryAroma sweet · creamy · warm · gourmand
Read entryingredient
Vetiver (岩兰草) — Earthy Root Note
岩兰草 yánláncǎo Chrysopogon zizanioides (syn. Vetiveria zizanioides)
Aroma earthy · woody · smoky · warm
Read entryAroma floral · sweet · powdery · green
Read entryAroma sweet · floral · honeyed · waxy
Read entryAroma floral · sweet · creamy · slightly fruity
Read entryAroma floral · fresh · green · slightly lemony
Read entryAroma earthy · camphoraceous · warm · slightly bitter
Read entryAroma herbal · aromatic · fresh · slightly sweet
Read entry