Our Journal
New Arrivals: Indian Incense by Shroff Channabasappa
Spring is here! We are excited to be introducing a new incense brand to Lotus Zen - Shroff Channabasappa. Shroff make some of the finest Indian incense on the market. All sticks are handmade in India and hand-rolled using woods, florals, halmaddi, aromatic herbs and essential oils.
Top 10 Incense Sticks to Burn in Spring
The fragrances of springtime have inspired incense makers for generations and these evocative floral scents can be found in both modern and traditional incenses. A lot of Japanese incense especially takes influence from Spring with many Japanese incense makers using the sakura cherry blossom tree as inspiration. Incenses evocative of spring are often fresh, delicate and floral. Here are out top 10 incense sticks for spring: 1. Pearl | Karin Les Encens du Monde Pearl emits flowery, delicate accents of tuberose riding a unique background of sandalwood accompanied by the fresh marine-like scent of coumarin. The floral sweetness of Pearl makes it one of our...
New Arrivals: Japanese Incense by Gyokushodo & Tennendo
This season we are excited to be introducing two new Japanese incense houses to Lotus Zen – Gyokushodo and Tennendo. Both brands make traditional and modern incense using high quality aloeswood, sandalwood, spices and florals.
Are Joss Sticks The Same as Incense Sticks?
What Are Joss Sticks? Joss sticks and incense sticks are the same thing! They are both slender sticks made of fragrant materials, such as woods, florals, resins and other aromatics that are burned to release a pleasant aroma. The term 'joss stick' is often used in Asian cultures, particularly in Chinese and Vietnamese traditions, while 'incense stick' is a more general term used in Western cultures. The History of Joss Sticks The history of joss sticks can be traced back to ancient times in various cultures around the world. In China, the use of incense dates back to at least the Han...
A Listening Meditation by Alan Watts
Alan Watt's believed meditation is 'the discovery that the point of life is always arrived at in the immediate moment'. For Watts, one of the easiest ways to enter the meditative state is to start by listening to the sounds around us. All the senses offer a way to become grounded in the present moment, but Watts thought sound to be the easiest and often used listening as a meditative exercise...
