Herbal Incense has always played a significant role in religious ceremonies from ancient civilizations. An Egyptian tablet dated from 1530 B.C, mentions its usage. Also other ancient civilizations had used Herbal incense in their ceremonies such as Hindu and Buddhist temples, as well as in Chinese and Japanese Shinto rituals. Ancient priests had used herbal incenses as part of their prayers to their gods. Moreover they had burned it as part of sacrifice ceremonies and as means of worshipping gods. Herbal incense was also sometimes believed to have the power to protect against evil spirits. Monks and other religious leaders often used herbal incense as part of their purification ceremonies. Among nobles, incense was sometimes burned in homes to create pleasant aromas in a room before a festival or special celebration. Incense was sometimes believed to have mystical powers that could strengthen, either mentally or physically, the people exposed to the incense.
However in eastern religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, herbal incense is widely used in worship ceremonies, as part of special rituals and for meditation. Followers of eastern religions may use herbal incense when meditating or performing yoga or martial arts. Some people don't have any religious reasons for using incense. They may simply enjoy the aromas that it gives off and like to burn it in their homes..
Nowadays many churches of Christendom, Herbal incense is offered in ceremonies and liturgy. Among Asians, many families burn incense at temples or before household altars to honor their gods and safeguard the dead. In religious services, herbal incense has been variously used to fumigate, heal, purify, and protect.
Herbal incense has recently enjoyed a revival even among those not professing a religion. Some burn incense in connection with meditation. One guidebook suggests using incense to reach "subtle planes" and "energies" beyond the physical world. To find solutions to life's problems, it also recommends incense-burning rituals that involve contact with "supernatural beings."
In the Bible, references are made to the use of incense in the book of Exodus. Among the ancient Israelites the burning of herbal incense figured prominently in priestly duties at the tabernacle. It was Said that the burning of
herbal incense seems to have been considered among the Hebrews so much of an act of worship or sacred offering. The offering of incense among the Israelites was a fitting symbol of prayers that are heard by God. Hence, the psalmist David sang to God: "May my prayer be prepared as incense before you. Psalm 141:2.