Materials Library

Botanical Materials

A selection of commonly used botanical materials,
each with its own texture, scent, and character.

Dried deep crimson Mo Hong rose petals scattered on a pale porous stone surface
Mo Hong Rose

Flowers

Color Deep crimson red, petals full and dense

Origin Yunnan, China (originally a French cultivar)

Aroma Rich, full rose fragrance

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Dried pink-purple Pingyin rose buds heaped in a round wooden bowl, with more buds scattered on a wooden table
Pingyin Rose

Flowers

Color Purplish red, double-petaled

Origin Pingyin, Shandong — China’s “rose town”

Aroma Clean, sweet, and full-bodied

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Dried deep red roselle calyces heaped in two wooden bowls on burlap
Roselle

Flowers

Color Deep red calyx

Origin Native to Africa, now grown across tropical Asia

Aroma Tart, fruity sweetness; caramel-like once dried

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Dried golden osmanthus flowers spilling from a clay bowl onto a linen-covered book, with green osmanthus leaves behind
Osmanthus

Flowers

Color Yellowish, golden yellow to orange

Origin China, widely grown across Asia

Aroma Sweet floral, with a touch of fruit

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Reddish-brown sandalwood sticks stacked in a rough wooden bowl on a warm wooden table
Sandalwood

Woods

Color Deep golden-brown, oil-rich

Origin Australia (plantation-grown)

Aroma Creamy, warm, long-lingering

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Thin dark brown agarwood chips piled in a pale wooden box on a light surface
Agarwood

Woods

Color Deep black, resin lines visible

Origin Southeast Asia

Aroma Cool, sweet, and distant; a woody base note

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Short dark purple-brown jiangzhen wood sections lying crosswise on a light bamboo mat
Jiangzhen Wood

Woods

Color Red-purple to deep purple-brown heartwood

Origin China (Hainan, Guangdong)

Aroma Sweet, warm wood spice; quiet alone, it lifts a blend

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Pale golden frankincense resin tears spilling from a glass bottle with a cork onto cream linen
Frankincense

Resins

Color Translucent golden to pale green tears

Origin Oman, Dhofar

Aroma Crisp and resinous, with a hint of citrus

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Close view of amber-brown benzoin resin chunks with a dusty crust and translucent broken faces
Benzoin

Resins

Color Reddish-brown, glossy

Origin Laos (Siam benzoin)

Aroma Warm, vanilla-sweet, with a milky note

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Dried clove buds heaped in a wooden spoon, a few scattered on a rough wooden board
Clove

Herbs & Leaves

Color Dark reddish-brown, plump buds

Origin Zanzibar

Aroma Spicy and penetrating, faintly numbing

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Two yellow Buddha’s hand citrons in a white bowl, with cut slices and a round yellow citrus beside them
Buddha’s Hand

Citrus & Peels

Color Pale yellow slices, yellow-green rind

Origin China (Zhejiang, Guangdong, Sichuan)

Aroma Fresh citrus, faintly sweet, lightly bitter

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Curled pieces of dried aged tangerine peel with pale pith in a shallow dish on linen
Aged Tangerine Peel

Citrus & Peels

Color Dark brown to tan, with a pitted surface

Origin China (Guangdong, Sichuan, Fujian)

Aroma Mellow, warm citrus that deepens with age

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Dried mint leaves in an open glass jar with fresh sprigs behind it, on a wooden board with burlap
Mint

Herbs & Leaves

Color Gray-green, crinkled leaves

Origin China (Jiangsu, Anhui)

Aroma Cool and fresh, bright with menthol

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Dried grey-violet lavender buds in a metal scoop, with stems and loose buds on a wooden table
Lavender

Flowers

Color Dusty gray-violet buds on pale green stems

Origin China (Xinjiang)

Aroma Soft, sweet and floral, with a light herbal edge

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Pale straw-yellow dried lemongrass pieces spilling from a glass jar with a cork onto burlap
Lemongrass

Herbs & Leaves

Color Pale straw-yellow to yellow-green, fibrous pieces

Origin China (Yunnan, Guangdong)

Aroma Bright and lemony, with a green, grassy edge

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