Incense is a mixture of sweet-smelling gums and balsams. It burns with a delicate fragrance. People sometimes add sandalwood and other substances to incense to produce special scents. Usually incense is made in powder form or in sticks. The ancient Egyptians burned incense at religious ceremonies. The Greeks and Romans and later the early Christians adopted this practice. The burning of incense is still part of the ritual of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Roman Catholic Church, and some of the Episcopalian churches. Buddhists also burn incense during religious ceremonies.
