FAQs

Yes — this is completely normal and 100% safe.

Because our incense cones are handmade and contain wild Tibetan herbs, natural resins, and mineral-rich plant powders, the surface can sometimes develop a light white or pale patch as they dry. This is not mold and not a manufacturing defect.

This natural color variation usually comes from:

1. Resin & herbal compounds rising to the surface

Some Tibetan botanicals contain tiny amounts of natural oils and minerals. As the cone dries and cures, these compounds can crystallize on the surface, creating a soft white “bloom.” It’s similar to how real sandalwood or aged resins develop a natural frost.

2. High-altitude drying differences

Our cones are shaped and dried at high altitude, where sunlight, humidity, and herb density can vary from batch to batch. This can cause lighter patches or uneven coloration — a normal sign of true handmade incense.

Is it safe to burn?

Absolutely.

These cones burn exactly the same and the white coating has no impact on scent, potency, or safety. Many long-time Tibetan incense users actually see this as a mark of authenticity — proof the cones contain no synthetic coatings or preservatives.

If you ever notice anything unusual beyond a dry surface patch, you’re always welcome to reach out, but in most cases, this white coating is simply a natural part of real Tibetan incense.

If you have asthma or any respiratory condition, you should approach any smoke with extra caution — Tibetan incense included. Even though our blends are made from wild herbs, woods, and resins with no synthetic fragrance, no oils, and no chemical accelerants, smoke can still be a potential trigger for some individuals.

That said, Tibetan incense generally burns cooler and softer than commercial perfumed sticks, producing smoke that many people find less irritating.

Because asthma varies so much from person to person, we can’t claim that any incense is universally “safe.”

But if someone with asthma wants to try Tibetan incense at all, we usually recommend starting with:

Nimu Village — our gentlest, lightest blend

Nimu Village is:

• herb-forward rather than resin-heavy
• clean-burning with a softer smoke profile
• crafted with no oils or perfumes
• one of our mildest formulas to test sensitivity

Tips for asthma users:

• Burn in a well-ventilated space
• Sit far from the smoke stream
• Start with a shorter session (5–10 minutes)
• Discontinue immediately if any discomfort appears

Your respiratory comfort always comes first. Tibetan incense can feel gentler than many alternatives, but asthma is individual, and listening to your body is key.

Allergies to Tibetan incense are possible, but extremely rare.

Our blends are made from wild-harvested herbs, woods, and resins — no essential oils, no synthetic fragrances, no chemical binders. Because nothing is aerosolized or artificially intensified, the chance of irritation is far lower than with commercial perfumed incense.

That said, everyone’s body is different. If someone has a known sensitivity to natural botanicals, smoke in general, or specific plants (like juniper, sandalwood, or rhododendron), they may experience mild reactions such as:

• sneezing
• mild throat dryness
• light sinus sensitivity

These reactions are usually not due to an “allergy” but rather to how your respiratory system responds to smoke.

Tips to reduce sensitivity:

• Burn in a well-ventilated space
• Increase distance between the incense and where you sit
• Start with half a stick or a shorter session
• Try a lighter, herb-forward formula (like Chomolung Snow or Nimu Village) if you’re concerned

If someone ever experiences strong discomfort, we recommend discontinuing use. For any severe or unusual reaction, always consult a medical professional — even though our formulas follow traditional Tibetan wellness principles, smoke is still smoke and everyone responds differently.

1. The Ingredients Are Rare & Wild-Harvested

Most incense in the market uses perfumed oils and cheap wood powders.

Ours uses:

• Himalayan juniper
• Rhododendron
• Tibetan white sandalwood
• Himalayan medicinal plants
• Ingredients you literally cannot buy outside Tibet.

Wild plants grow slowly, and they can only be collected at certain altitudes — this is not an unlimited supply.

2. It’s 100% Handcrafted — No Machines

Every step is manual: harvesting, grinding, kneading, rolling, curing.

It takes over 500 hours to produce a single batch (Potala Palace especially).

This is skilled artisanal labor — not factory output.

3. Monastery-Backed Formulas

We work directly with makers who still follow authentic, centuries-old medical/incense formulas. These formulas are not public and cannot be recreated in commercial factories.

You’re paying for heritage, not a mass-market scent.

4. Ethical Sourcing Only

We refuse to buy bulk herbs from Nepal/India middlemen (which is where most “Tibetan incense” actually comes from).

We only source from Tibetan communities and pay above-market rates to artisans.

It costs more — but it’s the only way to keep the craft alive.

5. Small-Batch Production = Higher Cost

We don’t mass produce.

Every batch is intentionally small, slow, and quality-controlled.

This increases cost — but guarantees purity and potency.

6. U.S. Logistics Are Expensive

Shipping from Tibet to U.S. fulfillment → to your home adds significant cost, especially for small-batch items.

Every stick and cone is crafted the same way Tibetan artisans have done it for centuries — fully by hand, with zero shortcuts.

Here’s the real process:

1. Wild-Harvesting at High Altitude

Our ingredients are foraged from the Himalayan region of Tibet, not farmed or mass-produced. Herbs like juniper, rhododendron, white sandalwood, and Himalayan balm are collected in specific seasons when potency is highest.

2. Sun-Drying & Stone-Grinding

Artisans dry each plant naturally, then grind everything on traditional stone mills. This avoids heat damage and preserves the raw medicinal compounds.

3. Ancient Medical Formulas

Every incense follows monastery-lineage recipes: centuries-old blends originally developed by Tibetan doctors and monks. These formulas balance the Five Elements — air, fire, water, earth, and space — to affect mood, clarity, and energy.

4. Hand-Kneading the Dough

The powdered herbs are mixed with water (no chemical binders) and kneaded into a dough completely by hand. This is why every batch feels slightly different — it’s living plant material.

5. Hand-Rolling & Air-Drying

Each stick or cone is shaped by hand, left to dry naturally for days, then cured for another few weeks for the scent to settle.

6. Zero Synthetic Oils, Fillers, or Perfumes

Our incense is literally plants only. No essential oils, no perfumed oils, no bamboo sticks, no accelerants. Just botanicals.

This is why our incense feels “thicker,” burns longer, and smells like real herbs — not perfume.

All Lhasa Remedy incense is made from 100% natural Himalayan botanicals — no perfumes, essential oils, fillers, or synthetic fragrance.

Just plants. Hand-harvested, stone-ground, and rolled the same way monks have done for centuries.

Each blend uses a different combination, but our core ingredients include:

Primary Tibetan Herbs & Woods

These form the base of most formulas:

• Himalayan juniper
• Rhododendron
• White & red sandalwood
• Clove
• Cedar, fir, and cypress
• Barberry, spikenard, costus root
• Himalayan balms and flowering herbs

High-Altitude Wild Herbs

Foraged seasonally in small quantities:

• Highland sage species
• Mint species native to the plateau
• Wild rhododendron leaves
• Alpine roots and grasses used in traditional Tibetan medicine

Resins & Roots

Added to deepen the aroma and complete the traditional formula:

• Natural plant resins
• Aromatic roots
• Medicinal barks

Supporting Herbs (the mysterious part)

You’ll notice not all ingredients are listed on our main “ingredient chart.”

That’s because a portion of every blend includes “supporting herbs” — trace botanicals under 3% each, added according to ancient Tibetan incense traditions to round out the formula.

These vary slightly by season and are part of what makes each batch feel alive.

Where to see the exact ingredients

For full transparency, the exact ingredients for each incense blend are listed on its individual product page (e.g., Chomolung Snow, Nimu Village, Lucky Zaki, Sera Serene, Potala Palace).

Those pages show the complete formula for that specific product.

Our incense is rooted in Tibetan tradition and powered by real herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Each blend is handcrafted in Lhasa from wild ingredients harvested at high altitudes, following centuries-old methods that honor both the spiritual and medicinal properties of smoke.

It’s not just for fragrance — it’s functional, therapeutic, and intentional.

Our incense works through inhalation — allowing the herbal properties to affect your body and mind without needing to be digested. It’s faster, gentler, and easier to use daily. Many of our herbs are also used in TCM teas or formulas — we simply deliver them through ritual and scent.

Each of our blends is designed to support different emotional and energetic needs — from clearing brain fog and calming anxiety to grounding you in moments of stress. These are based on Traditional Chinese Medicine principles using herbs like snow lotus, agarwood, and angelica root.

1. Angled Ignition: Light the end of the incense stick at a 45-degree angle with a lighter or match, and let the flame burn for approximately 7 seconds.
2. Flame Control: Gently blow out the flame. The incense should produce a glowing red ember and a tendril of smoke, and will continue to burn on its own.
3. Placement: Be sure to burn incense on a heatproof, non-flammable holder only. Burn incense in a well-ventilated room, away from flammable materials, and never leave incense burning unattended or in near children, pets, or a draft.

Note: If it extinguishes halfway, just re-ignite the stick and allow the flame to burn long enough to create a small flame.

1. Angled Ignition: Light the end of the incense cone at a 45-degree angle with a lighter or match, and let the flame burn for approximately 7 seconds, enough to create a small flame.
2. Flame Control: Gently blow out the flame. The incense should produce a glowing red ember and a tendril of smoke, and will continue to burn on its own.
3. Placement: Be sure to burn incense on a heatproof, non-flammable holder only. Burn incense in a well-ventilated room, away from flammable materials, and never leave incense burning unattended or in near children, pets, or a draft.

Note: If it extinguishes halfway, just re-ignite the cone and allow the flame to burn long enough to create a small flame.

Our incense is crafted from all-natural ingredients from Tibet and is generally safe for use. However, as each pregnancy is different, we strongly recommend consulting your healthcare provider before use and follow professional medical advice for your health and safety.

We do not compromise on quality, safety, and efficacy. We are proud that all our incense is 100% natural, blended by ingredients locally sourced in Tibet and handcrafted by our artisans. The energy and calm that one stick/cone will bring you is unparalleled.

Absolutely! Our incense does not expire. Like fine wine, it develops a richer aroma and energy over time. To maintain its quality, store your incense in a cool, dry place, as humidity can affect its performance.