Vol.03 - Do Newbies Always Get Cheated Buying Incense?

From Novice to Founder: Navigating the Pitfalls of the Incense Industry

Embarking on the journey from incense enthusiast to brand founder is fraught with challenges and pitfalls. This blog post will explore the various traps I’ve encountered and provide practical advice for newcomers in the incense industry.

The path from being a incense novice to becoming a seasoned enthusiast and eventually founding my own brand has been anything but straightforward. Along the way, I've experienced numerous setbacks, starting with being duped into buying industrial scents marketed as natural, to being swindled by suppliers delivering subpar materials.

The depth of deception in the incense industry is profound, affecting not only beginners but even veterans who have spent years in the field. To help those new to this world, I’ve compiled a list of common pitfalls that are easy to fall into:

1 Industrial Scents Disguised as Artisanal Craftsmanship:

The currently trending “GoosePear|鹅梨帐中香” disc incense on various platforms is a prime example. Despite its popularity, most of these products are typical industrial incense, particularly the pressed, non-sticky powder varieties that are heavily marketed.

2 Beware of Synthetic Overload:

It’s not just the “GoosePear|鹅梨帐中香” incense; other popular scents like "Er Su Jiu Ju" and "Xue Zhong Chun Xin" are also dominated by synthetic incense. Be cautious with these hot-selling blends, especially the newer scent profiles like coffee, lavender, and rose.

3 Foreign Brands and Cultural Dissonance:

Most foreign incense brands lean heavily towards aromatherapy with 99% of them using synthetic incense, which runs contrary to the traditional Chinese incense culture. However, Japan’s incense culture, which has a long and rich heritage, has developed its own unique system. If you don’t mind synthetic incense, some of these unique scents are worth exploring.

Navigating the incense industry requires vigilance and a willingness to learn from mistakes. By being aware of these common traps, newcomers can better protect themselves and make more informed choices.

 

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