Business Opportunities from Incense and Dedication to Incense Culture

Incense burning has a long history in China and was included as one of the “four leisure activities in daily life”1 during the Song dynasty, demonstrating the importance of incense in people’s lives back then. Incense is not limited to joss sticks burnt in worship of Buddha and other deities. Chio Hei Tat Trading, which has been specialising in incense products for years in Macao, is committed to promoting the incense culture and imparting to people the spiritual pleasure of appreciating incense.

WeChat 圖片_20210428004750.jpg

Self-developed incense products

(Photo courtesy of Chio Hei Tat Trading)

A comprehensive range of gemstones and ornaments available in the shop

Interest in incense motivation for involvement

Due to the impact of the SARS epidemic in 2008, Harry Chan, the founder of Chio Hei Tat Trading, who had a gemstone business at the time, began to get involved in the incense culture, in a bid to look for quality incense products to promote health. Since then, he has extensively read ancient books, visited old local stores selling incense products, and has been more active in exchanging experiences with like-minded people in regions nearby, seeking to produce quality incense and build a reputation for his “Macao brand” products.

Chan believes that quality incense products should create a balance for people or the environment. For instance, incense products with different characteristics can be used in different situations: refreshing incense for humid weather; soporific incense for insomnia. To cater for a wide range of demands, Chan has developed over 15 types of incense suitable for a wide range of purposes, including health preservation, prayer and worship, ambience conditioning, gatherings and festivities, and his products range from high-end collections to entry-level products. Thanks to the years of effort and knowledge, customers have been attracted to look for what they need in the shop located in Rua Nova à Guia.

a (1).jpg

The founder Harry Chan

Agarwood products are sold at different prices in the shop

Incense-related tea products

Promoting incense culture through various channels

Currently serving as president of the Macao Incense Culture Association, Chan feels he has the responsibility and obligation to promote and introduce the incense culture to more people. Since joining Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute’s (IPIM) “Macao Ideas”, Chio Hei Tat Trading has been invited to participate in and promote incense culture at various exhibitions, conferences, business matching sessions and workshops. The company’s incense products have also been displayed at “Macao Ideas” local and overseas exhibition sites to showcase its achievements in incense production and selection over the years.

In the future, the company will participate in more professional fairs, hoping to build a reputation for “Macao brand” products and expand its brand influence. Chan said frankly that incense expos are regularly held in the Mainland and have been well-received by incense enthusiasts. Therefore, he is interested in organising similar events in Macao to introduce incense products and the incense culture to the wider public.

Note 1: The “four leisure activities in daily life”, which include making tea, burning incense, presenting paintings and arranging flowers, were referred to as the “four arts” in the Song dynasty.

WeChat 圖片_20200907123443.jpg