The tradition of burning incense for spiritual and cultural purposes is not new. Even today, many people continue this practice for religious or cultural rituals. However, not everyone knows that incense can also have other benefits. Scientifically, certain types of incense can support a person’s well-being. However, not all incense has these effects—only incense made with specific, carefully chosen natural ingredients can positively impact health. One example is Wangi Tao.
Unlike regular incense, Wangi Tao is made using special materials and techniques, including natural amino acids that help break down harmful free radicals in the ingredients. This process gives new life to the incense materials. When burned, the smoke from Wangi Tao can also help neutralize free radicals in the air. Scientifically tested, this incense has been shown to reduce air pollution caused by factory smoke, vehicle emissions, and other pollutants that can lead to degenerative diseases like cancer.
The idea behind this incense comes from scientific knowledge about radicals, biradicals, and free radicals. It is known that smoke from certain plants can help clean the body and the air. Wangi Tao was created to offer a better alternative to incense made from synthetic chemicals or natural materials that aren’t safe to burn and may pollute the air or cause breathing problems.
Dr. Gretha Zahar, a researcher in radiation chemistry and free radicals, developed this incense using chemical and quantum physics approaches. She studied amino acids and their derivatives that act as scavengers—agents that capture harmful radicals, especially mercury. Some of these include phenylalanine, tryptophan, threonine, methionine, histidine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid. These compounds can actually be found in everyday items like coffee, tobacco, eggs, coconut water, salt, and onions.
Interestingly, many of these everyday ingredients also have deep spiritual meanings, especially in Hindu tradition. For example, coffee and tobacco are used in Banten Pawedangan, a type of offering that symbolizes the union of the soul (Atman) with the Creator, known as moksha. Eggs are used to help clear negative energy caused by ego (ahamkara). Coconut water, especially from yellow coconuts (bungkak nyuh gading), is used in purification rituals (melukat) and represents the sacred energy of Lord Vishnu or tirtha Mahamerta. Meanwhile, salt mixed with charcoal (uyah areng), onions, and ginger is used in offerings to represent the divine powers of the Hindu Trinity (Tri Murti).
Combining this ancestral knowledge with modern chemistry, Wangi Tao is crafted using natural amino acids as scavengers that catch free radicals (especially mercury) and cleanse negative energies (mala). The incense is designed to create fire and smoke that reflect the sacred meaning of fire in Hindu rituals, while also benefiting personal and environmental health.
Every stick consists of materials that are divided into two categories. First is plant category:
– Santalum album powder
– Olibanum powder
– Agathis dammara powder
– Alstonia scholaris powder
– Ficus septica powder
– Imperata cylindrica powder
– Cinnamomum verum
– Cinnamomum sintoc powder
– Cinnamomum cassia powder
– Oryza sativa var glutinosa powder
– Phyllanthus urinaria powder
– Senna siamea powder
– Ocimum × citriodorum powder
– Physalis angulata powder
– Oldenlandia powder
– Orthosiphon stamineus powder
– Pluchea indica powder
– Moringa oleifera powder
The second category consists of water:
- Fermented water of Nymphaea
- Fermented water of Magnolia × alba
- Fermented water of Magnolia champaca
- Fermented water of Cananga odorata
- Fermented water of Plumeria
- Fermented water of Cocos nucifera+Allium cepa
- Fermented water of Cocos nucifera+Allium sativum
- Fermented water of salt
- Fermented water of coffee
- Fermented water of tomato
- Fermented water of Piper Betle
Wangi Tao has several variants made with premium ingredients, including sandalwood, madugaharu frankincense, cinnamon, original sappan wood, shorea javanica, coffee, clove, and kaffir lime.