Lore: Incense

Stored and burned in pots or censers that create a thin white mist in the air, incense usage reached its peak during the Song dynasty, with numerous buildings erected specifically for incense ceremonies.

Brought to Japan in the 6th century by Korean Buddhist monks, who used the mystical aromas in their purification rites, the delicate scents of Koh (high-quality Japanese incense) became a source of amusement and entertainment for nobles in the Imperial Court during the Heian Era 200 years later. Used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonial reasons, following the events of Gambit, incense is used to keep lesser demons at bay. However, with the demons becoming stronger and more frenzied, traditional incense bears little result in warding them away.

As a result of this, upgraded incense burns employ something known as a Celestial Lotus.

Celestial Lotus, also known as Tears of God Flowers, are otherworldly bright white/bluish flowers revered by the hunters of Korea as sacred with many who consider them bearers of omens and signs of sanctity. When burned (which is only done under dire circumstances as the flowers are extremely rare), these flowers produce a bright blue flame and smoke as opposed to just simply just white smoke, as well as a peculiar scent that is almost impossible to describe to mere humans, but is foul to even the most voracious and terrible of demon/spirit.

In addition to the utilization of Lotus flowers for Demon Repellent, recent discoveries have also determined that the scent from plants in the genus Lavandula, also work in eliminating the acidic odor prevalent within Demon Blood.

Whether it's strictly a Saja-boy thing or just a demon thing in general, unlike normal Human blood which naturally smells strongly of metal which could also have the potential to be quite nauseating, Demon (in this case Saja) blood in large quantities often smells like a combination of wet-summer mud and sulfur.

When demons bleed, it tends to smell like a corpse, presumably as a defense mechanism of sorts or just simply a side-effect of their transformation.

However it appears that members of the genus Lamiaceae (the family that includes many widely used culinary herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, sage, as well as traditional medicines such as catnip), appear to be able to eliminate the smell. In addition flowers of the genus Syringa, or what are commonly known as Lilac, also appear to have the same capabilities, especially Syringa villosa or the Late Lilac, a species found native to Korea, the southern part of the Russian Far East (Primorye) and northern China. While other plants native to Korea also appear to have the same ability to eliminate the odors, extensive testing has shown that members of the Lavandula, Lamiaceae and Syringa genus appear to be the most effective. While not as effective, Viburnum carlesii, or the Korean spice viburnum, is the fourth runner up, thanks in part due to its intense sweet-spicy vanilla aroma.