Chu Xiang, a Chinese natural fragrance with rich local characteristics, is an intangible cultural heritage protection project.
Its main functions are rooted in the use of medicinal fragrances to invigorate the body, dispel diseases, and ward off evil spirits. Presented with a sense of reverence and ritual, it involves offering sacrifices to ancestors and nurturing one's emotions.
Numerous experts and scholars have researched and proven that the origin of natural fragrances in China can be traced back to the Chu region. According to records, as early as the Warring States period, there was a custom in the land of Jingchu of cultivating fragrant orchids in May for bathing. The people of Chu used a variety of aromatic plants for purposes such as fumigation, wearing, bathing, and consumption to cleanse the body, ward off impurities, and prevent epidemics.
Chu Xiang specifically employs authentic aromatic medicinal materials, following the principle of the common origin of fragrance and medicine in ancient formulas, resulting in a clear and unique aroma. The extensive records of various fragrant herbs in the "Chu Ci" (Songs of Chu) contribute to the formation of a unique and intrinsic cultural system of fragrances. The patriotic poet Qu Yuan even likened himself to a "fragrant herb beauty," elevating the daily use of Chu Xiang to a moral and spiritual practice. This made Chu Xiang an essential element in the self-cultivation and nurturing of virtues for people of that time.