The Incense Story of Su Scholars' Study (Èr Sū Jiù Jú 二苏旧局)

A Fragrance Inspired by Su Shi and Su Zhe

In the history of Chinese incense culture, few incense names feel as poetic as Èr Sū Jiù Jú (二苏旧局).

The name can be translated as “The Old Gathering of the Two Su Brothers.”

The “Two Su” refers to Su Shi (苏轼 Sū Shì) and Su Zhe (苏辙 Sū Zhé) — two brothers, two great writers, and two unforgettable figures of the Song Dynasty.

But Èr Sū Jiù Jú is not only the name of an incense recipe.

It is a story of brotherhood, exile, memory, and the quiet comfort of fragrance.

Who Were the Two Su Brothers?

Su Shi, also known as Su Dongpo, was one of China’s greatest poets, essayists, calligraphers, and statesmen.

His younger brother, Su Zhe, was also a brilliant scholar and official.

Together with their father Su Xun, they were known as part of the Three Su (三苏 Sān Sū), one of the most celebrated literary families in Chinese history.

The bond between Su Shi and Su Zhe was especially deep.

They lived through political storms, separation, exile, and uncertainty. Yet through letters, poetry, and shared ideals, their brotherhood remained unbroken.

In Chinese culture, this kind of emotional connection is often remembered not through grand monuments, but through subtle things:

a poem,
a cup of tea,
a quiet room,
a thread of incense smoke.

Was Èr Sū Jiù Jú Created by Su Shi?

Although the name sounds ancient, Èr Sū Jiù Jú is generally understood today as a later incense formula created in memory of Su Shi and Su Zhe.

It is often associated with modern Chinese incense writings and is said to appear in incense literature such as Yan Ju Xiang Yu (燕居香语 Yàn Jū Xiāng Yǔ).

So this incense should not be understood as a confirmed historical formula personally made by Su Shi.

Instead, it is better understood as a literary incense — a fragrance imagined in the spirit of the Two Su brothers.

It asks a beautiful question:

If Su Shi and Su Zhe once sat together in a quiet room, reading, drinking tea, and speaking of life, what kind of incense might have been burning beside them?

Èr Sū Jiù Jú is the answer created by later incense lovers.

The Ingredients of Èr Sū Jiù Jú

The commonly circulated formula of Èr Sū Jiù Jú includes:

• Chén Xiāng (沉香) — agarwood

• Tán Xiāng (檀香) — sandalwood

• Rǔ Xiāng (乳香) — frankincense

• Hǔ Pò (琥珀) — amber

• Fēng Mì (蜂蜜) — honey

• Mò Lì Huā (茉莉花) — jasmine flower

Each ingredient carries a symbolic meaning.

Agarwood is deep and meditative.
Sandalwood is warm and steady.
Frankincense is bright and uplifting.
Amber gives a resinous depth.
Honey binds the formula with softness.
Jasmine adds a fleeting floral tenderness.

Together, they create a fragrance that feels scholarly, nostalgic, and quietly emotional.

The Scent: Cool, Clear, and Gentle

Èr Sū Jiù Jú is often described as beginning with a clear, slightly cool opening.

Then the woody depth of agarwood and sandalwood slowly unfolds.

The frankincense brings brightness.

The honey softens the edges.

The jasmine appears gently, almost like a memory — present for a moment, then fading into the background.

This is not a loud fragrance.

It does not try to impress.

It feels like an old letter opened at night.

It feels like two brothers meeting again after years of separation.

Why This Incense Belongs to Song Dynasty Spirit

The Song Dynasty was one of the golden ages of Chinese incense culture.

For scholars of that time, incense was not only used to scent a room.

It was part of daily cultivation.

They burned incense while reading, writing poetry, practicing calligraphy, playing guqin, drinking tea, or receiving friends.

Incense helped create a refined atmosphere known as Yǎ Jí (雅集) — an elegant gathering of scholars and artists.

Èr Sū Jiù Jú captures this spirit perfectly.

It is not a temple incense.

It is not a decorative home fragrance.

It is a fragrance for conversation, reflection, friendship, and memory.

The Emotional Meaning of Èr Sū Jiù Jú

The beauty of Èr Sū Jiù Jú lies in its emotional depth.

It reminds us that incense can hold more than aroma.

It can hold longing.
It can hold friendship.
It can hold family love.
It can hold the memory of people separated by time and distance.

For modern incense lovers, this fragrance offers something rare:

a way to experience Chinese literary history through scent.

When we burn Èr Sū Jiù Jú, we are not simply enjoying agarwood, sandalwood, jasmine, and honey.

We are entering a quiet room of the Song Dynasty.

We are sitting beside the Two Su brothers.

We are listening to poetry, silence, and smoke.

How to Experience Èr Sū Jiù Jú Today

To experience this incense properly, burn it slowly.

A low-temperature electric incense heater is ideal, especially for incense pills or loose blended incense.

Avoid using too much heat at the beginning.

Let the fragrance open gradually.

Pair it with:

• Chinese tea

• quiet reading

• journaling

• meditation

• calligraphy

• or a slow evening ritual

This incense is best enjoyed when the room is quiet and the heart is not rushed.

Final Thought

Èr Sū Jiù Jú (二苏旧局) is not merely an incense formula.

It is a fragrant tribute to two brothers, two scholars, and one of the most poetic periods in Chinese cultural history.

It reminds us that fragrance can be more than pleasure.

It can be remembrance.

It can be literature.

It can be a bridge between the living and the past.

And sometimes, a single thread of incense smoke is enough to bring an old story back to life.