Aralia racemosa, also known as American spikenard, is a large-leaved perennial herb native to the woodlands of eastern and central North America. It has a thick, aromatic root system, large compound leaves, and inconspicuous greenish-white flower clusters.

The root has long been used by various Indigenous peoples of North America in traditional medicine, for respiratory ailments, wound treatment, and as a general tonic. Early European settlers also used it as a substitute for true spikenard and for sarsaparilla in herbal tonics.

Burned as incense, the root of Aralia racemosa releases a warm, earthy, faintly sweet-spicy scent. It is grounding and calming, associated in Indigenous traditions with healing and protection.

Galbanum is the resin of Ferula gummosa, a tall perennial plant in the carrot family, native to the mountainous regions of Iran and Central Asia. Incisions made in the roots and lower stem release a milky sap that hardens into a yellowish-brown, gum-like resin.

Galbanum ranks among the oldest known incense materials, named in the Book of Exodus as one of the sacred ingredients of the Ketoret incense burned in the Temple of Jerusalem. The medieval scholar Rashi interpreted galbanum's bitter character within that blend as a deliberate reminder of unrepentant sinners. It was also used in ancient Egypt and in Greco-Roman medicine, including by Hippocrates and Pliny. In modern perfumery, galbanum helped define the "green" fragrance family from the mid-20th century onward, and remains a component of well-known scents such as Chanel No. 19 and Guerlain's Vol de Nuit.

Unlike many sweet or resinous incenses, galbanum releases a sharp, green, almost bitter-herbaceous scent with hints of freshly cut grass, parsley, pine needles, pepper, and a faintly musky, powdery depth. This unusual, unmistakably "green" note makes it a prized top note in perfumery, and it has traditionally been associated with protection and energetic cleansing.