The pine (Pinus) is an evergreen coniferous tree in the family Pinaceae. It is widespread across the Northern Hemisphere and characterises dry, sandy, or rocky landscapes. Its needle-like leaves grow in clusters of two, three, or five, depending on the species. Pines can grow very old and reach heights of up to 40 metres. Their resin-rich wood and distinctive, often umbrella-shaped crown make them one of the best-known forest tree species in Europe.

Pine resin is the dried, golden-yellow to brownish secretion that the pine exudes when its bark is injured, as a protective measure. Fossilized over millions of years, pine resin is also the origin of much of the amber gathered along coastlines such as the Baltic Sea. Pine needle oil, distilled from the needles, is still found today in numerous cold and chest rubs, credited with an expectorant, respiratory-strengthening effect. The Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) depicted in the illustration used here is Europe's most widespread pine species and was, long before the now-dominant Nordmann fir, one of the first tree species used as a Christmas tree in Germany. Pine tar, extracted from the wood, served for centuries as both a wood preservative and a folk remedy. In Finnish and Scandinavian sauna culture, fresh pine and birch branches are still bound into bundles known as vihta or vasta, used to gently massage the skin of sauna-goers.

When burned as incense, it releases a clear, fresh, resinous-woody scent with slightly citrusy notes. It purifies the air, has an invigorating and refreshing effect, and is traditionally used for space cleansing, purification rituals, and strengthening the breath. In shamanic practice, it is seen as a connecting element between earth and sky. It is burned in small pieces on charcoal discs, often blended with other resins like frankincense or herbs like sage. Unlike purely resinous materials such as frankincense or myrrh, pine resin's slightly green, almost needle-fresh undertone lends any incense blend an unmistakable forest character. Especially during the darker months of the year, its clear forest scent is widely experienced as particularly uplifting. Pine resin thus remains a reliable, unobtrusive companion throughout the year.