The peony (Paeonia) is an impressive, long-lived perennial, best known for its large, opulent, and often fragrant blooms. The genus is named after Paeon, physician to the Greek gods, who according to legend used the plant's own root to heal the wounded war god Ares. Botanically, herbaceous peonies, which die back above ground each winter, are distinguished from woody tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa), known as "tree peonies." In Europe, it is chiefly the common peony (Paeonia officinalis) that is native, while most large-flowered garden varieties descend from East Asian species such as Paeonia lactiflora and Paeonia suffruticosa.

In China, the peony has been regarded as the "king of flowers" since the Tang dynasty, when it was the favored flower of the imperial gardens; to this day it remains a popular motif in Chinese painting and a symbol of prosperity, honor, and wealth. Its bark has also long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. When used as incense, it is traditionally the dried and crushed root, or more rarely the petals, that are burned. In the West, the peony is regarded as a symbol of wealth, honor, feminine beauty, and healing, and is the traditional flower for a twelfth wedding anniversary. The city of Luoyang in China has been regarded as the "peony capital" since the Song dynasty and still holds a major peony festival there every year. In Japanese art, where the flower is known as "botan," it frequently appears alongside stylized lions as a symbol of nobility and courage. A well-known natural phenomenon accompanies the plant as well: ants, drawn to the sugary nectar on its still-closed buds, are widely regarded in folklore as necessary helpers in coaxing the flower to bloom.

The smoke releases a floral-spicy, earthy, and slightly sweet fragrance profile, with subtle peppery or minty nuances and a woody depth. This meditative and warm scent is considered balancing, calming, and protective. In European folk magic, peony was burned to ward off evil spirits and for protection, while it is also associated with healing, self-love, and sensual openness. As incense, the peony thus unites East Asian and European notions of beauty and protection within a single plant.