Not only is The Trail of Time one of my very favorite incense books, it’s also one of the few academic books on the topics that’s available in English. Dr. Bedini uses the pages of this book to shine a light on a nearly forgotten aspect of human history. Before the advent of reliable mechanical clocks, humans used a wide variety of ways to keep time, especially during the hours of darkness when the sun could not be used as a reference. Candles, water, sand, rope, and other materials were often utilized in an attempt to keep time when the sun was uncooperative. The many ways that incense was employed to keep time is fascinating and has inspired me to attempt a variety of projects of my own.
