Amy Johnson, age 15, of Cleveland, Ohio, for her question:

WHEN WAS INCENSE FIRST USED?

Incense is a material that is made up of aromatic gums and spices that is burned for its fragrant smoke. The burning of incense has been used as part of religious ceremonies since ancient times.

Etched into a tablet on the Sphinx at Giza in Egypt that dates back to about 1530 B.C. is a mention of the use of incense.

In addition, incense was used in early Jewish religious ceremonies and later the ancient Romans also used it on special occasions.

Ingredients of incense are usually a combination of items including scascarilla bark, benzoin, styrax and frankincense, which is an aromatic gum resin from a number of Asian anti African trees.

Incense is today used in most Oriental religions and in some of the ceremonies of the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches.