Tang Xiaomei is an inheritor of the Rugao fragrant sachet making craft. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

Tang Xiaomei is a representative inheritor of the fragrant sachet making craft, a part of the intangible cultural heritage of Rugao, a county-level city in Nantong, Jiangsu province. Her home is adorned with a variety of colorful and exquisitely patterned sachets.

The process of designing, selecting fabrics, and sewing each sachet requires considerable effort. Crafting a simple sachet takes about an hour, while more intricate designs may take three to four hours to complete. The filling of the sachets consists of a blend of various Chinese medicinal herbs such as calamus, fragrant thoroughwort, purple nut sedge, and borneol, which combine to emit a refreshing fragrance with calming and soothing effects.

In 2024, the Year of the Dragon, Tang created sachets adorned with various dragon motifs to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Dragon-themed fragrant sachets crafted by Tang. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]