Understanding the Various Forms of Incense and How to Burn Them.
Incense has been used in various forms in various countries and cultures for thousands of years, from simply burning raw herbs, resins, and woods to grinding natural materials and combining them using precise measurements and recipes to form sticks, cones, and coils.
The form and the aromatic scent of each type of incense has unique, often culturally and purpose-specific, properties and benefits.
The ritual use of incense has often influenced these forms, from creating lots of smoke for smudging, temple use, and the “smoke-bathing” used in Chinese Medicine; to the almost smokeless incense enjoyed in small meditation rooms.
Burning incense was first depicted in the hieroglyphs and paintings of ancient Egypt, where it appears to have been used in religious ceremonies to honour the gods. Today, incense is used for a variety of purposes, from spiritual and religious practices to aromatherapy and simply creating a pleasant atmosphere in our homes.
There is no wrong or right way to enjoy incense, but there are safe and easy ways to enjoy its fragrance, depending on the type of incense you choose.
Types of Incense
Raw Incense
We were starting where the history of incense started – burning the raw ingredients.
Burning dried plants, woods, or resins directly is the least “processed” and oldest form of incense. It allows you to play with combinations of different resins and materials, making it highly adaptable. The upside is its flexibility and back-to-basic nature; the downside is that there is usually lots of smoke, and it can be tricky to master. This is a method for people with large, ventilated rooms who are naturally experimental and have a lot of time on their hands. It takes time to learn how to do this well, and to understand how to make each ingredient slowly release its scent rather than burn in a flash.
Resins: The easiest way to start is to try resins. Resin is the dried sap of some plants and trees, including frankincense, myrrh, copal and amber. Resins all have distinctive scents and can be combined easily in their original form. It is important to note that these resins are very hot when burnt and melt in a somewhat messy way, so it’s essential to use a suitable vessel.
How to burn them: To burn resins, you will need a heat-resistant bowl or censer, which is best made from metal or fire-resistant ceramic.
Place a small amount of sand or ash and a charcoal disk in the bowl or censer. Light the disk and place a small amount of resin on top of the charcoal once it has started to smoulder. The resin will melt and release its fragrance.
Important: you need to be very careful not to burn yourself or the table under the bowl. Raw resins in this form can emit a lot of smoke – so ventilation is crucial.
Aromatic woods and plants: small shavings of aromatic woods and dried plant materials can be burnt in the same way. If the plants are not thoroughly dry, they produce more smoke. The more resiny the wood, the stronger the smell.
From this original way of burning the unprocessed ingredients, we’ll now look at some easier methods, starting with the most common form – stick incense.
Stick Incense:
This is the most common form of incense and is the easiest to use. Incense sticks are formed from a paste of powdered plants, resins, and oils according to recipes – some of which are hundreds of years old and trade secrets.
There are two types of stick incense: the incense paste can be formed around a thin bamboo stick or formed without any internal bamboo stick.
Incense formed around a bamboo stick is usually lower quality, often includes synthetic ingredients, and is very smoky. Ventilation is essential because the artificial ingredients and the burning bamboo stick particles are potentially toxic. These sticks are also far less expensive, and a wide variety of available fragrances makes them popular. They are traditionally used in countries and places with large spaces and good ventilation, so they can be a choice for outdoor use. But be aware that if any of your guests have a problem with synthetic perfumes, they might find these difficult to manage.
The second type of stick incense is superior. It is made by combining the powdered ingredients with a natural binding agent, often the bark from the evergreen Machillus Thunbergii tree, forming the mixture into thin sticks and then drying them. The bark of the Machillus Thunbergii burns evenly with very little smoke or fragrance and helps to hold the other ingredients together.
Making these sticks takes more skill; ingredients are often a better quality and usually wholly natural, so they can be more expensive and a little more fragile. However, the result is a superior incense with much less smoke, no harmful chemicals, and a subtle and complex fragrance not achievable with bamboo stick incense. Some of the most expensive incense sticks available in the world today are made using this method. The percentage of superior quality ingredients used is often reflected in the cost.
These are also “smokeless” versions of this type of incense stick, which combines an amount of fine charcoal to reduce the smoke. The charcoal used is often made of very fine quality wood.
How to burn stick incense: All stick incense is burnt in the same way, although the holder might differ. To burn stick incense, Place the incense in a suitable holder, light the tip and let the flame to burn for a few seconds before blowing it out. You should be left with a glowing ember on the tip of the incense – be aware that this is very hot and could burn you. The incense will continue to smoulder and release its fragrance.
Cone Incense
As the name suggests, cone incense is cone shaped. Like stick incense, cones combine powdered incense with a binding agent. The cones are then air-dried and ready for use. Shaping the ingredients into cones is much easier, but they can emit more smoke and have a shorter burn time.
There are two versions – the more traditional solid cone usually preferred by natural incense producers and a cone with a central hole called “backflow” incense. Backflow, or backdraft cones, are often made almost entirely of synthetic ingredients, and you need proper ventilation to manage the toxicity. Still, you can create theatrical effects with the correct holder because the smoke is drawn down through the central hole to create a mist-like atmospheric effect.
To burn cone incense, place the cone in a holder designed for cone incense and light the tip of the cone. Let the flame to burn for a few seconds before blowing it out. The cone will slowly burn down and release its fragrance.
Coil Incense
Coil incense is used for special occasions and can be more expensive and quite dramatic! It is spiral-shaped and needs a specially designed holder to keep the entire coil off the plate as it burns. They can burn for a long time, and the quality of the ingredients is the same as you would find with quality stick incense.
The coils are packed flat and can be fragile, so care must be taken when handling them. They’re perfect for events and special occasions.
To burn coil incense, place the incense in a holder designed for coil incense and light the end. Let the flame to burn for a few seconds before blowing it out. The incense will slowly burn around the coil and release its fragrance.
Loose Incense
Loose incense, or powder incense, is a loose mixture of dry powdered plant materials, resins, and other fragrant materials. The ingredients are without any binder and not shaped into sticks, cones, or coils. You can either get the incense ingredients on their own or buy custom blends of powder incense from an incense maker. Loose incense allows you to make your own custom blends.
Although this is the most versatile form of incense, it can be a little challenging for beginners to use. The powder can be difficult to control and does not always burn evenly. Burning resin powder can get very sticky and tends to adhere like strong glue to surfaces.
To burn loose incense, you will need a heat-resistant bowl or censer. Place a small amount of sand or ash in the bowl or censer and add a small amount of the loose incense. Light the incense and allow it to smoulder. You can use a fan to ignite the material.
What is a suitable holder for incense?
With all these various forms of incense, it’s no surprise they each need a different kind of holder. Essentially a holder prevents the incense from burning anything else and catches the falling hot ash. Anything that allows oxygen to the ember and prevents either the ember or the hot ash from touching anything flammable is a suitable vessel. But with so many on offer, there’s no real need to create your own!
Modern incense burners are created with convenience in mind, and there are so many to choose from, so find something easy for you to use that looks great on your table and matches the room.
A ceramic or metal bowl filled with fine (dry) sand or rice is the most straightforward container. Ensure the stick is upright to prevent the ash from falling outside the bowl, and the sand or rice is deep enough so the stick won’t fall over.
If you want something more purpose-built, there are plenty of options, just be sure to use the correct incense holder that will hold your incense securely.
- The simplest incense burner or holder is a rectangular bamboo or wooden tray with a hole on one end to put the stick in. These are frequently used with incense made with a bamboo stick, but you can get them with a slightly bigger hole for Japanese incense. Link
- Incense bowls are made from non-inflammatory materials, like ceramic or metal, and have a built-in holder for the stick, cone, or coil. These can also have a cover to control the smoke released. Link
- Or you can use a plate with an incense stone that holds the incense. Link
- A more traditional Japanese kōdō burner is a small bowl for incense, often made of clay or porcelain, that has a lid with a small opening to control the release of smoke. Kōdō burners are used in Japanese tea ceremonies and other traditional ceremonies.
- Incense holders can be elegantly minimalist, decorative, playful, or rustic, made from natural materials such as wood or stone if you prefer something a bit more earthy.
- In a completely different direction are electric incense burners. They are used for raw and powder incense, allowing the incense material to melt and release the fragrance without emitting much smoke. The fragrance is more subtle, but it will enable you to enjoy the incense in environments where you might not want any smoke at all.
So, when choosing your incense burner, consider practicality, the type of incense you want to burn, safety aspects, and aesthetics.
With the right burner for the incense form, and high-quality, natural incense, you can enjoy the many benefits of incense while creating a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere in your home or workspace.
How to Burn Incense
Now that we’ve explored the various forms of incense and burners let’s discuss how to burn them safely and effectively.
Use a heat-resistant holder
As explained – using a holder designed for the specific type of incense you are burning is important, and make sure the holder is heat-resistant to prevent any accidental fires.
Choose a safe location
You will want to ensure you are burning your incense in a safe location, not too close to flammable objects and out of reach from children, pets, gusts of wind, and accidental knocks.
Choose a place where the scent can have the most impact but without the smoke becoming overwhelming. Place the incense in your chosen location before you light it – it is best not to move lit incense.
Light the incense correctly
Hold a stick or cone horizontally and light the end with a lighter. Place the incense in a holder and allow it to burn down completely. For coil incense, place it on the holder and carefully light the end – the end should be horizontal. Let the flame to burn for a few seconds and then blow it out gently.
Burning powder incense and resin is best done on a charcoal disk. Place the disc in a heat-resistant holder and light it. Once the disc begins to glow, add a small amount of resin or loose incense to the top. Make sure it has burnt completely before handling it. Make sure you use a stand so you don’t burn the table underneath.
Watch the Smoke
Some ventilation is essential as too much smoke in a small room can make breathing uncomfortable and set off smoke detectors.
Please also note that not all incense is created equal. Some cheaper incense may contain synthetic fragrances and harmful chemicals, which can be harmful to health when inhaled. To ensure you are using high-quality, natural incense, look for brands that use pure ingredients and avoid those with artificial fragrances and fillers. All the incense in our shop is natural.
Always extinguish incense whilst you depart the room
It is important to never leave incense burning unattended. Always extinguish the incense before leaving the room or going to bed to prevent any accidental fires and ensure everyone’s safety.
In a nutshell, incense has been used for centuries and is still popular today for its fragrance and other benefits. Burning incense is a wonderful way to add fragrance to your home or create a sacred space for healing, spiritual or meditative practices.
The fragrance of certain plant materials and resins can help reduce stress, promote better sleep, purify the air, improve well-being, and encourage healing. In our modern world, incense can improve our connection with ourselves, our history, and the people around us.
From sticks and cones to resins and powder incense, there are many different forms to choose from. Understanding how to use incense safely is essential.
With these tips in mind, you can choose high-quality, natural products to ensure the best experience possible.