The Best Incense For Relaxation
Relaxation should be an essential part of our daily lives, and using incense can be a great way to achieve it! Just like crystals and healing, incense and relaxation are interconnected, but with so many different scents available, it can be challenging to know which ones are best for calming the mind, body, and soul. Therefore, we have compiled a list of what we believe to be the best scents for achieving a state of zen, leaving you feeling 100% relaxed!
“Looking at beauty in the world is the first step of purifying the mind.”
- Incense for Relaxation
- Our Pick: Lavender
- How to Use Incense to Relax
- What is Incense?
- Our Favourite Type of Incense...
- Other Great Natural Incense Botanicals for Relaxation
- The Bottom Line
- People Also Ask
Incense for Relaxation
Modern life can often take a toll on our mental and emotional well-being, leaving us feeling drained, stressed, anxious, and even depressed. As a result, many people are looking to natural remedies for stress relief.
Incense has been used for centuries for its cleansing, healing, and revitalising properties. It was a popular tool for connecting with spirituality among many ancient civilisations. Today, incense is still used for enhancing meditation, worship, and relaxation. It's also a commonly used tool among spiritual practitioners and aromatherapy enthusiasts alike.
Our Pick: Lavender
I have to admit, I may be a little biased when it comes to this scent. When I was younger, my mother used to put lavender oil on the back of my pillow to help me sleep, and it worked wonders! However, I understand that you may not want to rely solely on someone else's childhood memories and experiences.
Lavender is a widely used herb in aromatherapy due to its ability to promote healthy sleep and deep relaxation. It has a pleasant, sweet fragrance with subtle floral notes, making it a popular choice as a natural air freshener and in perfumery.
The use of Lavender incense has been found to have a positive impact on emotional well-being, relieving tension and stress and providing a natural sense of relaxation for both the body and mind.
How to Use Incense to Relax
Time needed: 50 minutes.
Follow these steps to get the best, most relaxing experience from your incense.
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Find a comfortable position
This space should be comfortable for sitting, not lying down. You don't want to fall asleep while the incense is lit.
Tip: When using incense sticks or cones, we open our windows to allow the fresh air to combine with the smoke produced. This slightly dilutes the smoke but keeps the relaxing effects. However, when burning essential oils, resins, and botanicals (combined: Natural Incense), we don't open any windows. -
Light your incense
Ensure you do this on a heat-proof surface to prevent damage and fire risk. Check your surroundings for anything that may be a hazard.
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Close your eyes
Take long, deep breaths and focus on the air filling and leaving your lungs. Try to avoid letting any thoughts or stresses enter your mind. However, if they do, be patient with yourself and let them pass by. Then, refocus your attention on your breathing.
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Repeat positive affirmations
Repeating affirmations reduces anxiety, boosts positivity, and enhances feelings of self-worth. For this outcome, try repeating "I embrace peace and calm" or "I am worthy of relaxation".
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Extinguish and dispose
Ensure no embers are remaining, and dispose of the ash safely once it has cooled.
What is Incense?
The word 'Incense' has its roots in the Latin word 'Incensum', which means 'something burned'. This indicates the versatility of incense. Any natural plant product with a pleasant aroma can be burned to produce a scent. Commercially available incense comes in four primary forms: sticks, cones, coils, or loose incense.
What are Incense Sticks?
Incense sticks are one of the most popular types of incense available today. They are made up of a mixture of fragrant aromatics and combustible wood powders that are formed into a paste. This paste is then wrapped around a small stick, usually made from bamboo. When the stick is lit, it releases a pleasant and strong scent.
While incense sticks are a great choice for occasional use due to their ease of lighting, they can be quite harsh when burnt regularly. With excessive burning, they can become strenuous on the lungs. That's why we recommend burning natural incense, such as resins, flower petals, herbs and essential oil.
What are Incense Cones?
Cones are a coreless alternative to sticks. Manufacturers create this incense by shaping the wood powder/essential oil paste into a cone shape, thus meaning they do not have a base that the incense material is set around (compared to incense sticks).
Therefore, cones usually produce more smoke and stronger scents. However, they burn more quickly than incense sticks, and yet again can also become harsh and harmful if burnt regularly. We recommend burning once a week.
What are Incense Coils?
Incense coils are the longest-burning type. Similar to cones, coils are not formed around a core. They are usually moulded into a coil shape from long strings of incense paste and left to dry for up to a week.
The length of the coil gives it a much longer burn time when compared with incense sticks. So, if you have a large space or need a scent that will last an entire day, incense cones are a great choice. However, yes, you guessed it, only burn coils on occasion.
Our Favourite Type of Incense...
It isn't a hard choice for us here at Burnt Beech.
Natural incense is our favourite.
Natural incense is an ancient method of burning incense that uses plant-based materials, such as botanicals, resins, and essential oils. Unlike other types of incense, natural incense has a fresh and inviting aroma that is not harsh. All the materials used in natural incense are 100% plant-based and completely natural.
If you want to learn more about natural incense, you can click on the link provided. natural-incense-benefits
Our 10 Favourite Incense for Relaxation
1. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice derived from the bark of certain trees in the Cinnamomum genus family. It has a wildly spicy, yet sweet, aroma, and is very distinctive from other scents.
Cinnamon is often used as a 'winter twist' in meals and baking and is commonly associated with Christmas thanks to its warm, hearty scent.
This beloved spice brings with it feelings of comfort and security, making it the ultimate relaxant. Burning Cinnamon can also help dispel negative energy affecting one's peace of mind.
2. Jasmine
Jasmine is a member of the olive family and is well-known for its sweet and floral fragrance, as well as its delicate white petals. It's also a great addition to food and drinks, and Jasmine rice is a popular favourite.
When it comes to relaxation, Jasmine truly shines. Its incense is frequently used in aromatherapy practices, spas, and yoga/pilates settings due to its calming effects. It produces deep feelings of tranquillity, abundance, and gratitude.
When Jasmine's Incense smoke comes in contact with the central nervous system, it stimulates positive emotions.
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3. Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a fragrant type of grass that has a clean, refreshing aroma with strong citrus notes.
It's commonly used for culinary purposes, especially in South East Asia, alongside Jasmine and Cinnamon. It's also a popular herbal tea ingredient, which can be enjoyed globally.
Burning Lemongrass incense before bedtime is a great way to promote calmness, due to its soothing aroma and natural cleansing properties.
4. Chamomile
Chamomile is a daisy-like plant commonly used in herbal teas for its calming and sedative properties. Its incense has similar tranquil effects.
Chamomile incense is great for relieving tension and creating a feeling of emotional ease.
Many people find the essence of Chamomile to be warm and comforting, making it a perfect choice for a cold, dark night.
5. Frankincense
Frankincense is a precious resin that has been used since ancient times due to its rarity and therapeutic properties.
Frankincense incense has an earthy aroma with subtle notes of pine and spice. Its diverse fragrance creates a soothing ambiance, perfect for meditation and grounding exercises.
Frankincense incense is known to foster spiritual connection, alleviate anxiety and depression, and promote a serene environment. It is an excellent choice for improving overall mental well-being.
6. Rose
Rose incense has a fragrance that is as beautiful as the flower itself. It is sweet, earthy, and floral, often being associated with love and romance.
Apart from its ability to strengthen the Heart Chakra, Rose incense has a profound impact on stress and anxiety, allowing the user to relax and unwind. Additionally, it is known to help improve focus.
All these attributes make it an excellent tool for deep meditation.
7. Pine
Pine is a highly versatile plant that finds its use in various domains such as medicine, aromatherapy, and crafts.
Pine incense emits a wild, fresh, and woodsy fragrance, well-known for its ability to align the Root Chakra. Moreover, it creates a deep sense of calm and relaxation, whether internally or within a space.
8. Sandalwood
Sandalwood is a highly valued and rare fragrant wood, obtained from a group of shrubs that are notoriously difficult to cultivate. It is a sacred commodity, known for its immense relaxation-enhancing properties.
Sandalwood extract and incense has a warm and woodsy aroma that is both inviting and soothing. These qualities can naturally help to relax our body, mind, and soul, whilst protect us from negativity.
Many spiritual practitioners burn Sandalwood during prayer or meditation as it is believed to help alleviate stress and tension.
9. Patchouli
Patchouli incense emits a musky yet refreshing fragrance that is equally grounding and soothing.
As a member of the mint family, it is no surprise that this herb and it's extract are a popular choice for incense cleansing. It is naturally antibacterial and deoderising, perfect for dispelling bad odours and negativity.
Another attribute Patchouli incense has, thanks again to its cleansing properties, is that it is immensely relaxing. It can help to keep you and your space feeling tranquil and at ease.
10. Vanilla
Vanilla is a popular summery spice. It has a sweet fragrance and homely essence, often sparking joyous memories and feelings of content.
Most people associate Vanilla with baked goods and ice cream, however, it's incense is becoming more and more popular, and there is no suprise to why.
Burning Vanilla incense creates a peaceful, tranquil space. It has powerful calming and mind-soothing properties helping us to relax after a long, hard day.
Vanilla incense can also enhance our imagination and happiness, thus making it great for removing creative blocks effecting our spirit and our tranquility.
The Bottom Line
While Lavender is our top pick for incense for relaxation, these other fragrances should not be overlooked. They all have powerful healing and natural stress-relieving properties. All you have to do now is choose which scents suit you and you are on your way to some serious relaxation.
People Also Ask
Why does incense relax you?
Firstly, many incenses are made from natural ingredients, including herbs and resins. These substances can have calming properties that can help to ease the mind and body.
Additionally, the act of burning incense is usually accompanied by slow, deep breaths. This deep breathing can also help to relax. Finally, some incense's scent is very soothing, reducing stress levels.
How can incense help relax?
Incense can help relax because the smell causes the brain to release serotonin. This is a neurotransmitter that helps promote relaxation and well-being.
Some scents, like lavender and chamomile, have relaxing properties and are often used in aromatherapy. When used in combination with deep breathing or meditation, incense can be a powerful tool for promoting calmness and peace.