The beauty of incense lies in its variety. Incense comes in so many shapes, sizes, and scents, which means there's a lot to process! That's why our incense experts have used their extensive knowledge to break down the different types of incense and how they can benefit you.
"Orchid breathing incense into butterfly's wings" ~ Matsuo Basho
What is Incense?
Check out our Incense page for a whole host of how-to guides and deep dives into some of the wonderful fragrances.
But in short, incense is any substance that is burnt to produce a fragrance, often as part of a religious ceremony or ritual. Its name is derived from the Latin word 'incensum', meaning literally 'something burnt'.
But incense has been around for thousands of years, long before the Ancient Romans. From the Americas in the West to the Pacific Islands in the East, incense was a prominent feature of ancient rituals and was revered for its healing properties.
How Could an Ancient Ritual Tool Benefit us Today?
Well, biologically, we are exactly the same as our ancestors.
While our modern lives are very different from those of early homo sapiens, the biology that makes us human has not evolved significantly in the last 10,000 years (around the time we became the world's apex predator).
That means that as far as our genetics are concerned, we're still hunter-gatherers spending our days in the great outdoors. It's no surprise then, that sitting in an artificially-lit room and staring at screens all day isn't compatible with our biology.
So, Why is Incense Experiencing a Renaissance Now?
That is a lot of people who are so concerned by anxiety that they buy a book on the subject. This is a concerning trend, to say the least, symptomatic of the modern disconnect between our innate biology and our new way of life.
The good news? All natural incense has one excellent healing element in common: the ability to reduce symptoms of anxiety.
We have listed the most popular of the different types and scents below so you can find your fantastically fragrant match, although, having learned about all these wonderful properties for this article, we kind of want them all!
Incense Stick, Cone or Loose?
Let's start with the basics before we get into the different scents. Incense today comes in three main forms: incense sticks, cones, and loose.
Sticks
The most popular incense today is incense sticks. Originating in Ming Dynasty China, they are a form of ancient incense that is also sometimes referred to as "joss sticks".
The most common incense sticks found in the west today are the 'Nag Champa' variety, which is of Indian Origin. Nag Champa is made by dipping a thin bamboo stick into water, essential oils, highly fragrant rare gums, and incense powder in layers, which will result in an incense stick with a densely-layered upper two thirds, and a bare bamboo bottom, which can be held or placed in the holder, which allows for flame burn down the body of the stick.
Another type of incense stick, which is popular in Japan and China, is essentially a combination of natural, fragrant ingredients and binding agents, which is rolled into a stick shape and allowed to dry.
These incense sticks are made of pure powders, oils and binders. Which means no stick in the middle, offering a 'purer' scent. The bamboo in cheaper incense sticks can have an unpleasant aroma, while even the slightly more expensive incense sticks made with a sandalwood base can overpower the surrounding scented powders.
Cones are less popular than incense sticks, but should by no means be disregarded! Much like the incense sticks that are popular in China and Japan, incense cones offer a 'coreless' solution, or in other words, more bang for your buck!
They are also formed by very tightly packing incense ingredients which offers a wonderfully powerful, cleansing aroma, with lots of beautiful smoke.
Loose
White Sage 'Smudge Sticks' are the most popular type of loose incense. They are used to rid a space of evil spirits, which may sound like an old wives' life hack, but it is still widely practiced in the West today.
However, there is so much more than just sage. Loose incense usually comes in a blend of different botanicals, each with healing properties of it own, and so offers a very unique array of fragrances.
We love this type because it is incense in its most natural, unadulterated form. Manufacturers of incense sticks and cones often use synthetic fillers and binding agents which taint the natural healing compounds within the oils, herbs, and spices, so loose is as pure as it gets!
What is our Favourite Type of Incense?
Natural
Natural is the way!
We believe that a blend of pure botanicals and resins, burnt in their natural form, is the best way!
Not only does natural incenses produce fresher and earthier fragrance, but they exude natural healing properties and are loving to the lungs.
The best way to burn resin is on an oil warmer or charcoal disc... We recommend burning your botanical based incense on a charcoal disc or, on an oil warmer infused with plant extract (essential oil)!! Essential oils are also a fantastic home fragrance.
Whatever incense you choose, make sure you burn responsibly
Ensure your incense is burning into an open space and avoid burning right next to you for a lengthy amount of time. As well, avoid close contact when your incense is burning to prevent irritation or hazard.
It is important to be safe and responsible with your incense! But enjoy the beautiful scents and healings they exude.
What are the Different Fragrances and What Do they Do?
There is an infinite number of fragrance combinations that are used to create incense, and in turn, there are countless benefits. Incense is a powerful tool and so many cultures have told of its ability to enhance psychic awareness, increase sexual desire, cleanse negative energies, increase psychic powers, and even induce prophetic dreams. Not to mention the beautiful scents!
It's fair to say then that these ancient ritual tools have some serious clout. They were a feature of countless celebrations, spiritual events, and everyday lives in ancient times, but what are burning botanicals going to do to help you beat the chronic stress that is life in 2022?
Below we break down 16 of the most common fragrances and some of the powerful and complex benefits they can bring to you.
The Most Popular Types of Incense Scents And Their Benefits...
Cedarwood
Natural insect repellent
Increase sexual desire in men
Reduce insecurity
Reduce anxiety
Promote mental clarity
Cedar, along with other wood-based incense, provides power and strength from deep within. It has a complex, woodsy aroma.
Cinnamon
Increase sexual appetite
Increase self esteem
Reduce anxiety
Attract joy and happiness
Cinnamon incense sticks are mild, sweet and pleasant in scent. They inspire lust, desire and sensual passion. It also creates an uplifting atmosphere and spreads positive energy.
Chakra Lotus
Aid self-regeneration
Reduce anxiety
Promote mental and emotional clarity
Lower blood pressure
Improve mood
Lotus has a pleasant, fruity aroma and is a symbol of enlightenment and uplifting spirits.
Dragons Blood
Foster healing environment
Antiseptic properties
Relieve stress
Reduce anxiety
Dragon's blood is a beautiful, sweet scent that it is a common ingredient in aromatherapy products. Extracted from the 'dragons blood flower', it also has antiseptic qualities also make it a sought after ingredient in cosmetics.
Egyptians Musk
Bring balance and order
Realign Energy
Protect against harm
Remove negative energy
Egyptian Musk has a - you guessed it - musky aroma. Ancient communities have associated it with Saturn and the underworld, meaning it is great for providing protection from harm.
Frankincense
Create calming energy
Relieve anxiety
Grounding
Reduce tense or stressful atmosphere
Promote spiritual connection
Frankincense is an aromatic resin with a piney fragrance with notes of spice . It brings about a calming and sacred atmosphere.
Ginger
Heighten sensual passion
Inspire confidence
Reduce lethargy
Reduce anxiety
Enhance concentration
Ginger is a fragrant herb with a deeply warming, citrusy scent and it has powerful antiseptic properties.
Jasmine is fragrant and sweet smelling. Emotional feelings of love and joy are the main features.
Lavender
Alleviate mood swings
Drive away negative influences
Relieve anxiety
Provide clarity during meditation
Induce rest
This beautiful flower has a delicate, floral, slightly sweet scent. Lavender incense sticks aid sleep and maintains a calm atmosphere.
Myrrh
Reduce anxiety
Improve spirituality
Grounding
Increase serotonin
Like Frankinsence, Myrrh is a gum resin extracted from Commiphora bark. It has a powerfully bitter aroma with floral notes. It is a prized, ancient resin and it sacred because of its divine nature and history. Burn myrrh in sacred and magical spaces or when practising yoga.
Opium
Induce dreams and visions
Improve atmosphere
Promote inner peace
Encourages prosperity
Relieve stress
Opium incense mimics the fragrance of an opium poppy, although very few people have actually smelled one! It aids sleep and brings about visions during meditation.
Patchouli
Antidepressant
Improve fertility
Enhance lust
Improve mood
Patchouli produces a warm, exotic fragrance. Known as the 'money-drawing incense'; for thousands of years, people have burnt patchouli incense and prayed to Saturn to improve their finances.
Rose
Improve romantic connection
Assits meditation
Improve memory
Reduce anxiety
Rose incense creates a floral, sweet scent that promotes a sensual atmosphere, with stimulating love, sex and desire among the most powerful of its abilities. It is also another money drawing incense.
Sandalwood
Pain relief
Lower blood pressure
Relieve anxiety
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-bacterial
Sandalwood is one of the most common fragrances available. It is a great all-rounder that cleanses the spiritual body and offers some very powerful antibacterial properties.
Vanilla
Increase creativity
Improve mental clarity
Reduce anxiety
Vanilla incense is another great choice to burn at any time. It has an irresistible, sweet fragrance and specifically promotes mental clarity and intelligence, as well as stress reduction.
White Sage
Cleansing
Purifying
Protective
White sage was used in rituals by Native cultures in North and South America. The smoke of the burning White Sage was used to drive away evil spirits, purify sacred spaces and banish negative energy. Nowadays, you can buy white sage either as a smudge stick, or in the form of incense sticks.
How To Burn Incense
We get into the weeds about how to burn each type of incense in the articles below:
However, it is important for all types that, before you light it, you must place it in a specialised burner, ideally on a heatproof surface, to ensure that your incense burns safely and that the hot ash is collected.
It is also important to make sure you never leave burning incense unattended.
Then, you must carefully ignite the incense. If, for example, you are lighting a cone, you will need to use a match or lighter to ignite the pointed tip.
Once that is done, a flame will appear which you must extinguish by gently blowing. Once the flame is extinguished, a fragrant smoke will be produced until it burns out. This happens anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes after lighting, although you can extinguish it at any time if you need to.
The Bottom Line
Incense has a whole host of wonderful healing and calming properties. Not to mention the beautiful smell they fill your home with! But one feature remains consistent across all of the types of incense - its ability to relieve anxiety. And that is something we could all benefit from.
Incense FAQs
What types of wood are used in incense?
Most commonly, bamboo or the bark of the sandalwood tree is used to make incense.
Is incense safe to use around dogs and cats?
No. We always take a 'better safe than sorry approach', and dogs and cats have very sensitive noses and lungs, so the powerful scents can cause them harm. Always protect your furry friends.
What is incense good for cleansing?
Incense is great for cleansing new crystals or crystals you need to recharge. But also, incense is great for cleansing a space of negative energies and some have antibacterial properties which cleanse the environment in which it is burned.
What is incense used for?
Incense is most commonly used for reducing stress, enhancing meditation and prayer, and for cleansing environments.
