Hanging Incense Burners Help Diffuse Aromatic Smoke

Generally speaking, hanging incense burners are designed to hold cones or non-burning incenses, hung from a hook either in the ceiling or a freestanding holder. The removable tops of these hanging incense burners are not solid, allowing the smoke from the burning incense to escape into the air. They can be used for cones or resin on top of a burning media.

Sand is usually placed in the bottom of hanging incense burners on which the cones can set or non-aromatic charcoal can be lit to smolder without heating the bottom of the holder. Incense resin is then placed on top of the charcoal to produce the desired aroma with the smoke rising through the perforated lid and flowing throughout the lid. Many religious ceremonies also use hanging incense burners, enabling the religious to walk among the people wafting the air with the smoke from the smoldering incense.

There are many sizes and styles of hanging incense burners, depending on the needs of the person, as well as the type of incense being used. On average, to burn charcoal and adding incense resin, the hanging incense burners are about five inches in diameter. Smaller ones are available if the user intends to burn smaller cones, ranging in size from two to four-inches in diameter.

Different Incense Types Used In Burners

When using charcoal in hanging incense burners the user has the added advantage of being able to use different types of incense. Used with any base resin, powdered incense infused with essential oils, can be placed on top of the smoldering charcoal for immediate aromatic release. The disadvantage in this method is that, while it offers a concentrated smoke, it burns out rather quickly.

The use of compacted incense that does not lend itself to be shaped into sticks or cones can also be used and will provide a longer burn time, or pieces of bark from plants typically used for their essential oils can be used in hanging incense burners and their scent is quickly picked up by the smoldering charcoal.

Picking up a tabletop incense burner with a burning cone or stick inside can represent a danger if dropped or spilled. With a cone smoldering in hanging incense burners it can be piked up by the chain and be moved to other locations without the fear of dropping smoldering ashes on the floor. It can also be carried outside where it's design will slow any breeze blowing, that may speed up the burning process.