How to Select Incense Sticks for Personal Use

Incense has been a mainstay in many cultures for centuries, both in the spiritual realm and on the home front. Today, many people enjoy using incense as a means of adding fragrance to the home or to enhance relaxation after a long day. Incense sticks are one of the most popular types of incense available, but there are some points to consider before you head out to make your first purchase of incense sticks. First, you need to make sure that you have the correct incense burner to hold your incense, and then you want to purchase a quality product that will give you the most pleasing aroma. Finally, you should select your fragrance based on the particular result that you are seeking from your incense sticks.

An Incense Burner

There are a couple of different types of incense burners that you can choose from to hold your incense sticks. One is called a "boat", and consists of a long, flat piece of wood or soapstone that is curved at one end. The curved side will have a small hole, in which you can insert the raw end of your incense stick. The rest of the piece is designed to be long enough to catch the loose ash as the stick burns down. Another popular burner for the sticks is called a "tree", and looks like a centerpiece with a number of holes in the middle. This type of burner is designed to hold a number of incense sticks, and is a popular style as well.

Finding Quality Incense

The most important thing to look for when shopping for your incense sticks is the word, "natural". Synthetic incense has become very popular as the product has become commercialized and mass produced, but synthetic incense will not burn as cleanly or smell as aromatic as natural incense will. You will know if your incense sticks are high quality by the way they burn. If they emit a lot of black smoke, they contain too much synthetic oil. Incense that gives off a pale white smoke as it burns is generally an indication of high quality incense.

Choosing the Right Fragrance

Since incense sticks can be used for a variety of purposes, it is important to select your fragrance based on what you want your incense to do for you. If you are looking for relaxation, look for scents like sandalwood, balsam and cinnamon. Meditation and prayer can be enhanced with fragrances like myrrh, cedar and aloe. For creativity, buy incense sticks in anise, sweet grass and gold, and for sleep select fragrances like saffron, amber and sandalwood. With the right incense sticks in your home, you can enjoy the benefits to your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual state.