Incense sticks are products made from fragrant woods. Natural materials like sandalwood and cypress have a unique, relaxing aroma. Beyond incense sticks, you'll find a wide variety of aromatherapy products on the market. Different types of aromatherapy have distinct characteristics, and there are many factors to consider when choosing, including raw materials, fragrance, burn time, smoke quality, functionality, and price. This article will introduce six types of incense burners to help you explore the world with ease.
(Figure 1: Factors to consider when choosing incense sticks and an overview of burning aromatherapy)
[Incense burner 1: Peruvian holy wood sticks]
Peruvian palo wood sticks originate from ancient Inca shamanic culture and represent a primitive, ancient practice. Some incense sticks are also made from Peruvian palo wood. Besides Peru, other major sources of palo wood include Ecuador, Argentina, and other South American regions. However, Peruvian palo wood possesses the highest natural aroma and energy. Peruvian palo wood has been found to purify negative energy, attract positive energy, and promote healing. It is often used for environmental and personal energy purification, meditation, and relaxation. When burned, whole palo wood sticks produce a rich, dense aroma, making them suitable for spacious, well-ventilated spaces. Due to the complex conditions under which genuine palo wood forms, fake palo wood can be found on the market, so caution is advised when purchasing.
(Figure 2: Characteristics of Peruvian Palo Santo)
【Incense burner type 2: smoke stick】
Smoke sticks are bundles of herbs tied together with string and burned directly. A single bundle can contain a single plant or a combination of multiple plants, harnessing the power and benefits of nature for a "smoke cleansing" ritual. Smoke sticks produce a stronger smoke. Larger bundles have a wider burning surface, resulting in more smoke and a stronger aroma, making them suitable for large spaces. Because they burn natural plants directly, the aroma of the smoke sticks will be a strong grassy, herbal flavor. If you're only using them in a small room or just want to experiment, it's recommended to start with a smaller bundle.
(Figure 3: Characteristics of the smoking stick)
Incense sticks: Burning aromatherapy
In Chinese society, bamboo incense is best known for its use in rituals. However, in recent years, a growing number of products marketed as aromatherapy products have emerged, particularly in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. Its characteristic is its fixed burning area, which ensures the aroma maintains a consistent intensity, the duration of which depends on the length of the stick. Its ease of use makes it a great entry-level aromatherapy option. However, when purchasing, be sure to check for natural medicinal herbs to avoid chemical incense that may have adverse effects on your health.
(Figure 4: Characteristics of Xiangqiu Incense Sticks | Click here to learn more about Xiangqiu Incense Sticks!)
[Incense burner type 4: bamboo fragrance]
Bamboo incense, also known as standing incense, is a stick incense with a bamboo core. Incense powder is evenly wrapped around the bamboo stick and compacted. It is commonly used for sacrifices and worship. Its burning time depends on the length of the bamboo incense stick, and it produces a moderate amount of smoke.
(Figure 5: Characteristics of bamboo fragrance)
[Incense burner type 5: Rope incense]
Ropemaking is a craft passed down through generations in Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan. Unlike traditional incense sticks, incense makers blend natural incense ingredients and place them on Lokta paper. The paper, wrapped in the incense, is then twisted into a rope shape, ready to burn without drying. The benefits vary depending on the incense ingredients used, and can be used for indoor purification, meditation, calming the mind and relieving stress, and insect repellent and deodorization. There are three ways to burn it: upright, flat, and hooked. It has a shorter burn time and produces a medium-smoked aroma, more than stick incense but less than tower incense. However, due to its greater fragrance capacity, it releases a stronger fragrance in a shorter period of time.
(Figure 6: Characteristics of Rope Incense Sticks)
【Incineration type aromatherapy six: incense coil 】
Incense coils, also known as ring incense, are spiral-shaped incense sticks with a long burning time. A well-known example is mosquito coils. Incense coils come in various sizes, large and small, thick and thin. Large coils are thicker and are often used in temples and ancestral halls. Small coils are used for personal spiritual practice, health preservation, and entertainment, and can be used with an incense holder or placed flat in an incense burner.
(Figure 7: Characteristics of Incense Coil)
[Incense Burning Type 7: Paper Incense]
Paper incense, also known as burning incense paper, is a more innovative type of burning incense sticks. Most of them are made with aromatherapy essential oils. They are small and light, and can be carried with you on daily life or when traveling, allowing you to change your scent and mood anytime, anywhere. There are many shapes and colors of paper incense on the market. The price and burning time of paper incense depend on its brand, size and raw materials.
(Figure 8: Characteristics of paper incense)
Each type of incense burner has its own cultural background and characteristics, allowing you to choose according to your needs and preferences. Most advocate "naturopathy," leveraging the natural benefits of herbs and plants to purify space, soothe the mind, and improve health, without involving religious or spiritual rituals. The highest-quality incense sticks use all-natural ingredients, each with its own unique fragrance and benefits. Common ingredients include: kyara wood, which helps reduce anxiety; agarwood, which aids sleep; and sandalwood, which promotes a healthy complexion. When purchasing incense, pay attention to whether the ingredients are purely natural. Long-term use of incense containing chemical ingredients may have negative effects on the body, contradicting the original purpose of incense.
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