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Like the gentle glow of a cherished candle, high-quality incense creates visual allure with its swirling smoke while filling your home with delightful aromas. Incense boasts a rich history and can cultivate a unique sense of spirituality, distinct from other home fragrance options. For those aiming to design a serene space—much like Anitta’s retreat in the mountains of Rio—incense serves as a grounding addition.
Often associated with earthy and smoky fragrances—given its very nature as perfumed smoke—incense is not limited to these scent profiles. It extends far beyond the familiar scents of frankincense and myrrh often found in religious settings. Quality incense can encompass a diverse array of aromas, frequently revealed through innovative burning techniques.
This Scent Week, we present our curated selection of incense options designed to enhance your atmosphere, create a desired ambiance, and support mindfulness during times of transition. With a spectrum ranging from woodsy to sweet, these fragrances can evoke cherished memories while anchoring you in the present.
Top Choices for Incense:
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Best Overall Incense
Aesop Murasaki Aromatique Incense
Burn time: 30 minutes
Amount: 25 sticks
Incense holder included? Yes
This incense combines the grounding essence of hinoki wood with warming spices like cinnamon and clove, creating a soothing aroma reminiscent of a sensory massage. Aesop’s offering comes with a Kanuma pumice incense holder, which can be complemented by their bronze incense holder for an added touch of elegance.
Loewe Tomato Leaves Incense Set
Burn time: 50 minutes
Amount: 33 sticks
Incense holder included? Yes, available for an additional $145
This unique offering channels the essence of summer with a fruity scent—akin to the aroma of a freshly sliced tomato hit by warmth. Loewe’s hand-rolled incense on bamboo sticks recalls their iconic tomato leaves candle. The incense holder echoes the design of their candle, adding visual intrigue.
P.F. Candle Co. Enoki Cedar Alchemy Incense Cones
Burn time: 20–25 minutes
Amount: 30 cones
Incense holder included? No, but lid serves as a makeshift holder
This blend features rich earthiness, cedar leaf, sandalwood, and rosemary, offering a rugged, woodsy experience. According to commerce producer Lauren Arzbaecher, these cones encapsulate the essence of a forest in a compact form, blending traditional components with an unexpected fragrance profile that melds with earthy mushroom notes.
Nippon Kodo Kayuragi Incense Sticks
Burn time: 25 minutes
Amount: 40 sticks
Incense holder included? Yes
With a mild woody aroma, this sandalwood incense creates a calming atmosphere. Coming in an elegant wooden box, Nippon Kodo adheres to traditional Japanese practices, incorporating historical methods that date back to the late 16th century, as seen in their dedication to craftsmanship.
Papier d’Armenie Armenie Incense Papers
Burn time: 5 minutes
Amount: 12 sheets (3 strips per sheet)
Incense holder included? No
These unique incense papers evoke the aroma of a Parisian parlor with hints of vanilla and smoky myrrh. Unlike conventional incense, these papers offer versatility for fragrant experiences even without burning, perfect for scenting drawers or wardrobes. Arzbaecher noted the strength of the scent in its unlit form, finding the smoky notes slightly dulled when lit, preferring it in its natural state.
Binu Binu Incense Discovery Kit
Burn time: 30–40 minutes
Amount: 60 sticks (10 of each scent)
Incense holder included? No
This kit features a range of six scents, including green tea and seascape, inspired by traditional Korean practices. Contributing writer Priscilla Ward praised the green tea aroma for its sweet subtlety, noting the sticks produce minimal smoke, making them suitable for those who prefer a gentler fragrance.
Additional AD-Approved Incense
P.F. Candle Co Teakwood & Tobacco Incense Sticks
Burn time: 30 minutes
Amount: 15 sticks
Incense holder included? No
This mix of leather, orange, and tobacco is dubbed the “boyfriend scent” for its musky charm, resonating with sophisticated settings. Ward described its warm and relaxing qualities, enhanced by a robust burn time that facilitates uninterrupted enjoyment.
Na Nin Sea Salt & Sand Dunes Incense Cones
Burn time: 15 minutes
Amount: 24 cones
Incense holder included? No, but lid serves as a makeshift holder
This refreshing scent of sea salt and seagrass transports you to idyllic beach retreats. Ward referred to these cones as a “15-minute mental vacation,” perfect for infusing your space with a sense of tranquility reminiscent of coastal bliss.
BYREDO Trois Encens Incense & Holder Set
Burn time: 30–40 minutes
Amount: 60 fragranced sticks (20 of each scent)
Incense holder included? Yes
This luxurious set features three popular fragrances: Bibliothèque, Woods, and Sweet Grass. The Bibliothèque scent stands out for its rich profile of vanilla and leather with fruit undertones, appealing to various preferences and perfect for gift-giving, even to those new to incense.
Stylish Incense Holders
We can’t overlook the essential role of chic incense holders while discussing our favorite fragrances. These holders not only safeguard surfaces from ash but can also serve as eye-catching decor, further enhancing the visual appeal of the smoke’s dance.
Areaware Poppy Candle & Incense Holder
Binu Binu Roof Tile Incense Holder
Anthropologie Conductor Incense Holder
Urban Outfitters SIN Ming Ceramic Incense Holder
Maison Balzac Pebble Incense Holder
YelStudios Handmade Cone Incense Burner
Can Incense Be Therapeutic?
Incense is often linked to mindfulness and aromatherapy, rooted in spiritual practices that span centuries in civilizations like ancient Egypt, India, and Japan. Historically, incense has served purposes ranging from cleansing energies to enhancing meditation and uplifting spirits. The soothing sensation experienced from burning incense pays homage to its ancient history, supported by scientific evidence.
Renee Hughes, a specialist in psycho-aromatherapy and founder of Holistic Champions, emphasizes the importance of compounds such as linalool, primarily found in floral, citrus, fresh, and sweet aromas, when seeking grounding scents. She explains that these constituents contribute to the overall positive feelings associated with incense.
Choosing Between Incense Sticks, Cones, or Papers
The selection of incense type depends on your desired fragrance strength and mood. Sticks are the most prevalent, generally offering a longer burn time, but necessitating a holder. On the other hand, cones and papers can be positioned on almost any heat-resistant surface, offering immediate use, while papers provide a dual function, allowing for fragrance application even without burning.
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