Category: Incense sticks

December is a wonderful time of year that brings families together, crackling fires and gorgeous aromas in the home.

Christmas incense sticks are just as popular as scented candles and there are some beautiful scents to choose from as we head into a favourite time of year for many.

Whilst incense sticks give off a lovely variety of scents, it’s important to know that they are not as good for those who suffer with respiratory issues so just be mindful when purchasing.

The smoke that comes off of an incense stick can aggravate the chest so if, like myself, you are asthmatic, you are best to avoid these and have scented candles or reed diffusers in the home instead.

What are incense sticks made from?

Incense sticks are made of a variety of materials that include bamboo, wood and herbs.

Depending on the type of material used will determine how well and efficient it burns. Bamboo is a popular choice as it burns slowly and evenly.

Those that contain a strong scent are made from resins and herbs. For a more subtle and delicate scent in the home, choose ones that are made from wood or bamboo.

Incense sticks burn more quickly than a candle and therefore you will use more but they do tend to be cheaper to purchase than you average candle so you won’t mind burning a few throughout the day.

If you buy good quality ones, the burn time will vary from 30 to 60 minutes. Some may even last for up to 2 hours.

Incense sticks do have a stronger scent than the cones that are available on the market and will produce more smoke.

They are super easy to use, being lit directly with a naked flame. Once lit, a gentle blow of the flame to extinguish it and the stick will begin to burn with a delicate glow.

A suitable holder is just as important as the sticks themselves. They need to fit for purpose without the stick, falling over and able to catch the falling ash as it burns.

Safely first

The same rule applies with lit candles. It is important to place the incense stick in a safe place where there are no droughts, out of the reach of young children and pets and somewhere safe that they won’t be accidentally knocked over.

The benefits of burning incense sticks

Just like candles, wax melts and reed diffusers, there are great benefits if using incense sticks and not just for making the home smell warm and welcoming.

■ Relaxing

After a long day at work, a suitable scent can relieve the stresses of the day.

■ Improve mental and physical well-being

A great way to clear negative energy, the scented fragrances will fill the room as soon as it is lit.

■ Bring back memories

Similar to scented candles, burning an incense stick can bring back wonderful memories as we experience the scent.

■ A restful nights sleep

If you suffer with insomnia then lavender is known for it’s relaxing properties and will aid in a restful nights sleep.

Far safer than lighting a candle too, if you happen to fall asleep whilst it’s still burning.

The essential oils that are used in sticks can assist in improving the air around you and therefore they are a popular choice for those in the therapeutic industry.

If you have ever booked for a massage, you will notice the soft lighting, candles lit and perhaps an incense stick burning.

They are also a popular choice for places that practice yoga, to help relax the body and mind and deepen concentration during meditation.

Instructors are mindful of what scents to burn when they use sticks in their classes and will use natural materials and delicate scents that won’t distract from the activity.

Many religious settings will burn incense sticks to create a calming and spiritual atmosphere and Christmas time will see a bigger influx in their use.

A suitable Christmas gift

Sometimes we may struggle to buy a suitable gift for someone, so by purchasing a candle or an incense stick, this gives the perfect opportunity to give an item that we know is most likely to be used instead of put away inside the cupboard.

They are great value for money and will suit any room in the home.

There are some beautiful incense sticks holders that also come with your purchase of incense sticks and some lovely ones for Christmas time.

With the fragrances of Christmas to bring the festive season into your home and sparkling stick holders, eBay never let customers down with their variety.

You can also buy the holders separately if you want a sturdier incense stick base and some are designed to hold additional sticks for storage.

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When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Christmas incense sticks

CHRISTMAS INCENSE STICKS WITH HOLDERS INCLUDING RED SILVER OR GOLD

I love the idea of these sticks that have their own Christmas holder attached.

With scents of cinnamon/orange and clove, we are instantly caught up in the magic of Christmas. They would make a great gift for someone as well as being the perfect accessory in our own homes.

Wooden Incense Stick Holder Burning Joss Incense Box Incense Burner Ash Catcher

If you are a regular user of incense sticks, then this wooden holder is perfect.

You can burn two sticks at a time and store additional sticks underneath.

Christmas Incense Sticks – Apple, Orange & Cinnamon, Frankincense & Myrrh

Whenever we smell the scent of apples, oranges or cinnamon in a candle or incense stick, we know it’s the season for fires, table decorations and gifts under the Christmas tree.

We love the fact that they are Eco-friendly and a deodoriser.

Sometimes the smell of pet fur and cooking can be a little overwhelming, so a gentle smell of orange and cinnamon or frankincense and myrrh helps to eliminate such smells.

Morning Star- High Quality Japanese Incense Sticks

A fantastic purchase of 50 incense sticks per package with this brand.

Each cent comes with its own stick holder with a variety of scents to choose from. They have little smoke when lit, are Eco friendly and slow burning.

Conclusion

If you are looking to purchase a scented item that can be left to burn safely to help you sleep, to add a fragrance to any room, or simply to enjoy the benefits of their properties, incense sticks are affordable, popular and suitable for many.

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Everyone loves a scent in their home and the benefits of incense sticks are as popular as ever as we take a look into why we use them during our every day lives.

People have been using incense sticks as far back as 2345 BC and were first used by the Egyptians.

They were originally used for religious purposes and have continued to be in use today for healing, bringing memories to life, help relax and keep us calm as well as for concentration with meditation and yoga.

The benefits of incense sticks — Meditation

There are so many uses for them today and they have stayed as a popular home product ever since their first introduction.

The benefits of incense sticks

Those who use them for meditation, use them as a focal point similar to those who use their breathing to focus on.

Meditation is a spiritual activity which began in India.

Burning an incense stick gives the person something to focus on. The opportunity to switch off in the same way to those who practice yoga.

It takes us to another place for that moment in time, where everything else that runs through the mind is pushed aside whilst our mind focuses on breathing techniques and the scent surrounding us.

In order to practice good yoga and meditation, the mind needs to switch off so by burning an incense stick, this allows the mind to do just that and give a different focal point.

They were originally made with natural plants and materials which were classed as medicinal.

Some will help to clear a headache, improve the immune system with their antibacterial properties and some can help to heal scars, pimples and acne.

Burning your favourite scent can also help to relieve stress and anxiety.

The benefits of incense sticks

We are surrounded by every day stresses and worries so with the help of incense sticks giving off a calm and aromatic scent, this can help reduce the anxiety we may be feeling.

Happy and creative vibes

Another reason why people may use them is to help with creativity. Those such as Artists may use them to help bring out their creative side.

The sticks also help to bring out happiness and peace and to help stimulate the mind to be more creative.

Just like wearing your favourite perfume, having a favourable scent around you will ensure that happy vibes are at the forefront of your mind.

No one ever feels in a bad mood when they are surrounded by their favourite scent.

Deodorizing the home

One of the most common reasons why people burn them is to deodorize their homes.

The benefits of incense sticks

The smell of pet fur, stale food or rubbish bins can linger and give an unpleasant smell throughout the home.

Read our hoover fragrances post for another way to eliminate bad odours in the home.

By burning an incense stick, this gives off a more pleasant smell to mask any unwanted scents around us.

They can also work well outdoors to keep insects away.

Pesky insects don’t like strong smells, especially popular ones such as lavender and citronella, that are suggested for keeping them at bay.

These particular scents work well when burning them as candles too. Stores sell candles that can be used outside to keep insects away from your food during the summer months.

If you have trouble sleeping, apart from using a pillow mist spray, which helps to switch you off from every day thoughts and relax you, incense sticks can also be used. Make sure you put out the stick safely before you sleep.

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The aromatherapy scents work the best to calm the mind and aid a restful nights sleep.

Retreat spa

Have you ever been to a massage retreat spa? There will often be an incense stick burning in the room whilst you have a massage.

This helps you to focus on the fragrance of the scent and switch off the mind. By having your mind in a relaxed state, this helps the body to relax and therefore your body will benefit much more from the massage.

Using incense sticks safely

Be extra careful when purchasing incense sticks as some are full of chemicals. Choose brands that are non-toxic and try to find ones that are scented naturally rather than ones that use chemical fragrances.

If you choose ones that have no core, these will have a more natural aroma and won’t smell of burning wood, away from any draft caused by open doors or windows. Keep away from curtains too.

They are very easy to use. Light the end with a match or a lighter and hold for around 10 seconds. Just long enough for the stick to ignite.

The flame more often than not will extinguish on its own. An average burning time will be around 20-30 minutes, depending on their size and thickness.

If you wish to put the stick out before it has fully burnt away, then you can dip the ignited end into water.

Incense sticks do produce a lot of smoke when they burn so make sure you them in a ventilated room.

Be mindful that the smoke burning from an incense stick is a lung irritant, so try not to burn them too often or around those who have breathing conditions such as asthma.

The importance of Chakra

Many of you I’m sure will have heard of chakra. An ancient word that means ‘wheel’ and refers to the spinning vortexes of the body’s natural energy system.

Recently I have learned that my chakra has weak energy and I was in fact absorbing energy from others as my chakra was closed.

When the body is exposed to stress or depression for example, the chakras will react and create an imbalance.

Ideally we need all of our chakras to be open which then promotes balance and frees up energy.

The benefits of incense sticks

There are chakra incense sticks available on the eBay that have different scents and are great to use whilst practicing meditation or yoga.

One thing to bear in mind when using incense sticks, just like using candles, make sure you burn them in a safe environment.

Especially if you have pets or young children.

You can purchase the holders that fit an incense stick inside, to catch the falling ashes. Some are more suitable than others so shop around for the most suitable one.

Some of the most popular scents are sandalwood and this scent is used for its relaxing benefits.

Lavender and patchouli scents are great for aiding a restful sleep as they put you into a deeper relaxed state to help you unwind and fall asleep faster.

Depression is such a huge topic and those who do suffer will certainly benefit from a scent such a frankincense. This fragrance activates the ion channels that will then help alleviate anxiety and depression.

The benefits of incense sticks

There are some incense sticks that help kill germs in the environment and those that have antibacterial properties will boost your health.

Scents such as cedar and sage are good for reducing negative energies and spirits from our surroundings.

Rose scent has been found to help and work as a mild painkiller. It can also help to lower the blood pressure and improve the mood.

There are so many benefits that we can use incense sticks for and they are an affordable accessory to buy from many online and in store retailers.

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