How To Burn Incense Sticks (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Burn Incense Sticks PDF download Download Article Explore this Article parts 1 Selecting Your Incense and Censer 2 Using Your Incense 3 When to Burn Incense What Is Incense, and What Are the Benefits of Using It? + Show 1 more... - Show less... Other Sections Video Tips and Warnings Things You'll Need Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM

Last Updated: July 17, 2025 Approved

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This article was co-authored by Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM. Dr. Karina Menali is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, Faculty Member at Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Owner of Kai Wellness. She specializes in holistic health, Chinese herbal medicine, and functional medicine. Dr. Menali also helps patients through emotional and spiritual trauma. She holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology from The University of Massachusetts, Boston, a Master's from Emperor's College in Santa Monica, CA, and a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 11 testimonials and 89% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,038,630 times.

People choose to burn incense for many reasons; whether you are burning incense sticks to relax, for religious purposes, or simply because you like the smell, it's important that you know how to use them properly.

Burning Incense

Put your incense in its holder using the end that isn't covered with incense material. Then, hold a live flame to the end of the incense until it catches fire. Remove the live flame and let the incense burn until you can see the lit ember, then blow out the flame.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Selecting Your Incense and Censer

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  1. Step 1 Consider purchasing a cored incense stick. 1 Consider purchasing a cored incense stick. These incense sticks consist of a thin, wooden stick (usually bamboo) that is covered with incense material; only the bottom inch or so is left uncovered. The incense material can be smooth and fine, or it can be grainy and coarse. The aroma, which is usually strong, includes both the scent of the incense and the scent of the burning wooden core.
    • As a general rule of thumb, opt for incense that is pure and scented naturally, rather than ones that use bonding agents and chemical fragrances.[1]
  2. Step 2 Consider purchasing a solid incense stick. 2 Consider purchasing a solid incense stick. These incense sticks are made from pure incense material and have no core inside. They have a lighter aroma, making them perfect for small spaces, such as bedrooms and offices. Because they have no core, their smell is simpler with no underlying notes of burning wood. You can also make your own incense ! Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Find a suitable incense holder. 3 Find a suitable incense holder. Incense holders, also known as censers, come in many different shapes and sizes. What you use to hold your incense depends on the type of incense you are using: cored or solid. You can purchase a special holder designed to hold incense sticks, our you can make your own using the supplies you have on hand.
    • If you have a cored incense stick, consider using an incense "boat," which is a long, thin piece of wood, metal, or ceramic that has a tiny hole at one end. The incense boat usually has a groove down the center, which is used to catch any falling pieces of ash.
    • If you have a solid incense stick, do not use a wooden holder. Solid incense sticks burn all the way down, so using anything made from a flammable material as a censer is dangerous. Instead, consider filling a bowl or cup with grain, rice, salt, or sand, and sticking the incense stick inside.[2] If you wish to use a censer, then look for one that is made of ceramic or stone.
    • Consider purchasing a shaped censer. These incense holders often come in many different shapes, such as elephants, lotus flowers, leaves, or bowls. They are usually made out of ceramic (which makes them suitable for both cored and solid incense sticks) and have a tiny hole at the top.
  4. Step 4 Consider making your own censer. 4 Consider making your own censer. You can make a simple incense holder using a bowl and something grainy, or you can make your own out of clay. Here are some ideas:
    • Make a shaped censer using clay. Take a piece of natural, air dry stone clay and roll it out flat. Cut it into a shape you like using a craft knife or a cookie cutter. You can either leave it flat, or turn the edges up towards you to give it more of a bowl shape. Take your incense stick and poke a hole into the clay. Take the stick out and let the clay dry before using it as a censer.
    • Make an incense holder using a bowl or bucket. Choose a container that is wide enough so that it can catch any falling ash from your incense stick. Fill the container with grain, rice, salt, or sand.
    5. Advertisement
Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Using Your Incense

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  1. Step 1 Find a suitable place to burn your incense. 1 Find a suitable place to burn your incense. Because incense sticks release a lot of smoke, you will need to burn your stick in a well-ventilated room. At the same time, however, keep your burning incense away from open windows or doors, where there is a lot of draft. Make sure that there is nothing flammable near your incense, such as curtains or drapes.[3]
  2. Step 2 Light the end of the incense stick. 2 Light the end of the incense stick. You can use a match or a lighter. Hold the flame to the stick until the stick ignites.
  3. Step 3 Let the flame burn for about 10 seconds. 3 Let the flame burn for about 10 seconds.[4] The flame may extinguish on its own. If it does, look at the tip of the incense stick. If you can see a glowing ember, then the incense stick is burning properly. If you do not see anything, and the tip looks ashy, then you will need to relight the stick.
  4. Step 4 Gently blow out the flame. 4 Gently blow out the flame. You should be able to see a glowing ember on the tip of your incense stick and a tendril of smoke; you should not see a flame. After about 30 seconds, you should be able to smell the incense. This means that your incense is burning properly. If you do not see anything and the tip looks ashy, then you have completely extinguished the incense. Re-light the stick. This time, cup your hand and hold it behind the flame as you blow it out.
  5. Step 5 Stick your incense into the holder. 5 Stick your incense into the holder. If you are using a cored incense stick, then place the wooden end unto the holder. If you are using a solid incense stick, then it does not matter which end you place into the holder. Most censers will hold the stick up vertically or at a slight angle. If your censer holds your stick at a slight angle, make sure that the tip of your incense stick is still over the censer. If the tip extends beyond the censer, trim the incense stick down or place the censer down on a heat-resistant try.
    • If you are using a bowl or bucket filled with grain, rice, salt, or sand, then gently push the bottom of the stick into the grain, rice, salt, or sand until the stick is able to stand up on its own. You can stand the stick straight up or angle it slightly. If you choose to angle the stick, make sure that the tip is still within the perimeter of the container. This way, once you light the stick, any ash will fall directly into the container, and not onto your table or floor.
  6. Step 6 Let the incense burn until it extinguishes. 6 Let the incense burn until it extinguishes. Most incense sticks will burn for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the size and thickness.
  7. Step 7 Practice proper fire safety. 7 Practice proper fire safety. Like with all flames, do not leave burning incense unattended. If you need to leave the room, extinguish the incense by dipping the tip in water or pressing it against a heat-resistant surface. Make sure that the incense holder is on a heat-resistant surface, and out of reach of any curtains, drapes, children, and pets.
    8. Advertisement
Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

When to Burn Incense

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  1. Step 1 Use incense for... 1 Use incense for meditation. Burning incense during meditation can not only help relax your mind, but it can also help give you a sense of focus.
  2. Step 2 Use incense as an air freshener. 2 Use incense as an air freshener. Because incense produces a lot of fragrant smoke, it is possible to use this as an air freshener. Keep in mind, however, that incense will only mask odors, and that to eliminate a bad smell completely, you will have to get rid of the source (be it the trash, dirty dishes, dirty litter, and so forth).
  3. Step 3 Use incense for aromatherapy. 3 Use incense for aromatherapy. You can use incense to help you focus, increase motivation, ease headaches, and reduce depression. Burning incense may also help you relax and feel less stressed.
  4. Step 4 Be aware that using incense too often may lead to lung diseases. 4 Be aware that using incense too often may lead to lung diseases. Incense fills a room with fragrant smoke, which you breathe in. Studies have shown that breathing this smoke daily may lead to lung cancer.[5]
    • Remember—the smoke from your incense is a lung irritant![6]
  5. Step 5 Know that using incense too often increases indoor air pollution. 5 Know that using incense too often increases indoor air pollution. The smoke from extensive incense use may deteriorate the air quality in your home, and contribute to issues such as: asthma, headaches, and other respiratory issues. It may also irritate the eyes, nose, lungs, and throat.
    • Open a window before you burn your incense.[7]
    • You can also set up an air purifier in your home.[8]
    6. Advertisement

What Is Incense, and What Are the Benefits of Using It?

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Tips

  • Incense lasts up to 20 to 30 minutes. Thanks Helpful 14 Not Helpful 0
  • You can light up as many sticks as you want at one time, but one is usually enough to fill up a room. Thanks Helpful 13 Not Helpful 0
  • If you don't plan on burning the whole stick, dip the tip of the incense in water to make sure its completely out. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 0
Show More Tips Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Use proper air ventilation. Too much incense smoke may cause headaches. Thanks Helpful 49 Not Helpful 0
  • Keep burning incense away from drafty areas or places where it could get knocked over. Thanks Helpful 29 Not Helpful 2
  • Keep the incense holder on a flat, heat-resistant surface. This is to reduce the risk of fire in case it gets knocked over or any ashes miss the censer as they fall. Thanks Helpful 30 Not Helpful 4
  • Never leave burning incense unattended. Thanks Helpful 35 Not Helpful 6
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Things You'll Need

  • Incense
  • Incense holder or censer
  • Lighter or matches

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References

  1. ↑ Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM. Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ Spiritual Scents, How to Burn Incense
  3. ↑ Incense Warehouse, Burning Incense I
  4. ↑ Spiriual Scents, How to Burn Incense
  5. ↑ WebMD, Incense Linked to Airway Cancers
  6. ↑ Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM. Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine. Expert Interview
  7. ↑ Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM. Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine. Expert Interview
  8. ↑ Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM. Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine. Expert Interview

About This Article

Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM Co-authored by: Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine This article was co-authored by Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM. Dr. Karina Menali is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, Faculty Member at Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Owner of Kai Wellness. She specializes in holistic health, Chinese herbal medicine, and functional medicine. Dr. Menali also helps patients through emotional and spiritual trauma. She holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology from The University of Massachusetts, Boston, a Master's from Emperor's College in Santa Monica, CA, and a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. This article has been viewed 1,038,630 times. 35 votes - 89% Co-authors: 31 Updated: July 17, 2025 Views: 1,038,630 Categories: Aromatherapy Article SummaryX

To burn incense sticks, start by lighting the end of an incense stick using a lighter or a match. Then, let the end of the stick burn for about 10 seconds before gently blowing out the flame. When you blow out the flame, the end of the stick should be glowing red and smoking. If it's not, try relighting it and letting it burn for a little bit longer this time. If the incense stick is burning properly, place the non-burning end into a holder and let the incense burn until it extinguishes. To learn how to make your own incense holder, scroll down! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Eric Hamilton

    Eric Hamilton

    Oct 20, 2016

    "We buy a lot of incense every month. Especially with winter coming on in a stagnant house, they are a nice way to..." more
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM Co-authored by: Karina Menali, L.Ac., DACM, Dipl. OM Licensed Acupuncturist & Diplomate of Oriental Medicine Co-authors: 31 Updated: July 17, 2025 Views: 1,038,630 89% of readers found this article helpful. 35 votes - 89% Click a star to add your vote Eric Hamilton

Eric Hamilton

Oct 20, 2016

"We buy a lot of incense every month. Especially with winter coming on in a stagnant house, they are a nice way to..." more Abbi Locke

Abbi Locke

Jul 9, 2016

"The article specified and emphasized safety and potential dangers, while also being clear about benefits. Also, it..." more Rakiba McNeil

Rakiba McNeil

Dec 17, 2017

"The information about burning incense was good to read, easy to follow, and very helpful in choosing what type of..." more Anonymous

Anonymous

Aug 4, 2016

"Knowing so much about the incense and about the risks was very informative. I never knew there were any risks to..." more Anonymous

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Jul 14, 2017

"I bought a few incense sticks and didn't know how to use them. With this article, I was able to use them..." more Rated this article: Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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