You have probably seen or even used incense. Incense come in several forms—cones, sticks, and coils. They all have a different smell and can be used to scent your home and environment. Incense have been popular for a long time and saw a great rise in popularity during the 70s. Incense are still used today and despite what you may think, they are not just for the “hippie” generation. You might be surprised at how well incense work to help clear you mind and give your home a great smell.
Incense are certainly not new. In fact, they have been used for many centuries around the world. They are used in many cultures for both personal uses and for spiritual ceremonies. Incense are great to try, because unlike essential oils, they are simple to use, inexpensive and require almost no extra tools or equipment. Before you start using incense, there are a few things that you will want to keep in mind.
Tools of the trade: When you get ready to experiment with using incense, you really don’t need fancy or expensive “stuff”. All you really need are the actually incense in your favorite scents, a lighter and perhaps an incense holder. The type of incense you buy will determine the holder that you will need. For sticks, look for a small, elongated wooden tray. It will have a hole at one end to stick the incense in. Once it is lit, the ashes will fall to the tray. If you buy the cones, you can purchase ceramic or brass holders that will filter the scent.
Using the incense the right way: You can burn or smolder your incense. Actually, you are more likely to smolder the incense. When you lit your incense, it will turn to ash and there will not actually be an open flame. This will allow you incense to “smolder” slowly into the air. The ashes will form, but so will a nice aroma. This is what makes using incense so enticing. They are quite easy, portable and safe.
Make sure you are using the right type of holder for your incense. Remember that glass can shatter. Ceramics specifically made for this purpose will work, but do not use glass candle holders for cones or coils. You can also add sand to your holder to insulate the holder from any heat caused by the ashes. This is a quite popular method and it is easy, too.
Supervise your incense: Of course, you will want to take special care to supervise your incense when you use them. If they get knocked over by an overzealous pet or child, you will have a problem on your hand. Never leave the house with smoldering incense either. A small gust of wind into the ashes can cause fire. The best thing to do is to make sure it is completely out by using a bit of water.
Using incense can be fun and rewarding. You can easily find incense that you like at your local store and start using them today.
Posted in Aromatherapy