Choosing the Right Incense: Stick, Resin, Cone, and More

There are many types of Incense, each with its own aroma and burn characteristics, as well as a specific use. Let’s explore some of the best types of incense and how to use them to enhance your space and mood.

Incense Types at a Glance: Benefits, Uses & Descriptions

Type of Incense	Description	Benefits	Best For
Resin	Made from tree sap like frankincense, myrrh, and copal; burned on charcoal.	Powerful, woody aroma; ideal for purification and meditation.	Ceremonial use, large spaces.
Stick	Bamboo core coated with fragrant materials; burns steadily.	Easy to use; offers a relaxing and ambient smell for daily use.	Everyday use, meditation, unwinding.
Cone	Compact cone shape; burns quickly and leaves a strong aroma.	Ideal for smaller rooms; often used in decorative burners for visual effects.	Small spaces, decorative purposes.
Coil	Spiral shape; has a longer burn time.	Suitable for large areas; scent remains steady over extended periods.	Temples, outdoor events, extended use.
Powdered	Finely ground herbs and resins; tossed over charcoal.	Intense bursts of aroma; customizable aromatic profiles.	Rituals, therapeutic practices.
Rope	Twisted or braided incense; often used in Tibetan traditions.	Pleasant, earthy aroma; calming and grounding effects.	Spiritual rituals, grounding practices.

1. Resin Incense

What It Is: Resin incense is one of the oldest types, still used today, and is made from tree sap, such as frankincense, myrrh, and copal.

Benefits: Resin incense is famous for its powerful, woody smell and is ideal for purification, meditation, and ceremonies. It burns with charcoal, and the fragrance can fill a larger space.

2. Stick Incense

What It Is: Stick Incense, which is commonly used in homes, consists of a bamboo core coated with fragrant materials.

Benefits: Stick Incense burns steadily and gently, is easy to burn, and offers a relaxing and ambient smell for daily use. Floral, woody, and herbal scents are available, making it also great for meditation or unwinding.

3. Cone Incense

What It Is: Cone incense quickly burns and leaves a strong aroma.

Benefits: This type of Incense is ideal for smaller rooms and is typically used in decorative burners, where the backflow burner creates a visual smoke cascade effect, enhancing the aromas.

4. Coil Incense

What It Is: Coil incense is recognizable by its spirals and has a longer burn time.

Benefits: Coil incense is ideal for large areas, temples, outdoor events, and extended events, as its scent remains steady.

5. Powdered Incense

What It Is: Powdered Incense is made from herbs and resins ground as fine as possible, and can be formulated to a specific aromatic profile.

Benefits: This relatively powerless incense powder can be tossed over charcoal and is ideal for rituals or psychotherapeutic purposes due to its intense bursts of aroma.

6. Rope Incense

What It Is: Rope incense is twisted or braided and is often used in Tibetan traditions, where it is burned by hanging or lying on ash.

Benefits: Rope incense has a pleasant, earthy aroma that users would find helpful in their spiritual ritual practices, as it is calming and grounding.

How to Choose the Appropriate Incense for Your Objective

Depending on whether you’re looking for a subtle daily fragrance or a powerful ceremonial fragrance, each incense type is very different. But take some time to think about the space, purpose, and ambiance you want to create when enjoying the benefits of these various types of Incense.

Our incense burner collections: