How to Use Incense Sticks: A Simple Guide to Scented Rituals
Incense sticks have been used for centuries across cultures—for meditation, prayer, relaxation, and creating sacred space. At SomaScents, we believe using incense should be a simple, grounding ritual that helps you reconnect with yourself and your space.
Whether you’re new to incense or looking to deepen your practice, here’s a step-by-step guide to using incense sticks the right way.
1. Choose Your Scent With Intention
Scent is powerful—it can shift your mood, energise your space, and anchor your mind in the present moment. That’s why the first step in using incense isn’t lighting the stick, but choosing the right fragrance for the moment you’re in.
Generally, Scent choice reflects your mood, your needs, or even the time of day. You might choose bright citrus notes for the morning, rich woods in the afternoon, and soft florals or resins at night. Over time, your body and mind will start to associate each scent with its intended purpose—making your incense practice even more supportive and grounding.
Here're some examples from SomaScents Incense Stick Series.
Need emotional clarity or a reset? Try Morning Ember, a grounding blend with coffee and cocoa that clears mental fog and recenters your thoughts—perfect for journaling, morning meditation, or transitions between tasks.
Want to freshen your home or lift the energy? Light Verdant Mist, a crisp, green scent that brings the outdoors in and helps shift stagnant energy in the space.
Winding down for the evening? Burn Moon Bloom, a soft, floral-tinged scent that eases tension and invites deep rest, ideal for your bedtime ritual or a calming bath.
2. Select a Safe Incense Holder
The right incense holder does more than just catch ash—it creates a sense of ritual and beauty, and most importantly, ensures a safe and stable burn.
When choosing a holder, make sure it’s made of heat-resistant material such as ceramic, stone, brass, or hardwood. Avoid plastic or lightweight holders that can easily tip over or melt. A good incense holder should have a solid, balanced base and a proper slot or hole to hold your incense stick upright or at a slight angle.
Place your holder on a stable, flat, and non-flammable surface, away from curtains, paper, plants, or anything that might catch fire. If you’re burning near a window, ensure no breeze could knock the stick out of place or blow ash outside the holder’s catch area.
You can also consider using a tray or mat underneath your holder for added protection and easy cleanup. Some users like to place their incense in a small altar space, next to crystals, candles, or journals—creating a designated corner for quiet reflection.
Choosing the right holder not only prevents accidents but also reinforces the sacredness of your incense ritual. It’s a way of saying: This moment matters. Let’s make it intentional, safe, and beautiful.
3. Light the Tip
Lighting your incense is more than just a step—it’s the moment your ritual begins.
Hold your incense stick at a 45-degree angle, with the tip pointing downward. Use a match or lighter to gently ignite the tip until a small flame catches. Let the flame burn for about 5–10 seconds to ensure the materials begin to smoulder properly. Then, slowly and mindfully put out the flame. You should see a soft, glowing ember and a steady trail of smoke curling upward.
This first wisp of scent signals the start of your ritual. Watch the smoke rise. Let it be the cue for your body to soften and your breath to slow.
If the stick stops burning too quickly, you may not have let it catch long enough—try lighting it again and giving it a few more seconds.
4. Place It and Let It Burn
Once the incense is lit, gently insert the unlit end into your holder, ensuring it’s secure and upright. If the stick wobbles or leans too close to a surface, adjust it for proper clearance. A clean burn requires a stable position and open airflow.
Let the incense burn undisturbed. One 21 cm incense stick typically burns for 30–40 minutes, depending on airflow and humidity. You’ll notice the scent develop in waves—subtle top notes at first, then deeper layers that unfold as the burn continues.
This time isn’t just about filling a room with scent. It’s about allowing space for stillness, presence, or transition. Whether you’re beginning a new day or closing one, let the incense mark the moment.
5. Breathe Deep and Be Present
The real magic of incense lies in what it invites us to do: pause.
As your incense burns, take the opportunity to slow down. You might sit in stillness, stretch gently, journal your thoughts, or simply breathe with awareness. Let the fragrance anchor you in the present moment. Inhale slowly. Exhale even slower.
Scent affects the limbic system, the part of the brain that connects to memory, emotion, and intuition. By engaging your senses, incense can help reduce stress, calm nervous energy, and create an environment where clarity and peace can emerge naturally.
This doesn’t have to be a formal meditation—it can be five minutes of quiet without any actions. The scent is your companion, helping you settle into your body and your breath.
6. Ventilate After Use
Once your incense has burned down completely, gently remove the stick stub and dispose of it safely. While natural incense doesn’t leave behind harsh residues, it’s always a good idea to ventilate the room lightly—especially in smaller spaces.
Think of this final step as closing the ritual—clearing the space for what comes next.
Final Tip
Always burn incense with care. Never leave it unattended, especially around children or pets. You can check this blog to view more information about pets and incense. Besides, use incense in a ventilated space and respect the flame and smoke as sacred elements.
At SomaScents, we believe incense is more than fragrance—it’s a daily act of returning to yourself. Let it be a gentle pause, a breath between tasks, a ritual that reconnects you to your own presence.