Stop and Smell the Incense

As constraints on quarantine lift and our new norm shifts once again, we go through yet another change.  The amount of change we’ve all experienced has encouraged us to be grateful for the little things, and understand how powerful the affect of our home environment can be on us. Our circles might now be growing, but much of what will change will happen over time, leaving the importance of our home still a top priority.  

As new information and news comes barrelling in, you too may be feeling the need to change your environment quickly for a specific period of time. A go to - incense.

insence; grounding, sensual, qi-flow

Gone are the days where incense smelt predominately of patchouly and had a sickly overpowering scent. This strong fragrance was mostly the cause and affect of the usage of chemicals, fillers, and perfumes.  Now you can more easily find brands that support sustainability, ethically source and produce their products, and are using more traditional practices. Used for centuries, “incense” is actually derived from the Latin word for “to burn”. Its usages have included repelling negative spirits or omens, a component of various religious ceremonies, a tool to counteract bad odours, and positively altering your mindset or mood. 

Finding the right incense for you requires some background knowledge. We've gone out and found some useful tips when deciding which incense is best to have in your home.

Choosing the best incense for you:

• Frenkencense, Benzoin, and Sandalwood is well-recognized for calming, healing, and meditation. Uluru and Abydos are best used in small to medium sized rooms.
• Naturally, Palo Santo have been used traditionally to give a sense of uplifting energy, purify, and transform. Both contributing to the effect of healing. Warding off bad energy is a common practice with Palo Santo sticks, inviting ceremony & magic.
•  Lighting an incense after a meal can help put  you at ease. Nomadic & Dawn has sweet aroma, best used high-ceiling kitchens or large open rooms.

 
palo santo sticks burning

To ensure you utilize incense to its fullest, here are a few tips in choosing your incense and how to burn it. 

How to Safely and properly burn incense:

1. Use a base which is flame-retardant and heat resistant, like ceramic. It’s also best if this base is large enough to catch the ash of the burnt incense, to allow for a quick and easy clean up. 

2. Ensure you have no fabrics or flammable objects in the close proximity to your incense. 

3. Light the end of the incense stick, but just the very tip.  It should not go up in flame but should start to smolder - emitting its smoke and fragrance. This will allow you to get the best possible fragrance.

4. Do not inhale the smoke directly, and the incense base/holder is best placed about 2 meters away from you. 

5. If you don’t want to burn the entire stick, or have a smaller space, turn the incense stick upside down and replace in its base.  This should encourage the incense to naturally go out. 

       
porcelain incense burner

As we’ve taken you through the importance of scent in our series What Smells we’ve reviewed the benefits of fragrance, their soothing and grounding nature, as well as its usage as a tool to alter your state of mind positively and naturally. This journey has also taken place during one of the most astounding times in history. Where our perspectives have altered, our priorities have shifted, and our lives have forever changed. We’re hopeful for the future and the clarity this time has brought us. 

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