Everything You Need to Know About Incense — Sticks, Cones, Burners & More

Everything You Need to Know About Incense — Sticks, Cones, Burners & More

Incense has been used for thousands of years — for prayer, ritual, relaxation, and simply making a space smell incredible. And right now, it's having a serious moment.

Whether you're completely new to incense, looking to upgrade your burner, or searching for a unique gift — this guide covers everything you need to know. From sticks vs cones to backflow burners and smudge incense, we've got you.

Incense Sticks vs Incense Cones — What's the Difference?

This is the question we get asked most, so let's settle it.

Incense Sticks are the classic choice. A thin bamboo stick coated in fragrant resin, they burn slowly and evenly, releasing a gentle, steady stream of scented smoke. They're perfect for filling a room gradually, and the long burn time makes them ideal for meditation, yoga, or just a relaxed evening at home.

Incense Cones are more compact and concentrated. They burn faster and release scent more intensely — brilliant if you want to fragrance a space quickly or create a stronger atmosphere. Cones are also the choice for backflow burners, where the smoke cascades beautifully downwards rather than rising up.

Which should you choose?

  • For slow, gentle fragrance throughout the day → sticks
  • For a quick, intense burst of scent → cones
  • For a stunning visual effect → cones in a backflow burner

What Is Smudge Incense?

Smudge incense has its roots in ancient spiritual practice — used for centuries to cleanse a space, clear negative energy, and set intention. Most commonly associated with white sage, smudging involves burning the herb and allowing the smoke to move through a room.

Today, smudge incense is used by all kinds of people — those who follow spiritual or pagan practices, those who simply love the earthy, grounding scent, and those who find the ritual of burning it a calming and mindful experience.

If you're drawn to the idea of a more intentional, ceremonial approach to home fragrance, smudge incense is well worth exploring.

Choosing the Right Burner or Holder

The right burner makes all the difference — both practically and aesthetically. Here's what we offer:

Incense Stick Ash Catchers
A simple, essential accessory for burning sticks safely. They catch the ash as it falls, keeping your surfaces clean. Available in a range of designs to suit any style.

Incense Cone Holders
Designed to hold cones securely while they burn. Compact, stylish, and perfect for placing on a shelf, windowsill or coffee table.

Christmas Fireplace Backflow Incense Burner
This is something truly special. Backflow burners use specially designed hollow cones to create a mesmerising waterfall effect — the smoke cascades downwards, flowing like mist. Our Christmas fireplace design is a showstopper and an absolutely stunning gift.

Santa Hat Incense Cone & Tealight Holder
A gorgeous dual-purpose holder — use it for incense cones or tealights, with a beautifully festive design that looks wonderful displayed at Christmas.

Christmas Incense Stick Holder
A decorative stick holder with a seasonal design. Simple, elegant, and perfect for gifting alongside a pack of incense sticks.

Using Incense for Relaxation & Mindfulness

One of the most popular reasons people burn incense today is for its calming effect. There's genuine science behind it — certain scents trigger the brain's relaxation response, slowing the heart rate and reducing stress hormones.

A few ways to incorporate incense into your daily routine:

  • Morning ritual: Light a stick before you start your day to set a calm, focused intention
  • Meditation or yoga: Burn incense during your practice to deepen focus and mark the space as sacred
  • Wind-down routine: Replace your phone scroll with a slow burn — light a cone, make a tea, and breathe
  • Creative work: Many writers, artists and makers swear by incense for getting into a flow state

Scents like sandalwood, lavender and frankincense are particularly well-loved for relaxation. Earthy, woody notes tend to ground and calm, while citrus and floral scents are more energising.

Incense as a Gift — Why It Works for Everyone

Incense is one of those gifts that feels genuinely thoughtful without requiring you to know someone's exact tastes. It's sensory, beautiful, and a little bit different from the usual candle or diffuser.

Our incense range makes brilliant gifts for:

  • The mindfulness lover who's into meditation or yoga
  • The spiritual or witchy friend who loves ritual and ceremony
  • The home fragrance obsessive who wants to try something new
  • The person who has everything — because nobody buys themselves a backflow burner

For Christmas gifting, the Christmas Fireplace Backflow Incense Burner paired with a pack of Incense Cones makes an absolutely stunning gift set. Add the Santa Hat Holder for something a little more playful.

Shop the Haliwax Incense Range

All of our incense products are chosen for quality, scent, and beauty — because we believe the experience of burning incense should be as lovely as the fragrance it creates.

Carefully chosen for quality, scent, and beauty — because we believe the experience of burning incense should be as lovely as the fragrance it creates. Based in Halifax, Yorkshire. Free UK delivery on orders over £25.