How to burn incense: a guide to 5 forms, from sticks to charcoal

Here's how to burn incense sticks and cones: light the tip, wait a few seconds, then put out the flame. After that, a red ember burns the incense slowly and a thin line of smoke rises. Other forms differ a little, especially powder and resin, which need charcoal.

How to burn incense by form

Knowing how to burn incense starts with the form you have. This table sums up the five forms you're most likely to meet. The figures come from makers and sellers, so they apply to their own products and are only estimates. We haven't measured them ourselves.

Not sure which form you have? Start with our comparison of incense forms.

Set up before you light anything

Fire services in the UK and Australia give very similar advice. So get these things ready before you reach for a lighter:

• Holder: use a sturdy, heat-resistant holder that catches ash and falling embers.
• Surface: set it on a flat, stable surface, such as a ceramic tile or metal plate.
• Distance: keep it away from curtains, paper and fabric. Aroma Paradise, an incense shop, suggests more than 12 inches.
• Above it: CFA Victoria says never to burn incense in a closet or under anything hanging.

On airflow, the sources seem to differ. Greater Manchester Fire asks you to open windows or doors, while CFA Victoria says to keep incense away from open windows and drafts. In our view, both can work together: open a window, but don't put the incense directly in the draft.

How to burn incense sticks properly

These steps follow the instructions from Nippon Kodo, a Japanese incense maker:

1. Put the holder on a ceramic plate to catch the ash.
2. Hold the base of the stick, then bring a flame to the top.
3. Let the tip burn for a few seconds.
4. Put out the flame, then look for a red dot and thin smoke. If there's none, repeat from step 2.
5. Push the base firmly into the holder, or stand it upright in ash.

Bamboo-core sticks need a little care. The holder needs a narrower hole, because the core is thinner than a coreless stick. If you use an ash burner, Nippon Kodo suggests filling it to about 80 percent.

At a temple, how to burn incense can also be a matter of etiquette. See our hio guide for large sizes, and our guide to incense in worship for other traditions.

How to burn incense cones

A cone burns from the top down, so always light the pointed end:

1. Prepare a heat-proof dish, or a bed of ash or sand.
2. Hold the lower part and light the point. Help Us Green suggests 5 to 10 seconds.
3. Put out the flame so the tip glows red.
4. Stand the cone upright in the middle of the dish.

The dish also gets hot while the cone burns. For that reason, don't set a cone directly on wood or a painted surface.

Backflow cones

Backflow cones have a hole in the base, so the smoke flows down through the burner. Incense Ocean asks you to line that hole up with the burner's opening. Then, The Hippie House says the effect takes about two minutes. Regular cones won't produce it, and a fan or draft can disturb it.

How to burn incense coils

Coils burn for a long time, so set them up calmly. First, rest the coil on its stand or on ash, with the center as the support. Next, light the outer end and gently fan out the flame.

Our sources don't always say which end to light. However, Nippon Kodo says the ember won't reach the center on its stand, so the outer end is a reasonable conclusion. Also check the pack, because every stand is different.

How to burn powder and resin incense

You don't light powder, resin or bakhoor directly. Instead, you heat charcoal first. ChurchSupplies, writing about church incense, describes these steps:

1. Hold the charcoal tablet with tongs. Never use your bare hands.
2. Bring a flame to the edge until sparks spread, usually in 20 to 30 seconds.
3. Place the charcoal in the burner, then wait for a gray ash coating.
4. Add a pea-sized amount of incense with a small spoon. Add only a little more if you need it.
5. Wait until the charcoal is fully cold before you throw it away.

Charcoal carries more risk than a stick. Greater Manchester Fire warns that solid fuels indoors can produce dangerous carbon monoxide. For that reason, we suggest doing this outdoors. If it must be indoors, our editorial suggestion is an electric burner, used as its instructions say. For resin, read our guide to burning benzoin and other resins.

Blow or fan the flame?

A key step in how to burn incense is putting out the flame, and at home our sources disagree. Nippon Kodo says "blow out the flame". By contrast, Zen.nl asks you to fan it out gently.

Places of worship can be stricter. Japan Guide tells visitors at Japanese temples to put out the flame with a wave of the hand, not by blowing. We didn't find a strong Indonesian source on this, so ask the caretakers of your local temple.

Why does incense keep going out?

Even if you know how to burn incense well, the ember can still die. We haven't tested these causes, and some sources are only incense shops. So treat this table as a first checklist, not a diagnosis.

How to burn incense without a holder

Don't have a holder? Aroma Paradise says a ceramic, glass, stone or metal container can anchor sticks if you fill it with sand or rice. Fill it deeply enough, then push the base of the stick in upright. However, never put lit incense directly on wood, paper or fabric.

How to put incense out safely

TNG Centre Dharmashop suggests smothering a cone's ember with sand or ash. The same makes sense for sticks: gently press the tip into sand or ash until the smoke stops.

Then check again. Greater Manchester Fire asks you to make sure it's fully out and not still smoldering. In addition, Buckinghamshire Fire points out that ash and holders can stay hot after use.

Staying safe while it burns

An ember is still a source of fire, even though it looks small. So follow these habits:

• Never leave incense burning, and put it out before you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Don't burn incense where someone is sleeping.
• Keep incense, lighters and charcoal away from children and pets.
• Space sticks apart, because Kikoh Incense warns that one stick can light another.

The smoke matters too. Halodoc suggests burning for 15 to 30 minutes in an open room. Read our explanation of the smoke risks before using incense every day, especially if someone at home has asthma.

Editorial note

Dupa Incense hasn't tested the steps or burn times in this article, and the photos are illustrations. Some sources are shops that sell incense, so we put fire services first on safety. Dupa Incense is run by a partner of Dupalo, an incense maker in Malang, but this article doesn't recommend a particular product.