Whether you are meditating, relaxing, connecting spiritually or just want your space to smell good, lighting incense is a simple and meaningful ritual that humans have been enjoying for thousands of years. There are many types of incense sticks, cones, and coils to choose from, each with its own unique benefits.
The most common type of incense is the stick type. To light, just apply flame to the tip of the stick until it ignites and begins emitting smoke. Once lit, it is best to leave it alone and let it burn until it extinguishes. This can take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the thickness of the stick.
When burning incense, it is important to keep it away from anything that can catch fire. Some incense stick holders come with a glass container or a bucket that is filled with grain, rice, salt, or sand to help with this. Alternatively, you can use any safe, fire-proof container that is large enough to hold your incense stick and will prevent it from falling onto the table or floor.
If you are using a special backflow incense stick that requires a special incense burner to allow the smoke to flow down its length, first place the stick into the burner and turn it upside down so that the tip is pointing upwards. Then, light it and gently blow out the flame. Once the incense has burned down to a thin, ember-like glow, you can remove it from the burner and set it on a flat surface for safety.