10 Best Incense Sticks UK 2021 | Satya, Shoyeido and More

Buying incense is more than just choosing your favourite scent - but don't worry! In this buying guide, we'll be sharing a few tips to help you purchase the perfect incense online.

Did you know some regions in the world have their own method of producing incense? Each regional variety has different characteristics, and some have a more pungent scent while others are milder, but we promise they all smell amazing!

Incense and Indian culture have been inseparable since Buddhism was born in 700 BCE. Nowadays, you can easily find incense sticks that are hand-rolled in the traditional Indian way. 

Indian incense sticks have the most intense and strongest scents. They are made by coating a bamboo stick with highly fragrant joss powder. The coating is made from various natural ingredients and spices, which are powdered before being rolled into a paste which releases the aroma.

Unlike Indian incense sticks, Japanese incense doesn't use bamboo sticks to hold the joss paste. Instead, the incense powder, which is usually made from wood and herbs, is mixed with a paste made from Japanese tree bark and rolled into sticks. 

Japanese incense sticks are considered the best in the world, as the industry uses only the highest quality natural ingredients. As a result, they can be slightly more expensive than other types. However, if you can afford it, they will definitely be worth the price once you smell the soft and subtle fragrance filling the room. Though, keep in mind that these incense sticks are extremely thin and fragile, so handle them with care.

Also known as Himalayan incense, Tibetan-style incense is made from over 30 medicinal herbs rolled into a paste with water, then squeezed out from a piping bag into sticks.

Tibetan incense produces the richest and earthiest fragrances and has been commonly used by monasteries in the Himalayan region for centuries. For that reason, Tibetan-style incense is generally the best to use for relaxation or meditation.

Pure essential oil incense isn't produced in a specific region and can originate from many parts of the world. These are made by dipping unscented incense sticks into pure essential oil to produce a wide range of fragrances that can't be derived from powdered ingredients.

If you opt for these incense sticks, make sure they are made using pure essential oils. Any impurities in the oil may react when burned, which could potentially produce harmful fumes and chemicals. 

It can be tempting to pick the incense with the strongest scent, especially if it's your favourite. However, it's important to know that many incense sticks with a powerful and strong aroma are often made using synthetic fragrances.

Depending on how they have been manufactured, synthetic fragrances can produce fumes when burned that are harmful when inhaled over a long time. For that reason, you should always check the packaging to ensure the incense you buy is naturally scented to avoid any potentially dangerous synthetic fragrances.

Incense comes in various sized packages, ranging anywhere from 15 to over 300 sticks! That's why you should always check the number of incense sticks per package when comparing prices and to avoid any disappointment.

If you like trying out new scents from time to time, it might be better to buy smaller quantity packs. On the other hand, if you're fond of a particular scent, you can always buy your favourite in bulk so that you never run out!

The burning time of incense sticks varies depending on the type and manufacturer. Some will burn for only 30 minutes per stick, whereas others will burn for as long as 2 hours! 

If you're using incense sticks for a long meditation session, we recommend purchasing ones with a longer burning time so that your session won't be interrupted by the incense unexpectedly burning out!

Incense sticks have a wonderful ability to calm us down and help us feel relaxed. Of course, you can choose whichever scent you're most fond of, but by picking certain fragrances, you will be able to evoke particular moods.

For example, floral or rose-scented incense may give you the feeling of sitting in a meadow or flower garden. Similarly, earthier fragrances such as sandalwood will give the impression of walking through a forest. For uplifting different moods and reflecting the seasons, consider picking a pack of assorted fragrances.

More than just being pleasant to sniff, some fragrances even have the added benefit of repelling insects. If you want to deter bugs and mosquitoes from entering your house, choose lavender or citronella scented incense. You'll be surprised at just how effective these scents can be! 

By now, you probably have a better idea of what to choose. So read on as we share with you our top 10 favourite incense sticks to buy online in the UK! 

Before you go burning away, here are a few tips to ensure safety while waiting for those lovely fragrances to fill the air:

• Make sure you aren't burning incense in the presence of children or pets - they are highly sensitive to the smoke, fumes, and fragrances.
• After a while, smoke will build-up, so it's best to crack open a window to make sure the room is well-ventilated.
• Pregnant women and those with asthma should consult their doctor before using any form of incense.

We all need a bit of zen in our busy lives, and incense is a great way of bringing some peace but how often should and how long should you burn one for? And which aromas are the best for calming anxiety? We've got all the answers for you below.

There are no rules as to how often you should light incense sticks; though once a day should do the trick for a fairly strongly scented incense stick. However, no matter whether you burn one or several, you must ensure that it’s done so in a well-ventilated area.

All incense sticks will have a burning time and this can range from 20 minutes to 2 hours. However, if you have a larger stick that you only want to burn for 30 minutes and use again another time, then you can break off the tip where it’s burning to stop it. 

Choosing an aroma to calm anxiety can be a very personal choice, what you may find relaxing, others may not. Nevertheless, it should come as no surprise that lavender is a great soother of anxiety, as well as scents such as frankincense and sandalwood which has been used for meditation for many years. 

There are plenty of ways to introduce fragrances into your home, whether it's for spiritual practice, aromatherapy or just because you like a particular scent. Before you go, take a look at these other articles to help you discover a wide range of pleasant and relaxing smells!

Finding an incense that matches your emotion will enhance your meditation session and effectively uplift your mood. With so many scents and varieties available, which one will be your favourite? 

Author: Angina Chow