Why and how to use incense

Our well-being also starts from the energy of the house and the places where we live. Burning incense can be of great help in purifying the air when environments become saturated with fears, anxieties, sadness, or when we feel tired, drained and nervous.

There are different varieties and fragrances. It is important to discover the characteristics and benefits of the various types to choose the right one that best suits you and your needs.

Incense in history

Throughout history, different civilizations have used incense to thank the divinities and to purify houses, burning it directly in the form of bark during religious ceremonies. A practice that we find in Egypt, among the Etruscans, the Romans and the Mayas: in ancient times, fire and smoke generated by incense were attributed a way of connecting with heaven and therefore with the divine.

Today it is widely used in the field of yoga and meditation, as it promotes calm and concentration, and also in aromatherapy, for the purification of environments.

Symbolism of incense, how and why to use it

There are several uses of incense, through fumigation and purification. 

Some examples are

• Purify environments and broaden concentration . Often the places where we spend our days become saturated with negative energies and emotional blockages, which hinder concentration on what we have to do. Burning incense can help to restore the right energies, increase concentration and productivity.
• Calm and tranquility. Some fragrances are particularly suitable for increasing calm and tranquility and helping to promote sleep.
• Some incense or herbs have specific energizing properties and help to reinvigorate especially after a tiring day.
• To meditate. Incense, leading to inner peace, is ideal for meditative and yogic practices.

The properties and types of incense. How to choose?

There are different qualities of incense, from natural and botanical ones, to Indian classics, with different benefits and properties. You can choose it according to your habits, needs or moods.

The main resins for producing incense are:

Copal

a fossil resin of Bursera odorata which releases a pleasant sweet aroma. Copal has particularly positive energy for love, for blessing the home, for consecrations, for meditation, protection, celebration, solar energy, and for creating a sacred space.

Sandalwood

it is not a resin, but wood reduced to powder or small pieces. It is generally associated with spirituality, purification, meditation, peace, healing and protections.

Myrrh

resin extracted from Commyphora myrrha , an aromatic gum resin with a pungent, slightly bitter-sweet smell. Myrrh is associated with the property of purification and healing. The smoke from myrrh offers clarity when there is confusion and strengthens the spirit when there are negative feelings.

Yagra

Natural incense of Hindu origin, it has a strong and soft aroma with a citrus tinge. Yagra is used to attract abundance, prosperity, wealth and to open new avenues in life

Olibanum

fossil resin of Boswellia carterii , is among the most popular. It has a sweet-spicy aroma and is associated with holiness, purification, meditation, protection, joy, celebration, solar energy and consecration.

There are also incenses whose ingredients are obtained from plants or their essential oils

Here are some plants used and their properties:

Laurel

used for protection, purification, endurance, faithfulness, wisdom, strength

Orange

love, joy, purification, prosperity

Marigold

positive energy, protection, stress relief, awareness raising, peace

Chamomile

purification, healing, calms anxiety, relaxes children

Cedar

healing, purification, protection, prosperity

Eucalyptus

protection, healing

Lavender

healing, love, happiness, cures pain and guilt, sleep, tranquility, protection, purification, peace, blesses the home, wisdom

Rosemary

cleansing, protection, healing, longevity, improves memory and concentration

Rue

protection, mental abilities, purification, health, well-being

Sage

communication, eloquence, protection, healing, love, dreams

With this knowledge at your disposal, you are able to choose the most appropriate incense based on your moods and needs. It is essential to prefer natural products, free of chemical and carcinogenic substances, the fumigation of which risks causing nausea and headaches.