Do you find yourself getting distracted when practicing your meditation exercises?
Then you might just be lacking the right tool to keep you focused. This is where the best incense for meditation comes in.
Incenses have a lot of benefits, from helping clear your mind to improving the smell of your environment. In this article, we round up some of the best on the market. Read below.
Quick Answer:
If you are in a hurry to make a purchase of incense scents, then take a look at our top 3 picks.
Using the criteria listed in our buying guide for choosing an incense holder, the Satya Sai Baba Nag ticked all the right boxes.
For one, the smell is not too overpowering. Secondly, it comes in a blend of sandalwood, champa flower, and oriental spices which are known for infusing positive energy and having healing properties.
You might be glad to know that one pack offers about 200 or more incense sticks ensuring you don’t run out too fast.
If you are looking for a meditation incense that offers different colors and scents, then Karma Scents Premium Incense Sticks may be an option to consider.
There are six scents with different beneficial properties, they include vanilla to provide comfort, sandalwood to restore inner balance, rose to open up your heart, jasmine to attract positivity, lavender to reduce stress, and patchouli for a refreshed mind.
There are different scents for your different needs.
The Sensari Hand-Dipped Incense & Burner Gift Set offers more exotic and organic scent options. A pack contains about 120 incense sticks with a burn time of about one hour without need for relighting.
The fact that you get all-natural chemical free scents makes it a top three choice.
Editor’s Pick: Best Incenses for Meditation
Meditation Incenses Buying Guide
Incense sticks are one of the most common paraphernalia you will spot in most religious institutions.
They also happen to be a great accompaniment when meditating, they help increase relaxation, improve mood, and so much more.
However, on my first attempt to purchase incense I faced a stumbling block.
I never knew there was a large collection, with the aromas in hundreds, if not thousands.
Well, I found out a more natural way to narrow down my options.
Read below.
How to Make a Purchase?
1. Consider the shape
Before settling on a fragrance, it is a good idea to visualize the shape of the incense that you would prefer.
Will it be a stick, cone, or resin?
In some cases, a stick might be better since you will place it on an incense holder and forget about it.
If you get a cone, you’ll put it in a dish. With resin, it is a bit more complicated as you will need a burner and charcoal.
2. Preferred aroma
Choosing the fragrance comes after deciding the shape and this is the hardest part.
I always go for the natural scents only, something that’s named after a type of wood or flower.
Once you get these two elements right, you can start enjoying the refreshing effect of your incense during your meditation session.
Each ingredient used in an incense has its qualities, therefore, when buying, use the following to determine if the aroma is right for your need at the moment:
- Lotus: Promotes healing and opens up the inner mind.
- Eucalyptus: Helps clear the respiratory glands and is great as an antiseptic.
- Jasmine: Promotes good health and inner peace. It also balances the hormone system.
- Cinnamon: Acts as an attractor for wealth and power.
- Frankincense: Useful as a sleeping aid and helps boost mood.
- Rose: Aids meditation on a deep level.
- Lavender: Known for inducing sleep, relaxing muscles, and bringing about peace of mind.
- Myrrh: Helps promote inner healing energy.
- Vanilla: Improves memory, sharpens the mind, and relieves depression.
- Sandalwood: A good sedative that helps improve mood.
Frequency of Use
If you are a frequent meditator, chances are you will need an incense pack that can last at least a month before you make another purchase, therefore ensure you take note of the burn time and the number of sticks, cones, or resins in the pack.
Then factor in your meditation time per day to make an estimate of how long a pack will last.
For sticks, it is easy to calculate their burn time as the length can be used to determine that.
Sticks of 8 inches last about 20 to 30 minutes while a stick of 12 inches lasts up to an hour.
However, if you intend to meditate for or short or longer period, you can purchase sticks between 3 to 14 inches.
The frequency of use is also a good indicator of whether you should buy in bulk or not.
Some packs have up to 300 sticks while some have less than 10. If you are a constant mediator, buying in bulk saves you money.
7 Best Incense for Meditation: Products Reviews
1. Nag ChampaAgarbatti Incense Sticks Box by Satya Sai Baba
I am a fan of products with inspirational names like the Satya Sai Baba Nag ChampaAgarbatti Incense Sticks. The product’s name (Sai Baba), which is of one of the most recognized spiritual teachers, gives me the best motivation when I’m getting the spiritual groove on. This meditation incense is a blend of herbs, floral extracts, resins and oils that have been rolled up into a simple bamboo stick. Mysore and sandalwoods hold the incense together using an amazing fragrant gum to give a long-lasting burn. In my meditation sessions, I have discovered that the sticks can last for about 45 minutes.
Based on the stick’s active ingredients, you may love the distinctive and not too overpowering balanced smoke. It is an excellent mix of Floral oriental-spicy aroma, Champa flower, Patchouli and a hint of wood. You will even notice a slight perfume that is fresh, woody and exotic.
PROS:
- Durable and a session can last up to 45 minutes
- Has a well-balanced incense mix for the perfect aroma
- The sticks have considerable weight
CONS:
- The product is no longer hand-rolled
- Only one scent per pack
Best For:
This will be perfect when you are creating your personal heaven; an environment of great solitude. According to its unique elements, you may find it a good accompaniment for your meditation sessions as it creates a conducive spiritual and sacred place.
2. Premium Incense Sticks with 6 Scents by Karma Scents
It is quite rare getting hand-blended incense in this current technologically-advanced market. Karm Scents Premium Incense sticks presents its users something unique. You might fall in love with the maker’s adherence to ancient tradition as they have blended pure and natural ingredients including essential oils, herbs, and woods gums.
I also love the scent range available from Karm Scents Premium Incense. You can enjoy Jasmine, Lavender, Patchouli, Rose, Sandalwood and Vanilla. Each scent comes with a sparkling holder, which probably makes it a perfect gifting option for an incense lover. Another thing you may like knowing is that once you light up this premium incense stick it can last up to thirty minutes.
PROS:
- It is blended from organic products using old traditions
- Has a wide accumulation of scents
CONS:
- It is slow burning, not great for someone that wants fast production of scent
- The product is not long lasting
Best For:
Among the different incense scents in the market, I find this quite good for my aromatherapy, yoga and mostly meditation. The aroma is distinct and not smoky.
3. Hand-Dipped Incense &Burner Gift Set with 12 Scent by Sensari
The Hand-Dipped Incense & Burner Gift Set utilizes 100% purely organic ingredients. I enjoy this product because of its diversity. I usually play around with the scents most of the time when trying to find the perfect tranquil atmosphere for meditation, and it works. There’s Frankincense, Eucalyptus, Myrrh, Potpourri, Sage, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Egyptian goddess, Nag Champa, Patchouli, and finally Frankincense and Myrrh blend. These are great incense scents that can fulfil a diversity of needs as explained above
Another great trait about Hand-Dipped Incense & Burner Gift Set has a total of 12 scents with a pack boasting of 120 sticks. One thing that you may like knowing is that is burn time lasts up to an hour. This means no more distractions in your meditation and you get the opportunity for an engaging session.
PROS:
- Doesn’t possess fillers, alcohol, chemicals and other perfumery odor
- It is a twelve scent assortment, which means that when you get bored with a certain odor, you can easily switch to the other
CONS:
- You can get confused about choosing the preferred scent to use considering the wide variety
Best For:
It is a great product for those that are asthmatic or have respiratory problems. The product can also last for a longer time, meaning it is great for a lengthy meditation process.
4. Satya - Nag Champa Set of 6 by Satya
The Satya – Set of 6 is super long lasting, a feature that most would love. You can burn it for as long as you want during your meditation session.
Another feature that you may consider good about this best incense for meditation is that it has a fresh and strong odor. They are six scents in total that you can switch depending on your preference. You can go for either Sunrise, Midnight, Celestial, Nag Champa, Sandalwood or Patchouli.
PROS:
- The product lasts for a very long time once lit
- You can choose from six diverse scents for your meditation
CONS:
- It has a strong smell
Best For:
The gift set comes in 15grams, a considerable weight for private use. If you combine the entire weight of the whole package, you will realize that it will take you some time before heading back to the store. You’ve got roughly 90 grams of incense to burn.
5. 7 Chakras Root Crown by Chakras Incense
Being 100% natural, I find that a noteworthy quality of the Incense by 7 Chakras Root To Crown. The fact that it doesn’t possess any nasty chemicals like charcoal and other accelerants make it an excellent preference. The product has unique and balanced incense scents that have been distinctly selected by a doctor.
The organicness may be a feature that fosters inner peace, relaxation, and compassion. The aromas include Frankincense, Patchouli, Jasmine, YlangYlang, Sandalwood, Rose, Bergamotte, Peppermint, Sage and Lotus.
Every set possess 280 grams of pure incense. This feature may allow you to enjoy the scent for more than 60 minutes every time. The packaging is also great; you can gift it to your meditation loving friend.
PROS:
- It is environmentally friendly
- Has a wide variety of aromas.
- You can enjoy the scent for longer
CONS:
- You will need a diffuser if you want to enjoy the scent without excess smoke perfectly
Best For:
A noteworthy addition for your extended meditation sessions over the weekend whereby you are looking for some spiritual fulfillment.
6. Handmade-Hand-Dipped Frankincense and Myrrh by Bless International
The Bless-Frankincense-and-Myrrh is handmade and 100% natural. It is made out of 8-inch fiber sticks that can last you half an hour with the fragrance remaining in the room for a full day. You are going to cherish this trait if you want to keep inhaling the aroma’s invigorating feel after you have completed your meditation session.
PROS:
- It is purely organic
- Perfect for a long meditation session
- Are crafted using ancient Indian tradition
CONS:
- The frankincense and Myrrh smell are not as pure, and you might note that it is a bit perfumey
Best For:
The product’s strongly scented with frankincense and Myrrh premium fragrance oil, perfect for healing the mind and soul during your spiritual moment.
7. Nag Champa Sunrise Gift Set by Satya
This gift set comes complete with 12 incense scents, and each package weighs about 15 grams. I love the scent diversity, and you are going to get Sunrise, Romance, Fortune, Rian Forest, Celestial, Super Hit, Nag Champa, Jasmine Blossom, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Forest and Blessings. You get to alter the aroma as you see fit.
When using this product, I usually blend them after a particular time so that I do not get used to a smell that might get boring. The burn time is about 45 minutes, depending on your ventilation. If there are more windows open or you have your ceiling fan on, expect a shorter duration.
PROS:
- The product lasts for long and provides an effective meditation session
- You get different scents that you can apply over time
CONS:
- They can, at times, smell like burnt pepper
- The oil scent can be too strong
Best For:
The product’s wide collection of scents is great for someone that is easily bored by one smell. This means that they can easily switch to another aroma at any moment.
FAQs:
Q: Does Incense Help Your Mind and Body?
Aromatherapy is considered as an alternative healing technique by scientists and medical practitioners.
This practice has been adopted from ancient times and passed down from generation to generation. Incense is the primary ingredient that evokes undiscovered feelings and emotions.
These days, you can find incense in health food stores, with many people attesting to its rejuvenating effects.
So, what are the benefits of incense?
I mostly have a tight schedule that stresses me out sometimes.The incense scents take my anxiety and stress away.
After a session, my sleep is better, and the following morning feels like a fresh, new day literally.
Also, if you have been attempting to eliminate unpleasant odors from your house, then incense can deodorize your air.
Some incense even contains minerals, shells and other natural materials that are great for your body.
Incense can easily become your ritual for relaxing, cleansing and purification of your thoughts.
Q: Will I Not Inhale a Lot of Smoke?
If you have a pre-existing medical condition like asthma which can easily be triggered by scents and aromas, then you might want to exercise care when using incense sticks.
However, there are creative ways of countering the smoke that comes from the different types of incense.
Try an oil diffuser. With a quality diffuser as well as proper ventilation, you are going to enjoy the scent without experiencing any smoke.
This will transport your mind to the perfect meditative state.
Q: How Does Incense Work?
The moment you light your meditation incense, it releases fumes.
They are very fine particles that float in the air. Among these particulates, some are good while some are not. For the good ones, once inhaled, they are great for uplifting your spirits.
This happens when you inhale the smoke:
- Through the body’s regular processes, the nose sends a signal to the limbic section of your brain.
- This, in turn, evokes emotions of peace and calmness.
Incense also possesses some antibacterial properties too. No wonder it was a conventional medicine in the medieval times.
Q: Can You Make Your Incense?
Yes, you can! The incense that you can create depends on where you live.
Frankincense and Myrrh are common in the Middle East and Africa. In Europe, you are going to find other incense varieties.
You can even make a collection from different varieties of flower leaves and blossom.
Q: Does Incense Contain Other Synthetic Ingredients?
This will purely depend on the product that you source. There are some that are purely natural, but some have a blend of synthetic perfumes. If you are interested in meditation incense that is purely organic, ascertain that you research the producer before buying.
Q: Controversy Surrounding Incense
Is the smoke from incense really good for you or will it choke your lungs?
Of course, you have to be careful what you buy and always go for the best incense for meditation. I only go for the natural incense that is synonymous with East and South Asia.
Well, synthetic incense smoke is more toxic and in some instances can compare with the particulates produced from cigarette burning. Also, burning low-quality incense can be harmful to your health.
Other studies suggest that consistent exposure to incense can lead to lung dysfunction. Burn meditation incense in moderation to protect your health.
Another important thing is that you need to have proper ventilation.
Inhaling incense smoke doesn’t mean that you lock yourself in your house. I prefer staying away from direct inhalation. Always burn your incense in an open spot.
More Tips
How Do I Use the Best Incense for Meditation?
Like any other product, incense makers have options of using different ingredients that dictates whether the final product will be organic or synthetic.
Rather than choosing generic incense, look for one that has been made from natural ingredients.
Even if you have a great incense provider, remember that whatever you buy, no matter how organic it is, it will release some particulates in the air.
The easiest way around this is to ensure that your incense burning region is properly ventilated.
If ventilation isn’t enough, you’ll find a negative ion generator quite helpful. The negative ions produced will seek out the positive particulates and drop them to the floor.
How to Burn Incense Sticks or Cones for Meditation?
Once you have the best incense for meditation, it will not help if you are not knowledgeable on how to fully appreciate its healing features.
Simply light up the ends, let it blow for some time and then extinguish the flame. It should now have a small, red ember and some smoke coming from it.
Sometimes the first attempt might fail, and you will notice that it is not smoldering. In such a case, you can light it up once more.
You’ll need an incense holder to contain the particulates and heat from damaging your house. Cones burn the same way as incense sticks.
Conclusion
Throughout time, different cultures have been burning incense – a practice that grew on all continents.
Today, there are several types of incense to choose from, and having explored different types, we have a winner. Satya Sai Baba Nag Champa Agarbatti Incense Sticks takes our number one slot as the best incense for meditation.
Allen Wei is someone who believes in living his best life, focusing on balance, happiness, and relaxation. He fosters a positive lifestyle in terms of his body, mind, and environment, and he is a huge proponent of learning to be balanced via relaxation techniques integrated into our busy lives.
