Burning incense is a way to cleanse your home of negative energy and replace it with a soothing scent. Scents like frankincense and rose are known for their aphrodisiac properties and can help to stimulate your mind.
Smell is the most sensitive of the senses and can be used to trigger a variety of responses. Whether to encourage relaxation, sleep or heighten sexual desire there is a fragrance for every occasion.
Soothing Scents for Your Bedroom
The right scents can transform your bedroom into a serene retreat that encourages relaxation, rejuvenation and quality sleep. Lavender is a popular choice because it is known to reduce anxiety and lower heart rate, helping you unwind after a long day.
You can also use soothing scents like chamomile, jasmine, sandalwood or eucalyptus to help ease you into a relaxed state for sleep. These scents can be used in candles, diffusers or sticks and are perfect for your bedroom.
To use incense, you simply light the end of the stick (which comes in a variety of shapes, including cone, stick or circular) with a lighter until it begins to glow and emits smoke. As it burns, you can sit back and enjoy watching the trails of smoke curl and waft up through the air. This process is a great opportunity for self-reflection, as you can focus on the different patterns and pathways the smoke takes up.
Inviting Scents for Your Living Room
For a relaxing and welcoming living space, try using incense sticks. These can be found in a variety of scents and are easy to use. Just place them in an incense holder and gently blow out the flame when they’re done burning.
You can also make your own incense from raw materials like resins, woods and herbs. Pumphrey recommends choosing a natural fragrance like lavender or rosemary for general relaxation. These fragrances stimulate the senses without overstimulating them, making them perfect for meditation and yoga.
Other incense scents, such as frankincense or sandalwood, are known for their ability to reduce stress and help you focus. These are great for those who find it difficult to fall asleep or want to work on a task that requires concentration.
For those planning a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner, incense like rose or ylang-ylang can set the mood with their inviting fragrances. These scents are also known to be aphrodisiacs, promoting a sensual and intimate atmosphere.
Cleansing Scents for Your Bathroom
Inhaling incense can create a feeling of peace, enhancing meditation and other moments of relaxation. Scents like frankincense, sandalwood and lavender are all calming fragrances, helping to reduce heart rate and breathing while encouraging calm thoughts during the act of meditation.
Incense can also be used to cleanse a space and replace stale odours with fresh, soothing scents. Pumphrey suggests using sticks that have a natural, earthy aroma to purify the air.
Choosing the right incense for your space and lifestyle will help you enjoy its benefits at different times of day. For example, burning a relaxing lavender or woody incense stick in your bedroom can help you ease into a restful night’s sleep, while energising citrus incense in the bathroom can be used to start your morning off on the right foot. You can even use incense outdoors to bring serenity to your garden. However, be careful when burning incense outside as the smoke can irritate sensitive lungs.
Energizing Scents for Your Office
Whether you work from home or at the office, scents can be used to enhance your workspace and inspire creativity. Fragrances like Aloeswood are known for this, as they stimulate the mind and increase concentration. It’s a great choice to burn before working, studying or engaging in a hobby that requires detailed focus.
Another scent to try is lavender, which releases a terpene that promotes restful sleep. The same terpene can also be found in frankincense and has been shown to help with insomnia.
A less traditional but just as effective option is to use an incense cone. These are made with Makko powder – a natural, slow-burning wood resin – and fragrance materials. Look for options that include essential oils or natural fragrances like sage and palo santo, to create an aroma that’s just as unique as your work environment. When you light an incense cone, you create good karma by giving something away — a simple and selfless act that can help to reduce stress.