How to Burn & Put Out Incense Sticks? The Ultimate Guide to Use Incense Sticks

Introduction

Incense sticks have been used for centuries across various cultures to create a serene, fragrant atmosphere, ideal for meditation, relaxation, and spiritual practices. While the process may seem straightforward, many people unknowingly make mistakes when lighting and extinguishing incense, which can result in overwhelming smoke, a burnt smell, or a disrupted experience. To truly enjoy the soothing fragrance and ambiance that incense provides, it’s important to use it correctly. This guide will introduce the common mistakes people make, show you how to light incense properly, and explain the best way to put it out without losing the delicate scent. Whether you’re a beginner or a regular incense user, this comprehensive guide will help you perfect your incense-burning routine for the most peaceful, aromatic experience

FIve Simple Steps to Use Incense Sticks

Burning incense can be a soothing and enriching experience if done correctly. By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your incense burns smoothly, releases its intended fragrance, and creates the desired atmosphere

Step 1: Hold the Incense Stick Upward

Before lighting, hold the incense stick upright, positioning it at a slight angle. This helps in achieving an even burn.

Step 2: Light the Incense Stick

Ignite the tip of the incense stick using a match or lighter, focusing on the inner blue part of the flame for a gentle and controlled burn. Avoid letting it catch fire too long to prevent excess smoke.

Step 3: Gently Fan Out the Flame

Once lit, gently fan the flame with your hand to extinguish it. This ensures the incense continues smoldering, which will produce a steady stream of fragrant smoke without burning too fast or causing an unpleasant odor.

Step 4: Wait for 30 Seconds

After the flame is fanned out, allow the incense to smolder for about 30 seconds. This helps ensure the incense is burning evenly and will release its fragrance gradually.

Step 5: Inhale and Enjoy the Scent

Once the incense is burning properly, gently inhale the fragrance from a distance. Avoid smelling the smoke too closely, as it can overpower your senses. Allow the scent to naturally fill the room, creating a peaceful and aromatic environment.

3 Common Mistakes in Lighting and Using Incense Sticks and How to Fix

Burning incense may seem simple, but there are common mistakes that can disrupt the fragrance and experience. By understanding these pitfalls and following the correct method, you can enjoy a more harmonious incense experience.

The above video gives a detailed explanation of the most common mistakes people make while learing how to light incense sticks. Here is a breakdown of what these mistakes are and how to correctly burn incense sticks:

Mistake 1: Using the Outer Flame

Problem: Lighting the incense stick with the outer part of the flame can cause uneven burning, leading to excess smoke and a harsh, burnt smell. This diminishes the quality of the fragrance.
Fix: Always use the inner blue part of the flame when lighting incense. It’s cooler and more controlled, allowing the stick to ignite gently and burn evenly without producing excess smoke.

Mistake 2: Blowing Out the Flame

Problem: Blowing out the flame may seem quick and easy, but it disrupts the calm atmosphere, can spread ash, and may lead to uneven burning or a harsh scent.
Fix: Instead of blowing out the incense sticks’ flame, gently sway the incense stick back and forth to naturally extinguish the flame. This preserves the fragrance and prevents ash from scattering.

Mistake 3: Smelling the Incense Immediately & Too Closely

Problem: Inhaling the incense smoke too closely or immediately after lighting can overpower your senses, distorting the true fragrance and potentially causing irritation.
Fix: Wait for at least 30 seconds to 1 minute after lighting the incense to let the scent develop fully. Keep a distance of about 30 cm to enjoy the aroma in its intended form, allowing it to fill the space naturally

3 Different Ways to Use Incense Sticks (With Holder)

In addition to simply lighting and burning incense, there are several methods you can use to enhance the experience. Below are three common ways of how to use incense sticks:

Method 1: Using a Classic Incense Stick Holder

How to Use: Insert the incense stick into the hole of the incense holder, ensuring it stands securely. The design of classical incense stick holders keeps the incense upright, and as it burns, the ash falls neatly into the base of the holder.
Evaluation: This is a simple and traditional method. It’s effective for holding the incense upright and catching ash, making it easy to clean. The distance ensures a smooth, even fragrance dispersal. However, depending on the material, some holders may not completely catch all ash, so careful placement is important.

Method 2: Using an Incense Holder Box

How to Use: Open the lid of the incense holder box and place the incense stick flat on the fireproof cotton or surface inside. Light the incense and close the lid partially to let the smoke escape.
Evaluation: The incense holder box provides a contained burning environment, which can limit smoke spillage and ash from scattering. The incense holder box method also serves as an excellent option to collect incense ashes easily without letting it scattering. This method is ideal for those who prefer a more controlled burn. However, it may slightly dampen the intensity of the aroma since the smoke escapes from limited openings. The box also doubles as a decorative item

For customers who wonder how to burn incense sticks in a box, we strongly suggest you should purchase ours.

Method 3: Using an Incense Burner Bowl with Ash

How to Use: Fill the incense burner bowl with incense ash, pressing it down slightly. Insert the incense stick into the ash to ensure it stands upright. The ash will catch the falling residue from the burning incense.
Evaluation: This method is excellent for maintaining a calm and clean burning experience. The ash in the bowl helps hold the incense securely and catches the ash effectively. The bowl’s design also allows the smoke to rise freely, creating a more immersive experience. It’s a versatile option and perfect for longer incense sticks, but care should be taken to place it on a stable surface.

Alternative: How to Burn Incense Sticks Without Holder

If you don’t have an incense holder or not consider buying a stick incense holder, there are still several creative and effective ways to burn incense sticks safely. Here are four easy ways about how to burn incense sticks without using incense holders:

Option 1. Using a Bowl of Sand or Rice

Fill a small bowl with sand or uncooked rice.
Light the incense stick and gently sway it to extinguish the flame.
Insert the bottom of the incense stick into the sand or rice. This will hold the stick upright and allow it to burn evenly.
Keep the bowl on a stable, heat-resistant surface and enjoy the fragrance.

Option 2. Using a Plant Pot

Find a plant pot with soil.
Light the incense stick and put out the flame by gently swaying it.
Stick the incense into the soil, ensuring it is stable and upright. This method works well if the soil is compact enough to hold the incense.
Make sure to place the pot in a ventilated area to avoid the buildup of smoke.

Option 3. Using an Ashtray

If you have a heatproof ashtray, it can serve as an alternative to a holder.
Light the incense stick, then gently fan out the flame.
Place one end of the incense stick in the ashtray at an angle, letting the other end rest against the edge.
Make sure the stick is stable to prevent it from falling over.

Option 4. Leaning Against Any Other Fireproof Object

In fact, there are so many items in our daily life that could be used as alternative to stick incense burners. As is shown in the following image, you can use any fireproof objects such as nail clippers, orange peels and even garlic as solutions to your problem of how to burn stick incense without burners.

3 Easy Way to Put Out An Incense Stick Quickly (Without Ruining It At All)

You do not need to let incense sticks burn all the way. For people who wonder “how do you put an incense stick out“, I believe that they must have made many mistakes while trying to stop incense sticks from burining. Many people, in an attempt to put out an incense stick, try blowing on it—only to find that it actually makes the flame burn even stronger. Others might try breaking the lit incense stick, which not only ruins the remaining incense but also risks burning their fingers. So, for many people, all they can do is to just let their incenses keep burning. In fact, there are safer and more effective ways to extinguish your incense without creating a mess or wasting the stick. Here are three quick and easy methods to put out your incense safely:

Method 1: Figure Twisting Technique (The Coolest Way)

Do you know how to put an incense stick out with figure? In China, it is a popular technique called “收烟”, pronounced as show yen in English. The above video gives a detailed introdouction of how to stop an incense stick from burning with your figure:

Hold the Incense Gently:
Use the thumb, index and middle figures of your left hand to hold the incense stick lightly. Don’t grip it too tightly—ensure the incense stick can move freely within your hand so that you can easily twist or adjust it.
Position Your Right Hand:
Extend your thumb and index finger of your right hand. When you’re ready to extinguish the incense, bring them close to the burning tip.
Twist, Don’t Pinch:
As soon as your thumb and index finger make contact with the burning tip, twist the incense stick rather than pinching it tightly. The twisting motion will put out the flame. Remember, you’re twisting, not holding the incense in a fixed position.

Important Notes:

To stop incense stick burning, ensure the incense remains loose in your left hand to allow smooth twisting.
Your right hand should perform the twisting motion, rather than simply pinching or holding the incense tip still

Method 2: Ash Dipping Method

The above youtube video gives a detailed explanation of how to put out incense sticks by using ash dipping method. This is a simple and clean method to put out incense. This is especially useful for those who regularly burn incense and keep a bowl of ash nearby:

How to Do It:

Insert the burning tip of the incense stick directly into the incense ash.
Hold it there for 3-4 seconds until the ember is completely extinguished.

This method is efficient and works well if you have incense ash readily available. However, if you prefer keeping the ash neat and untouched for aesthetic reasons, you might want to consider another method

Method 3: Twisting Method

The above youtube video gives a detailed introduction of how to put incense sticks out by using the twisting method. This method is especially useful for people who want to avoid disturbing the incense ash, there’s another alternative: using the edge of the incense holder. Here is a breakdown of how to do it:

How to Do It:

- Gently press the burning tip of the incense stick against the edge or wall of the incense holder.
- Twist the stick lightly, making one or two rotations to extinguish the ember.

This method is effective, quick, and doesn’t require additional materials, making it an easy go-to option for putting out your incense stick without creating a mess

How to Reuse & Relight an Incense Stick

Incense sticks are a wonderful way to bring fragrance and tranquility to your space, but sometimes they may not fully burn in one session. The good news is that you can easily reuse and relight an incense stick, extending its lifespan and maximizing its scent.

What You Should Do Before Relighting an Incense Stick?

Allow the Incense Stick to Cool:
Before handling a partially burnt incense stick, ensure that it has cooled down completely. Attempting to relight it immediately can be hazardous and may disrupt the natural burn of the stick.
Inspect the Incense Stick:
Check the remaining length of the incense stick and its burnt end. If there is any loose ash or residue, gently tap the stick to remove it. This helps to expose the unburnt incense and ensures a clean and even relight
Choose which method to use:
We will introduce two different methods of how to relight incense sticks depending on the length of the unburnt incense sticks. If the unburnt sticks are long enough for safe burning and enjoying a separate session, you can choose the first one method. Otherwise, choose the second one.

Method 1: How to Relight Longer Unburnt Sticks?

When it comes to relighting long incense sticks, proper technique is essential for a successful and enjoyable experience.

Hold the incense stick at a slight angle, with the unburnt end facing downward.
Use a lighter or match to reignite the stick’s end; let it burn for a few seconds.
Gently blow out the flame to create a glowing tip that releases fragrance.

This method allows you to fully appreciate the soothing aromas without wasting any of the incense

Method 2: How to Reuse Shorter Unburnt Incense Sticks

Under most circumstances, In many cases, incense sticks leave behind a significant amount of unused incense after burning. These leftover pieces can be repurposed to bring even more fragrance to your space. So, how can you reuse & relight these remnants? There are two effective methods.

Option 1: Turn Them into Powder Incense

The above youtube video shows how you can reuse the incense sticks by turning them into powder incenses. Here is a breakdown of how you can do it:

Collect the Leftover Incense: Gather all remnants from burnt incense sticks, ensuring you have enough material to work with.
Crush the Incense: Use a mortar and pestle, grinder, or any suitable tool to crush the collected incense into a fine powder. This step allows for better combustion and fragrance release.
Preparation for Burning: Choose a suitable holder or charcoal to burn the powdered incense. Ensure your setup is safe and heat-resistant.

If you are interested in learning more burning powder incense, you can read our article how to about how to light powder incense with charcoal.

Option 2: Relight them in a Bundle

Here, it is necessary to clarify that relighting the incense sticks in a bundle is not the same as relighting them together. If you directly relight them together, then you might get heavy smoke, which would completely ruin your enjoying incense ceremony. So how you can do it elegantly?

Here you can make good use of our powder incense burner kits. As is introduced in “3 Different Ways to Use Incense Sticks (With Holder)“, incense sticks can be used with incense burner bowls. It is the same case with these stick incenses that are not long enough to stand alone or burn safely. To use this method of how to elegantly relight incense sticks, besides incense burner bowls, you might need a few additional tools including incense ash press, incense brush, and so on.

The above youtube video shows how you can do this easily. If you are interested in this method, you can also read our article How to Use Chinese Powder Incense Burner Kit?

Conclusion

By understanding the correct methods for lighting, using, and putting out incense sticks, you can enjoy their full benefits while avoiding common mistakes. This guide has walked you through the entire process, from the basics of burning incense to alternative methods for use without a holder, and even techniques for relighting and reusing leftover sticks. Whether you’re using a traditional incense holder, exploring creative ways to burn your incense, or finding quick ways to extinguish them, these insights will enhance your experience.

FAQ About How to Use & Burn Incense Sticks

Can incense sticks set off fire or smoke alarms

In most cases, incense sticks produce very low amounts of smoke, often less than what’s generated by a cigarette. Because of this, they are unlikely to set off fire alarms or smoke alarms, especially modern detectors that are calibrated to react to dense smoke. However, it can depend on a few factors. If the smoke detector is extremely sensitive or if there is limited ventilation in the room, there’s a small chance the smoke could trigger the alarm. To be safe, burn incense in a well-ventilated area and keep it a reasonable distance from any smoke detectors. But overall, it’s rare for incense sticks to set off alarms under normal use

Is it good to burn incense sticks at night?

Burning incense sticks at night can be a great way to relax, unwind, and enhance your sleep environment. The calming aromas can help relieve stress, improve mood, and even promote better sleep quality. Scents like lavender incense, sandalwood incense, and jasmine incense, are especially soothing at night.

However, there are a few precautions to keep in mind:

Safety First: Never leave burning incense unattended, especially while you’re asleep. Make sure to use a stable holder and place it on a heat-resistant surface.
Ventilation: While incense produces minimal smoke, it’s still best to burn it in a room with proper ventilation.

So, as long as you burn incense responsibly, it can be a pleasant addition to your nighttime routine

Are Incense Sticks Supposed to Have a Flame?

No, incense sticks are not meant to burn with a visible flame. After lighting the incense stick, it should produce a small flame initially. However, this flame should disappear after a few seconds. For the flames, instead of blowing out the incense sticks’ flame, gently sway the incense stick back and forth to naturally extinguish the flame. The stick will then smolder, producing a glowing ember and releasing fragrant smoke. If your incense stick continues to burn with an open flame, extinguish it by blowing it out or fanning it, leaving just the glowing tip to smolder and release its aroma properly

How many incense sticks to burn one day?

Generally, 1-2 sticks a day are enough to create a calming environment and enjoy the fragrance. Burning more than that can be done but ensure proper ventilation to avoid overwhelming the space. For most uses, burning one stick at a time is sufficient. However, burning multiple sticks simultaneously can amplify the fragrance for larger spaces or special occasions

If you want to learn more about this topic, you can read our article How Many Incenses to Burn For Good Luck, Love, Money & Cleansing?