The 10 Best Incense Sticks For Home Use

by Jenn | Last Updated: April 19, 2019 When you buy something using the links on our posts, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more.

Are you looking for incense sticks that smell great but aren’t overpowering? Then you’re in the right place! Our list has something for everyone, including an unscented option.

I admit, I wasn’t a huge fan of incense until a trip to Amsterdam. We entered an Asian store, and amidst the silk robes, melodic bells, and other interesting knick-knacks, I fell in love with the scent of burning incense. The first whiffs were very pleasant and not at all strong. I think that was when I first realized that incense sticks came in different scents and that some were made better than others.

I’d say that picking the right type of incense is a very personal choice. For example, in my household we mainly buy all-natural products while my sister prefers hers unscented. One friend likes patchouli scents and another likes sandalwood.

Here are my recommendations – see if anything catches your eye.

Our Top 10 Incense Sticks

The Best HEM Incense Sticks

Most Popular HEM Incense Scents Of All Time

HEM Assorted Hexa Combo Incense Sticks (Assorted Incense Sticks)

HEM is one of the top-selling brands offering incense sticks and fragrance oils. The company is based in Mumbai and Bangalore in India and exports to over 70 countries worldwide with over 20 years of experience in the market.

These sticks are handmade and are, on average, about nine inches long with a burn time of up to 30 minutes each. The incense is a blend of natural ingredients and synthetic perfumes.

Each box contains 20 sticks and there are six options. The fragrances include precious lavender, dragon’s blood, patchouli, frankincense and myrrh, white sage, and first rain.

You’ll also receive a wooden boat holder to keep your sticks in place while they burn.

Pros

Cons

Sale
HEM Assorted Hexa Combo Incense Sticks (Assorted Incense Sticks)
  • Assorted Fragrances: Enjoy a variety of delightful scents including Lavender, Dragon blood, Patchouli, Frankincense-Myrrh, First Rain and...
  • Premium Quality: Made with high-quality ingredients, these incense sticks burn evenly and release a long-lasting fragrance.
  • Spiritual Significance: Perfect for meditation, relaxation, or spiritual practices, these incense sticks help create a serene ambience.

Last update on 2025-04-29 at 07:00 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info

The Best Unscented Incense Sticks

Unscented Incense Sticks by Plant Guru, 1000 pack

Unscented Incense Sticks, 1000 pack

If you are the type of person who likes to get hands-on, you could always try creating your own incense sticks. To do this, you will need some good quality unscented incense sticks. This pack, from Plant Guru, could be exactly what you are looking for.

The pack contains 1,000 sticks made from uncolored natural bamboo encased in a natural tree wood powder base. Each stick is 11 inches long and coated with 8 inches of powder for burning. They have a burn time of about 45 minutes each.

All you need to do is infuse the powder on the sticks with your favorite essential oils or prepared fragrance.

The great thing about making your own incense sticks is that you know exactly what goes in them. You can also mix and match fragrances for your very own tailor-made aroma.

Pros

Cons

Last update on 2025-04-29 at 21:32 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info

The Best Natural Incense Sticks

Chakras Incense – 7 Chakras Root To Crown Incense Set

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In Hinduism, it’s believed that our body has seven different centers, or chakras, which control spiritual power within us. This set of incense sticks has seven individual fragrances which aim to align with each of these chakras.

These sticks are all natural and free from chemicals, charcoal, or other accelerants. Each of the seven packs contains 20 sticks, measuring 11 inches long. Each stick has about 2.5 grams of incense and the fragrance lasts for an hour or more. The packaging is also fully recyclable.

A wooden incense catcher is included, together with a description and overview of each chakra in the individual boxes.

The fragrances include:

Pros

Cons

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The Best Sandalwood Incense Sticks

Nippon Kodo Kayuragi Incense Sticks – Sandalwood, Japanese Quality Incense

nippon kodo Kayuragi Incense Sticks - Sandalwood, Japanese Quality Incense

This box of sandalwood incense sticks is brought to us by Nippon Kodo. The company has been producing incense-based products since 1575.

These hand-rolled sticks don’t have a bamboo core, and they burn clean, giving you a pure scent of sandalwood. The box contains 40 sticks, each measuring about 6.5 inches, with a burn time of around 25 minutes each.

A small ceramic holder is also included, to hold your incense stick while it’s burning. These sticks can be used for relaxation, reducing stress, meditation, yoga, and massage.

Pros

Cons

Sale
nippon kodo Kayuragi Incense Sticks - Sandalwood, Japanese Quality Incense
  • Burns for approx. 25 min.
  • Contains 40 sticks and an incense holder
  • No bamboo core for a clean burning, pure scent

Last update on 2025-04-29 at 21:32 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info

The Best Frankincense Incense Sticks

FRED SOLL’S Resin ON A Stick Frankincense & Myrrh Ancient Blend

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Fred Soll’s is an incense brand made in the USA. The small company is run by Fred and his wife Joy, with just a handful of employees. Pure plant and tree resins are used to make their incense sticks, as well as herbs, oils, and powders.

The frankincense and myrrh sticks measure about 10 inches long and are made from resin. They are handmade, hand-dipped and then dried. The burn time of these sticks can be anything between one and two hours.

You have the choice of purchasing these sticks individually or in packs of 10 or 20. This is great if you want to buy just one to try first, or if you already love them and want to buy in bulk.

As these sticks are made from pure resin, they might burn easier if they are air dried first. You can do this by taking them out of the packet and standing them in a jar or pot.

Pros

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The Best Incense Sticks for Meditation

Juniper Ridge White Sage Incense Smudge Wand

Juniper Ridge California White Sage Large Incense Bundle - Aromatherapy - No Synthetic Fragrance -...

A smudge stick is a selection of dried herbs, most commonly sage, which are tied in a bundle and then burned. The cloud of smoke produced is thought to be cleansing and able to provide positive energy. Smudge sticks are used in many rituals and are great for burning when meditating.

Sage has been used by the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks for medicinal purposes. Native Americans burn dried sage during many rituals in the belief of safeguarding themselves and improving wisdom as well as to promote healing and longevity.

Juniper Ridge is a company that harvests its sage sustainably. This white sage smudge stick is made from leaves obtained from privately-owned land in California and contains no synthetic fragrances. The braided stick measures about nine inches long.

When burned, these aromas might help purify the air. Others say it helps improve their focus.

Pros

Cons

Juniper Ridge California White Sage Large Incense Bundle - Aromatherapy - No Synthetic Fragrance -...
  • NATURAL MEDITATION: Our herbal cultivated white sage (Salvia Apiana) incense bundles will transport you to a blissful night under the stars...
  • BE ONE WITH NATURE: Picture yourself spending a night sleeping under the stars in the Mojave Desert. Or perhaps you are enjoying the lovely...
  • CULTIVATED WHITE SAGE: The aroma of sage is very pleasant and calming, making it a great at-home or office fragrance. 100% plant based —...

Last update on 2025-04-29 at 21:32 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info

The Best Incense Sticks for Relaxation

Chakra Aromatherapy Natural Fragrance Scented Sticks

120 Stick of Chakra Aromatherapy Natural Incense Sticks 20 Sticks Per Box Pack of 6 Bergamote...

MDPH is a company that supplies incense products globally. Its Chakra range is great for aromatherapy.

This selection contains six boxes of different fragrances with 20 sticks in each box. The burn time of each one should be around 45 to 50 minutes.

The aromatic fragrances include:

The long-lasting scents are created by blends of essential oils. These are high quality and give a sense of well-being, harmony, and health for both mind and body.

Pros

Cons

Sale
120 Stick of Chakra Aromatherapy Natural Incense Sticks 20 Sticks Per Box Pack of 6 Bergamote...
  • Aromatherapy, also known as Essential Oil therapy has been around since centuries and is surrounded by myriad of benefits with its aromatic...
  • Quantity: 20 Sticks Per Box. Total 120 Sticks in an Outer Box; Burning time: 45-50 Minutes; Quality: Premium quality incense sticks.
  • Extracted from: The nature’s basket of India.

Last update on 2025-04-29 at 21:32 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info

The Best Japanese Incense Sticks

Morning Star Incense – 12 Fragrance Assortment by Nippon Kodo

Morning Star Incense - 12 Fragrance Assortment (Total 600 sticks) - Sandalwood, Pine, Musk,...

Morning Star incense sticks were first created in Japan back in the 1960s. Brought to us by Nippon Kodo, they are a great incense stick for everyday use.

This pack contains 12 boxes of different scents. There are 50 sticks of each fragrance giving a total of 600 sticks. Each stick measures about 4.75 inches and has a burn time of approximately 30 minutes.

Made from high-quality scents, these sticks don’t contain a bamboo core. This means you smell the fragrance and not burning wood. They are suitable for meditation, yoga, prayer, or just creating a relaxing environment.

The fragrances on offer are pine, musk, sandalwood, patchouli, rose, jasmine, amber, cedarwood, green tea, vanilla, cinnamon, and lavender.

Each box also contains a mini ceramic holder.

Pros

Cons

Morning Star Incense - 12 Fragrance Assortment (Total 600 sticks) - Sandalwood, Pine, Musk,...
  • Nippon Kodo Morning Star Incense - 12 Pack
  • 50 sticks each fragrance (Total of 600 Sticks)
  • Length: 4.75" long

Last update on 2025-04-29 at 21:32 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info

The Best Incense Sticks In the World

HEM Incense Sticks Best Sellers

HEM assorted best sellers incense sticks pack of 6 - 120 Sticks, Fragrance - Lemongrass, Lavender,...

HEM is considered by many to be one of the best producers of incense products on the planet. Started by three brothers back in 1983, the company now exports its merchandise from India to many countries across the globe .

This package includes six different fragrances in individual boxes. Each one contains 20 sticks which are about nine inches long and have a burn time in the region of 30 minutes.

The fragrances include sandalwood, eucalyptus, Egyptian jasmine, opium, lemongrass, and lavender. It’s a lot of fun to try each scent and find your favorites.

Pros

Cons

Sale
HEM assorted best sellers incense sticks pack of 6 - 120 Sticks, Fragrance - Lemongrass, Lavender,...
  • USE HEM incense sticks in your prayers, to deepen your spirituality, to practice yoga/meditation, to fill up your room with a soothing aroma...
  • 6 different fragrances in one pack and Burn for strength, comfort, healing, eases anxiety, stress, confidence, physical vitality and...
  • Fragrance: Lemongrass, Lavender, Egyptian Jasmine, Opium, Amber sandal, Eucalyptus.

Last update on 2025-04-29 at 13:32 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info

Let’s Get Burning

Incense sticks are available in a wide variety of fragrances, aimed at enhancing our general well-being. The preference for different aromas varies widely from one person to the next. What you may love the scent of, your friend might detest.

If you’re trying out incense sticks for the first time, getting a pack with different scents is a good idea because you’ll be able to test an array of scents. Later, you can order your favorite scents in a bigger box.

You can enjoy your incense sticks in a variety of ways. It sets the mood for prayer, meditation, or simply creates a relaxing atmosphere. I use my incense sticks in a room where I have my Himalayan salt lamp, potted plants, and a small bamboo fountain with running water. It is beyond relaxing.

Author: Jenn Miller

Don’t be fooled by her innocent baby face. Jenn’s a demanding shopper who WILL push each and every beauty product to its limit.