Incense burning, especially the Japanese incense, has been part of history as a way of promoting mindfulness, spiritualism, and relaxation. It can be noted that Japanese incense is different from the incense of other civilizations in the sense that it has finer fragrances, and the primary aim of burning it is to create an ambiance of serenity. There are certain steps that need to be followed while burning the Japanese incense to get a long lasting fragrance, irrespective of whether it is the stick or cone type or even the incense powder.
Choose High-Quality Japanese Incense
The first requirement or step towards getting a nice and long lasting fragrance from Japanese incense is making sure that you get the right Japanese incense. Many of the components contained in the traditional Japanese incense are as follows: natural substances, which include aromatic woods such as sandalwood, agarwood, and herbs. These are combined within small confines in ways that well produce faint and long-lasting smells. Better brands of incense burn for a longer period than the inferior brands and release the fragrance slowly.
Tip: With incense, there is always a good and bad one, so people must make sure that they buy from recognized brands and read the list of ingredients found on the packet. That is why it is preferable to stay away from products that contain synthetic fragrances since they give off an incredibly strong smell at the beginning but die down rather fast.
Proper Storage of Incense
When it comes to preserving the quality and efficacy of the incense storage, it is of paramount importance. There are things that can affect the quality of incense, and these include moisture and direct sunlight, as they can affect the fragrance of incense. Most of the time, people who burn incense do it to have their rooms smelling fresh for a long time, so to ensure that fragrance is found for a long time, you need to store your incense properly.
How to store: Incense sticks, cones, and incense powders also should be stored in a cool and dry place where it is shielded from direct sun light. Storing them in airtight containers will enable them to retain their natural oils, which makes them lose their aroma. Wooden or ceramic containers are used by some people in addition to this, which helps to protect the incense from humidity.
Burn Incense in a Well-Ventilated Room
If the architect has provided the room with good ventilation, then the smell should spread all over the room instead of becoming too intense. Most of the Japanese incenses are mild and come up with light fragrances, which makes it necessary that there should be proper air circulation in the room without interferences by other intense scents.
Tip: It should be ascertained that the windows are ajar or that there is an adequate supply of fresh air in the room. This ensures the fragrance spreads in a good way, making it ease the atmosphere without resting at one place.
Use the Right Incense Burner
These factors depend on the type of incense burner that one uses, which can determine the duration that the incense will burn as well as the time that the fragrance will last in the room. There are different types of burners to suit the incense in the form of sticks, cones, or even incense powder to ensure a proper burning process.
For incense sticks: Employ a stand that lets the stick stand vertically or at an advantageous position slightly inclined forward. Some have openings in their holders small enough that they can make the stick burn unevenly, so avoid them. The right holder makes sure that the incense is burning uniformly with the least waste so as to spread out the smell in the house fully.
For incense cones: it is best that the plate is a ceramic or heat resistant type. Cones burn faster than sticks, so arranging them on a proper surface will cause them to burn effectively and reduce the spread of ash.
For incense powder: Lite charcoal disc in a burner or ceramic dish so as to heat the incense powder gently. Even when burning the powder incense, that is used, care has to be taken to ensure that it does not burn too fast or even occasionally burn unevenly. Ash or sand will help in controlling the burn rate.
Burn Incense Gradually
In order to make the fragrance of the Japanese incense last for a long time when burning the incense, there are certain traditionally known methods that need to be followed, and one of the most important of them is to burn the incense gradually. If you use incense in a particular area in excess, then one will be able to achieve a very short and sharp spray of fragrance that will soon dissipate.
Sticks and cones: Only one or two sticks or cones at a time, which will vary depending on the size of the room. This makes the scent settle through and remain for a longer time, hence making the process last for a longer time.
Incense powder: When using incense powder, it is advised to spread a little of it over the hot charcoal at a time rather than kindling a big pile of it at a time. Incense powder and its scent are usually much more intense than those of sticks, so much less is needed.
Tip: It is always preferred to let the incense burn completely to get the maximum fragrance that the incense can offer. Like many other things, Japanese incense is also relatively slow to offer its fragrance, and the most complex notes usually come off only when the incense is almost over.
Final thoughts
For effective and sustainable use of burning Japanese incense, special consideration has to be made on the way it is stored, how it burns, and the type of incense to use. As long as incense sticks, cones, or incense powder are being used, it is important to purchase the best quality, to ensure adequate ventilation. Not burning it too fast will help set the mood for creating an aromatic and calming atmosphere that lasts long after the sticks, cones, or powder have been burned. With the mentioned practices, you will be able to appreciate the beautiful and soothing fragrance of Japanese incense and also get to preserve them for as long as possible.
