I have always used incense but it is only since starting meditation that i have really got into incense on a deeper level. I used to use incense cones and sticks and then found out about some of the nasty ingredients often used in many brands and i had to rethink things. I then started making my own incense cones which was better but it really is an art form and was hit and miss for me to make nice smelling cones that also burnt well. I also found quite often that the incense smoke would make me sneeze during meditation which broke the concentration (or lack of concentration).
Earlier this year, i got hold of a ceramic electric incense burner and it has been a game changer for me. Many of them have timers and you can adjust the temperature according to what type of incense you are burning. There is very little smoke, no burnt incense smell and you get a pure scent. I mix and match incense resins and turn the burner on 15 minutes before i meditate. No sneezing, no smoke and my meditation has gone to another level.
Frankincense especially lets me go deeper and have found out that there is evidence out there that it has psychoactive effects so that may be a factor
. Maybe that explains why it has been used for thousands of years in spiritual settings. https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-sc ... ria-004585For anyone else who has an obsession with incense and use it as an essential part of their meditation routines, post to this topic and let us know your favourite incense brands and/or incense resins etc.
) that are about finding substitute incense ingredients in your own area. Quite cool. Collecting resins from fruit trees like peach, pine trees etc and various local aromatic herbs. Another thing you can become quite self-sufficient with if incense is your thing.