This is our official list in search of the best incense holders on the market today. Scroll further down for full details on each product as well as a useful guide to incense holders.
Quick Look:
- 5.0 out of 5.0 stars Handmade Indian Wooden Incense Burner and Storage Box
- 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Ceramic Incense Burner & Incense Holder
- 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Home-n-Gifts Scary Grim Reaper in Fishing Boat Incense Holder
- 4.5 out of 5.0 stars MyGift Home Zen Garden Set – Buddha Statue / Lotus Tea
- 4.0 out of 5.0 stars Lotus Incense Burner – Meditation Flower
We know time is of the essence, so the above is a cheat sheet of what’s ahead, just in case your’re in a hurry. Otherwise, keep scrolling down for more detailed and constructive info on each item.
5 Highest Reviewed Incense Holders
Incense holders are both decorative and functional. There are different types of holders with a plethora of styles to choose from. Some are used for sticks, while others are used for cones, resin and more.
The benefit of using a holder is that your furniture will be protected and messes are usually contained. The decorative nature of most holders also will add to your decor. We searched for the best five incense holders on the market today to help narrow your choices down.
1.) Handmade Indian Wooden Incense Burner and Storage Box
The AYURVEDA Incense burner and storage box are handmade by Indian craftsmen. Carvings on the outside of the box are of pretty flowers make it a charming item to display, even when not in use.
Included with storage box is a lovely mandala patterned ceramic burner for burning upright cones. The ceramic burner is very useful. Most importantly the incense sticks, cones, and ceramic burner fit neatly inside the storage box.
It comes with thirty individual incense sticks and twenty-one cones. Both incense sticks and incense cones come in three Indian scents meant to promote relaxation and revitalize you.
Specifically, these scents are meant to balance elements and VATA AYURVEDA, PITTA, and KAPHA energies. Cinnamon for relaxation or restlessness. Basil helps soothe the mind and to relieve irritability or stress and musk is great to energize and invigorate you.
PROS
- Beautiful and classic handcrafted by Indian artisans
- Ample storage space for your incense and ceramic burner
- All items including incense are made by Indian craftsmen
CONS
- The sliding door on this incense holder can occasionally get stuck or be difficult to open due to expansions/retraction of wood when heating or cooled
- Overtime burn marks can appear on the wood if incense is allowed to burn to low
2.) Ceramic Incense Burner & Incense Holder
This exquisite handmade ceramic burner made by craftsmen and is both beautiful and functional. Inspired by traditional incense burners from the Tang dynasty in China, this lovely burner can hold incense sticks, incense cones, and spiral incense.
The ceramic is a deep icy patterned blue with a glazed finish. The removable top is made of zinc alloy in the pattern of peony flowers. It also comes with a small adapter to hold stick incense upright.
With all the different incense types this burner can accommodate, it definitely has the wow factor. You also get the peace of mind knowing your cones will not burn through your holder.
PROS
- Compact design fits almost anywhere
- Very beautiful to look at, especially when smoke is swirling out of it
- Fits several different incense types including traditional spiral incense
CONS
- The removable top can get very hot while incense burns inside
- Some users report that burning with the top on the lowered airflow causing incense to burn out prematurely
3.) Home-n-Gifts Scary Grim Reaper in Fishing Boat Incense Holder
Its sturdy design means it won’t easily knock over. The ash reservoir is suitably wide to avoid ash spillage. The design features a Grim Reaper that appears to be fishing in a river of skulls and bones.
The Home-n-Gifts Scary Grim Reaper is the perfect choice for those who like a darker aesthetic. Made from solid resin this is one pound and measures twelve inches in length.
Perfect for holiday themes, creating a spooky atmosphere or everyday usage for the gothic aficionado.
PROS
- The Heavy, sturdy build ensures stability while burning.
- A wide ash reservoir prevents messy ash spillage
- Grim reaper design
CONS
- Some have said they needed to modify the incense holder hole because it was either too big or too shallow – the hole size varies
- Resin can chip if roughly handled or accidentally dropped
4.) MyGift Home Zen Garden Set – Buddha Statue / Lotus Tea
The MyGift Home Zen Garden Set has a lot to offer. It comes with Buddha statue, two tea light candle holders and an incense burner contained in a wooden Zen garden complete with sand, rake and two incense sticks.
This set is perfect for those seeking stress relief. The relaxing glow of candlelight, the intoxicating smell of incense and the soothing action of raking sand all together are perfect for promoting relaxation.
Ideal for those who like an aesthetic atmosphere while meditating or those who are looking for a perfect addition to their shrine. Candles not included.
PROS
- In addition to incense burner, you get candle holders and Zen sand garden complete with rake
- Makes a great addition to any relaxing space
- The sand can be raked into any pattern you want as often as you like
CONS
- Loose sand can accidentally be knocked out – careful handling is recommended
- If ash accidentally gets into sand it can be hard to get out and give the sand a muddied down appearance
5.) Lotus Incense Burner – Meditation Flower
Tut’s Secret features a fully bloomed lotus flower design that allows it to be used as either an incense burner or a votive candle holder.
The lotus flower center has a hole for stick incense but can also be used for cone incense. This is a great feature so that you can use any type of incense you might have.
The lotus burner is made out of resin and is hand painted for a beautiful finish. The glass candle holder is not included but shows the diversity of this incense burner.
PROS
- The lotus flower design is very attractive and versatile
- Can be used as a candle holder
- Can be used for both stick and cone style incense
CONS
- Can break if dropped
- Only the center hole is deep enough to hold stick incense
- Ash will drip outside of the holder if long sticks are used
Brief Guide to Choosing Quality Incense Holders
Incense burners traditionally come from the East and are common in China and Japan. Incense is usually made from plants that are aromatic, and often combined with essential oils. There have been all kinds of uses through history, such as counteracting aromas and deterring demons in Egypt, as a background smell while offering prayers, for worship in Ancient China, purification by Buddhist monks in Korea, and for pleasure.
What Are They?
Incense holders are basically containers to hold your incense while it burns, to prevent damage to your furniture, and reduce risk of a fire. There are all kinds of different types and materials that they are made of.
One of the most common types of incense holders is an ash catcher or boat burner. This is a long piece of wood with a hole in one end that you can put an incense stick into, then the wood underneath will catch the ash. Bowls and shells can be used as a burner, and there are also box burners which are ash catchers in a storage box.
There are also combination burners that can handle different types of incense – these will often have holes for sticks to be put into, and contain an integrated bowl. You can also get hanging spiral burners, which are usually made of a plate, attached to a rod that extends a hook over the plate. The spiral incense can then be hung from the hook, and the plate will catch the ash. Koros are traditional Japanese cup style burners.
Who Can Benefit?
Burning incense is great for a number of things: you can use it to help you relax or meditate or use it as an air freshener. You can also use incense for aromatherapy to help you reduce stress, depression and anxiety. You can also use it to smoke out bugs as they don’t like strong smells. This is great if you live somewhere where there are a lot of mosquitoes that you want to get rid of.
If you like to practise yoga, consider getting some incense holders and burn some incense with it – it helps you to relax and breathe well. You can unwind with it, as you read a book or have some family time, and it can bring back lovely memories if you burn it on special occasions.
Incense can help you stimulate your creativity which is great if you write or are an artist or need to think of ideas. It can also help you get motivated. Another little known use of incense is for air sterilization. A Chinese study was done where incense was burned in a hospital ward, and it was found that it had the same effect as routine sterilization, with no irritation to the patients.
What To Look For?
First you need to decide what type of incense you are going to use – as this will determine the type of burner you need as well. Incense sticks are the most common – they are slender sticks made out of wood and incense. For these you will want either an incense holder that contains holes for you to put the stick in, or an ash catcher, which is a long piece of wood that catches the ash from the stick that is inserted above it.
Another common type of incense is a cone which is like a piece of coal and would need to be burned in something. If you are using a piece of fragranced paper then you will need a fireproof dish that is big enough to hold it when it is folded up. You might also come across resin, which is like small pieces of coal. You would usually sprinkle some of this over hot charcoal, which would be held in a heatproof incense bowl.
If you would like to burn both sticks and cones then you might want to look for a combination burner which does both, so that you have more flexibility.
Some incense burners are made to look very oriental, whereas others like the Grim Reaper are made to look scary and might make a good Halloween decoration. You can also get some that have little Buddha statues on them that might be good for meditation purposes, so look for the type of decoration that will fit what you like.
If you plan on using charcoal tablets, make sure that you buy an incense burner that is very heat resistant as they can get up to 1500 degrees F!
What To Avoid?
If you are getting an incense holder that is wooden, check it over for fresh termite holes when you first get it, as you don’t want to introduce termites into your home. Also be aware of how hot it gets – some may get quite hot underneath and need to be placed on something to protect your furniture.
FAQ
Can I make my own incense holders?
You can, and there are some great projects you can try, but you need to be careful that it will hold up to whatever temperature it will need to withstand and not cause a fire.
Which type of incense is good to start with?
Lavender is known to help you relax and relieve stress, so in this busy world that might be a great place to start. Cedar or pine is supposed act like an anti-depressant, so might be good if you are feeling some sadness. Cinnamon is reputed to help you focus, so could be a good one to begin with if you would like to use it while you work. You can use basil to help soothe you if you feel irritated. There are many more to choose from once you get started.
Are there any safety considerations?
Most important is never to leave anything burning unattended, and also be aware of where the ash is going and what surface it is burning on. Always place the burner on a heat resistant surface such as ceramic tile, and make sure there is something to catch the ash.
Wrapping Up
Have fun with the perfect incense holder that will not only look good but also serve a purpose. Protect your furniture and carpets from ash and embers. Keep the mess in check easily.
The styles available today will help you blend your new holder easily into any room. Enjoy smelling the aromas you really want, whenever you want them with your new holder.