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For as long as humans have performed sacred rites, incense has accompanied them. The smoke of bark, roots, resin and seeds has been used as an offering to deities for millennia. The ancient Egyptians burned frankincense and myrrh, in ancient China a composition of sandalwood, cinnamon and cassia was used for worship, and Japanese priests used to burn sacred herbs and spices as purification rites. It’s even reported that Samurai soldiers perfumed their armour before battle to ward off defeat.
The 1970s wafted in something of a craze, as hippies burned joss sticks en masse, and sickly, poor-quality products flooded the market. But in recent years, a new wave of artisanal makers has created something of an incense revival: and it is irresistible for the WFH, self-care generation.
So why not perform your very own ritual? Put down your phone, light an incense stick and let the woody smoke trails transport you, just as your ancestors once did.
The best luxury incense sticks and cones to burn
GUCCI
These gorgeous fuchsia luxury incense sticks combine the tartness of Seville oranges with a sweet complexity of jasmine, topped with a leathery finish.
L’OBJET
Earthy, spiked with notes of cognac and lipstick, this fragrance is an ode to the Paris of 1969, when sexual revolution was in the air.
TOM DIXON
These cones, with their notes of bergamot, lemon, Earl Grey and cedarwood conjure memories of a leisurely afternoon tea.
EARL OF EAST
A heady blend of sweet violet, powdery peony and herbaceous black tea pays tribute to a hazy summer’s evening.
Fornasetti
Fornasetti’s dark wood box, with its trademark playful exterior depicting the lips of opera singer Lina Cavaliera, is a thing of beauty in itself – never mind the opulent scent of the Japanese incense within.
APPELLATION
Soft and sweet with a woody base of Indian sandalwood, this Japanese luxury incense is perfect for first-time incense burners.
MONTROI
Handmade by a community of women in a process that has been passed down from generation to generation, these incense sticks boast deep notes of oud and patchouli, which unfurl in a dusky, woody fragrance that recalls rainy days in Rajasthan.
