Best Incense Burners

Best Incense Burners

So let’s say you’re considering buying a new incense burner.

You make sure to take a look in stores or online, but you’re met with a gigantic list of different options.

How can you know which one is the right choice for you? Are there some incense burners you should stay away from?

If you’re wondering about these questions, then you’ve turned up at the perfect article! In the sections below, we’re going to take a look at the 5 best incense burners on the market today.

We’ve made sure to include a wealth of different options so that you can decide the best one for you.

We’ve also included a conclusive buyer’s guide to help explain our choices and a short FAQ that will help answer anything else you might be wondering about.

So let’s get right into it and take a look at 5 of the best incense burners out there! 

Our Best Incense Burners Reviews

One quick note before we begin—in the following sections we’re going to break down each incense burner we’ve selected for our list.

We’ve included the pros and cons of each so you can decide which is the best for your home.

Make sure to weigh these up carefully before committing to a purchase.

OUR TOP PICK

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To begin, we’ve chosen what might be the most gorgeous incense burner you’ll ever find.

This one is especially impressive when you consider that it isn’t all that much more expensive than other models on the market. 

This incense holder has two sides that simulate flowing water.

The first side simulates water flowing in a downward motion, very reminiscent of a waterfall. 

The second has several platforms where the incense smoke will pool, creating a gorgeous pattern for you to follow.

The ceramic material used to make this incense holder might be weightier than others, but it has a gorgeous color to it and will be eye-catching no matter what room you put it in.

You can use either cone or stick incense sticks in it, which makes it very versatile, and it comes with multiple cones that last for around 10 minutes each.

It also comes in two distinct colors, navy blue, and jet black.

We’ve put this as the top spot of our list because of its visual beauty, and versatility.

This is a great choice if you’re looking for an eye-catching incense burner that won’t break the bank!

Pros

  • Ceramic: A weighty, ceramic ornament.
  • Design: Gorgeous design that makes incense smoke look like flowing water.
  • Colors: Two color combinations to choose from.
  • Cones/Sticks: Works with both incense cones and sticks.

Cons

  • Weight: Quite a heavy burner, so you might want to go for something simple instead.
  • Portability: No portability and quite large to carry around. 

EDITORS CHOICE

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Next up, we have our best, simple incense burner. This is a great choice if you’re looking for something simplistic and affordable.

In many ways, this 2-piece set is the polar opposite of the ceramic holder above.

It’s two wooden planks that are simply designed to hold incense sticks and let them burn at a safe distance from the surface they’re resting on.

It’s made of 100% natural sandalwood, which is lightweight—so, very easy to carry around with you—and durable for a long life.

If you want to know more about its dimensions, it measures 9.44 x 1.18 x 0.39 inches, with a 2mm hole which is the right size for most standard incense sticks.

It has a long, deep ash catcher that will catch any ash falling off of your incense as it burns and a simple aesthetic design that will go well in any type of setting you choose to place it.

Pros

  • 100% Sandalwood: Created with a simple, lightweight wood. 
  • Design: Simple design for those who want something more understated. 
  • Portable: Very portable incense burner. 
  • 2-Piece Set: You get two for the same price as one! 

Cons

  • Simplicity: The simple design could be boring to someone who wants something more elaborate.

BEST VALUE

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Okay, so let’s say the first two incense burners didn’t do it for you. You’re looking for something larger, something flashy, something that will really turn heads.

If this is the case, then you should check out this handmade marble soapstone incense stick burner from Carry Me.

First off, the design is gorgeous, with intricate patterns that spiral around the cover, offering your incense smoke many avenues to escape and creating an incredible flowing effect.

Secondly, this incense burner is made from marble soapstone, which is perfect for a more formal, spiritual environment.

Another thing that you should know is that it can be used with all different types of substances including incense sticks, cones, tea lights, camphor, and traditional stick candles.

 This incense burner houses all of those, making it great value for money.

It’s also completely hand-crafted by artisans, making each one created with a high level of attention to detail.

Another thing we love about this incense burner is how it houses the flaming material behind a thick wall of soapstone, which can be especially important if you’re a person that worries about having incense sticks burning out in the open.

In short, this is a perfect incense burner for a gift or to place somewhere that you do yoga, or connect to the spiritual realm.

Pros

  • Marble Soapstone: Created from marble soapstone which is tough and durable. 
  • Design: Hand-crafted by artisans who create each piece. 
  • Mantlepiece Item: Looks great as a mantlepiece item that will turn heads. 
  • Safety: Houses open flame or burning incense, and also catches all ash. 

Cons

  • Size: Quite a large incense burner, making it unsuitable for transport.

RUNNER UP

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If you liked the unique flowing design of our first incense burner but weren’t sold on the design, then you should check out this gorgeous new moon holder from Zvaiuk.

The design here has two distinct facets. First is the lotus flower that blooms up from the base of the holder, and the second is the crescent moon that curves over the back.

It’s a breathtaking design that looks even better when it has incense smoke flowing from its bottom and spilling over the lotus petals.

This incense burner is incredibly easy to use, all you have to do is place an incense cone inside, light it, and allow the incense smoke to flow down over the leaf waterfall.

It looks great with minimum effort, making it a hassle-free way to start a yoga or meditation session.

Another great thing to know about this incense burner is that it comes with a lot of additional accessories that you might need, including 100 backflow cones, 40 incense sticks, a set of tweezers, and pads that help to catch ash.

Pros

  • Ceramic: Created with high-quality ceramic materials. 
  • Elaborate Design: A very visually impressive burner with a great backflow effect.
  • Simple To Use: Very simple to use, meaning you won’t have to struggle to get the effect to look right. 
  • Accessories: Comes with additional accessories including cones, sticks, and tweezers.

Cons

  • Cones VS Sticks: The backflow effect only works with cones, not sticks.

RUNNER UP

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For the final item on our list, we have a very unique design from the SogYupK . If you're looking for the most eye-catching incense burner you can find, then this is a great choice for you.

This metal incense burner has been designed in the image of an elephant and comes in 7 distinct color choices.

It’s a beautifully made ornament that also works well as a simple incense burner. 

There’s no backflow function here, but once you burn an incense cone you’ll find that it looks amazing with all the smoke coming out of its back.

Another key feature of this incense burner is its easy cleanup design. When an incense cone is done and the ash has cooled, you can simply open the lid up and tip it into a trash can.

It should be mentioned here that it can only use incense cones, but it does have the bonus of becoming a small container for other items—perhaps some important pieces of jewelry or small spiritual stones.

This burner is also very small, lightweight, and portable. It’s a perfect burner to take along with you to a yoga class or meditation session with friends!


Pros

  • Metal: Metal material means it’s extremely durable and shock-resistant. 
  • Versatility: Doubles-up as a case for jewelry or spiritual stones. 
  • Colors: 7 color combinations to choose from. 
  • Clean-up: Easy cleanup, simply remove the lid and tip out. 

Cons

  • Incense Type: Only usable for cones, sticks won’t work in this one!

Buyer’s Guide

That was our list of the 5 top incense burners you can pick up today, but it’s not all we have to tell you!

Too many shoppers will just pick the first incense burner they see, without thinking about the finer details.

You’ll need to consider a few things when you’re out shopping or checking out products online!

In the sections below, we’re going to outline some of the most important things to keep in mind when selecting your perfect incense burner!

Materials

The material of your incense burner is going to be one of the most important factors that determine how good it will be.

First, consider the type of incense burner you want. Do you want something that you’ll use infrequently, to be placed in one spot in your home?

Perhaps you’re looking for a portable incense burner that you’ll be able to take around with you as you travel.

The one you pick will make a big difference in how suitable it is for your needs.

We would generally recommend buying as small and lightweight of an incense burner as you can find if you’re looking to bring around with you. 

Similarly, if you’re looking for an incense burner that is a set piece for your house, then something much weightier (for example some of the ceramic pieces we mentioned earlier) would be a good choice!

What Can You Burn In It?

Next up, consider your fuel source. If you like to burn incense sticks, then you should know that there are specific burners designed to help burn resin or incense cones.

If you buy the wrong burner, then you might not be able to use the incense form of your choice. Make sure you double-check this by researching online or taking a look at the burner in person.

Assembly Required?

Some of the more elaborate incense burners require assembly.

This is fine if it’s a simple setup, but you might want to double-check how difficult this will be before you commit to a purchase.

Backflow

If you’ve already taken a look at incense burners online, then you’ll know that there are a lot of different burners that call themselves a ‘backflow burner.’

This is a word used to describe the manipulation of incense smoke for aesthetic effect!

These can be a great way to make an incense burner eye-catching, but we would suggest double-checking whether or not it works effectively.

You can do this by taking a look at product reviews from other customers.

If you see one of these in person, the chances are that there will be a display for you to see just how cool it looks when the incense is burning!

Difficulty

Another thing to consider is how complex the burner you're looking at will be to use.

Although most burners are simplistic enough, some of the more elaborate designs might have extra things you’ll need to do in order to get the incense burning consistently.

If you’re buying an incense burner for the first time, it’s best to choose something simple!

Accessories

Does the incense burner you’re looking at come with accessories? Perhaps you already have some and don’t want extra.

Make sure to check out what else is included with the burner you’re looking to purchase.

Some will include tweezers, and some even come with a stock of incense. If you’ve never bought an incense burner before, this can be a great way to get started!

Look & Color

For some, how the incense burner looks is everything! For others, it isn’t so important.

Take a moment to decide which camp you fall into.

We would generally suggest picking the incense burner that looks the best to you, especially if it’s going to have a fixed spot in your home. 

There are some incredible designs out there that range from humorous to spiritual.

In many ways, an incense burner is an ornament, so make sure you find one that fits with the decor of your home.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it! That was our list of the 5 best incense burners we could find, as well as a detailed buyer’s guide to help you select the right one for you!

Our best overall was the Spacekeeper Ceramic Backflow Incense Holder, but there are many other options out there (Is there a way to burn incense without a holder? Find out more here)!

Make sure to keep some of the factors we discussed in mind when searching online or in stores for your ideal incense burner.

We hope that this guide has helped you get some ideas and that you’re now more confident with what you should look out for.

If you still have some questions, make sure to keep reading for our short Frequently Asked Questions section. We wish you the best of luck and hope you have the perfect incense burner soon!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Incense Good For You?

This is a common question regarding incense, and this all depends on what you use it for.

If you directly inhale incense, it’s probably not going to be good for you, but burning a small amount in an open room can be a great way to add a calming or spiritual scent.

It’s especially good and has been used for generations for spiritual ceremonies and meditation.

Should You Open A Window While Burning Incense?

It’s generally a good idea to have some form of ventilation in a room where you’re burning incense.

The smoke that comes off an incense stick is usually very mild, and unlikely to set off smoke detectors, but even so, it can be a good idea to crack open a window or open a door whenever you’re burning it.

The scent of incense will stay in a room for quite some time, but it is generally pleasant and will dissipate eventually.

Andrea Daehma