Whether you enjoy incense as part of your aromatherapy program, as a way to enhance your meditation, or to make your home smell great, you have a wide variety of fragrances to choose from. Incense is sold worldwide, and each country has certain fragrances that are more in demand than others. Below is a list of the most popular and coveted incense sold in the United States.
Vanilla
Vanilla incenses are most often associated with comfort and warmth. They are a popular choice during the holiday season, or any time you want to encourage relaxation and comfort.
Lavender
Lavender is a popular scent most often used for its calming properties. It can be used to calm upset infants, in your bedroom to promote relaxation before you go to sleep, or while meditating to help alleviate stress. Lavender comes in a variety of different fragrances, and is often mixed with other scents.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood helps ease anxiety and improves disposition. It is also a popular choice for internal balance, and promoting strength and courage.
Frankincense
Frankincense is used in many religious ceremonies around the world. It helps ease stress, anxiety, and depression. Even if a person is not feeling anxiety or stress, frankincense is known for its mood boosting properties.
Citrus Scents
Citrus scents, such as lemon and orange, are an ideal pick me up. They are also associated with being fresh and clean. Citrus scents are good at drowning out odor, without being too overpowering. Citrus scents also help to alleviate anxiety.
Mint Scents
Scents like peppermint or spearmint are known to be invigorating, and to improve mental clarity. They are perfect for morning stimulation, or for projects that require great attention to detail.
Herbal Scents
Many of the herbs and flowers that you use to flavor your foods, or brew in your favorite teas, are also available in incense form. This could be anything from chamomile, rose, cinnamon, or jasmine. If you find that you are drawn to certain herbs and flowers, it may be your body subconsciously letting you know that its aroma provides you with the internal balance you desire. When you find scents you like, try to identify the type of mood or emotion they promote. Once you do, you can turn to those scents when you are in need of their mood boosting properties.
All of the incense fragrances mentioned above are available as incense or essential oils. Essential oils can be used to create room sprays, linen sprays, perfumes, and some can be used for internal and external tinctures. To create a customized fragrance, you can burn more than one incense at a time, or you can buy incenses that are made of a blend of several different natural fragrances. Incense is available in a variety of forms such as cones, sticks, or charcoal resin. When selecting incense, ensure you invest in the appropriate fire safe foundation. Experiment with a few different aromas to best match your mood, or the feeling you want to convey in your home.
Byline
Miles Hampton is a freelance writer based in Tempe, Arizona. Readers who’d like to learn more about room fragrance are encouraged to view the resources of a well trusted company in this area.
Image credit goes to deathtiny42.