Home Decor
How to Burn Incense Sticks Safely: Holders and Burners
How to burn incense sticks safely at home, where to place the holder, how to put it out and which ceramic holder, plate or burner bowl suits you.
At a glance
- Stand the stick in a stable ceramic holder that catches the ash.
- Light the tip, blow out the flame and let it smoulder.
- Keep it away from curtains, furniture and clothes.
- Never leave incense burning unattended.
- Put it out fully before you leave the room or go to bed.
White Ceramic Incense Plate with Sphere Stick Rest, 13.5cm £19.99 · Free UK delivery Shop To burn an incense stick, stand it in a stable ceramic holder and light the tip. Blow out the flame and let the tip smoulder. Stay in the room while it burns and put it out fully before you leave.
What do you need to burn incense?
You need an incense stick, a holder that catches ash and a flame to light the tip. The holder does most of the safety work.
A ceramic holder is a sensible choice. Ceramic does not burn. The three holders here are listed as ceramic. They differ in how they hold the stick and how they catch the ash.
| Holder | Size | How it holds the stick |
|---|---|---|
| White incense plate | 13.5cm across | Round ball rest, stick at an angle |
| White incense burner bowl | 13cm across, 6cm tall | Stick upright (holder not stated) |
| Lotus incense holder | 7.5 x 6 x 7.3cm | Opening in the top, one stick |
The plate and lotus holder listings say no incense sticks are included. The bowl listing does not say whether sticks are included. Use matches or a lighter with a long reach. Keep the flame away from your sleeve.
How do you light incense step by step?
Lighting incense takes six steps. Follow them in order each time.
- Choose a flat, stable surface. Clear it of paper, fabric and anything that burns.
- Place the holder where it cannot be knocked over.
- Hold the tip of the stick in a flame until it catches.
- Blow out the flame. The tip should glow and smoulder.
- Stand the stick in the holder so the ash falls onto it.
- Stay in the room and check it now and then.
The London Fire Brigade gives matching advice in its report on a house fire in Lewisham. It names candles, incense sticks and oil burners as one of the most common causes of fire. It says never to leave them unattended. It says to keep them away from curtains, furniture or clothes. It also advises a fire-resistant holder that will not be knocked over.
Where should you put an incense holder?
An incense holder belongs on a flat, stable surface with clear space around it. A low table or a shelf both work.
Keep it away from paper and books. Leave empty space above the stick too.
Keep it out of reach of children and pets. Open a window a little while it burns to let fresh air into the room.
The photo below shows the plate with its ball rest on a flat surface.
The white incense plate is the widest piece by stated size, at 13.5cm across. It gives the ash a wide place to land. This listing is the white version. The supplier also sells it in black and milky yellow.
How do you put out incense?
Put out incense by pressing the glowing tip into the ash or into a dish of sand until nothing glows.
Leave the holder to cool where it stands.
Keep a small dish of sand next to the holder while incense burns. Then it is ready when you need to leave the room.
How does each holder catch ash?
The plate catches ash on a flat surface and the bowl inside its rim. The lotus holder listing says nothing about ash.
On the plate the stick leans out from the ball rest. The ash drops onto the plate below it.
The bowl has sides with a flared rim and a narrow foot. Fallen ash stays inside the rim. That keeps it off the table. The finish is plain white with no pattern. Tip the ash out once the bowl cools.
The photo below shows the flared rim of the bowl.
The white incense burner bowl suits a room where ash on the table is a worry.
The lotus holder takes one stick in the top opening. The supplier lists it as white porcelain and the packing list is the holder only. The supplier does not say how much ash it catches. A small heat-safe dish under it keeps stray ash off the surface.
Can these holders take cones or coils?
No, none of the three is confirmed for cones or coils. All three are shown with sticks.
The plate holds a single stick in its ball rest. It does not take cones or coils. The lotus holder is listed for line incense. That means a stick. The bowl listing says nothing about cones or coils. Do not assume they fit.
The photo below shows the lotus holder with a stick in the top opening.
How do you clean an incense holder?
Clean an incense holder once it is cool. Tip the ash into a bin and wipe the surface with a damp cloth. Dry it.
The suppliers give no dishwasher guidance for these holders. Wash them by hand. Skip abrasive pads on the ceramic surface.
Which incense holder should you choose?
Choose the plate for the widest piece, the bowl for a deeper catch and the lotus holder for a small decorative piece.
- Widest piece: the white incense plate.
- Ash kept inside a rim: the white incense burner bowl.
- Small and decorative: the lotus incense holder, white with a pink lotus in relief.
See every holder and home fragrance piece in Home Decor.
Incense holders compared in this guide
| Product | Price | Why it is here |
|---|---|---|
| White Ceramic Incense Plate with Sphere Stick Rest, 13.5cm | £19.99 | A flat white ceramic plate with a round ceramic ball that holds one stick at an angle. |
| White Ceramic Incense Burner Bowl, 13cm | £22.99 | A plain white ceramic bowl with a flared rim, shown holding one stick upright. |
| Ceramic Lotus Incense Holder, Pink Flower, 7.5cm | £27.99 | A white ceramic holder with a pink lotus in relief, for one stick of line incense. |
Questions answered
Can you burn incense in a bedroom? +
Yes, if you stay awake and in the room.
Do incense sticks cause house fires? +
Yes, they can. The London Fire Brigade names candles, incense sticks and oil burners as one of the most common causes of fire.
Why does my incense stick keep going out? +
The tip has not caught fully. Hold it in the flame a little longer and blow out the flame only once the tip glows.
Can you relight a half-burned incense stick? +
Yes. Once it is fully out and cool, light the tip again the same way.
