Scents and smells surround us, most however are unintentional. Intentionally introducing scent forms parts of many sacred rituals across the world, transcending cultures and generations. Scents have the power to bring about magical change to an environment. They can transform the energy, spirituality and emotion connected with a space. If you are feeling in need of positive change we encourage you to light up some incense, relax and see what happens.
Why the power of scent is so unique
Scent is unique in its powerful ability to evoke emotion and trigger memories as it is the only one of our five core senses to directly enter the brain through the frontal cortex. This explains why a waft of frangipani can transport you back to carefree holidays, or the scent of freshly baked bread can immediately remind you of your grandmother's kitchen.
Incense burning has been a sacred ritual for over 5000 years
Image title: The sacred ritual of incense burning was first discovered in 3300 BC and is used by millions of people across the world.
Incense burning has been around for thousands of years. Discovered in India in 3300 BC, incense burning was used alongside prayer for spiritual purification. A practice that is maintained by many around the world today.
If you’ve been to Bali you’ll have seen the daily ‘canang sari’ offerings of flowers and incense. In Australia incense is often used in meditation or yoga practice and within homes for a wide range of perceived benefits.
The magical benefits of incense rituals
Incense can be used as a way of empowering spiritual focus, connection to self and overall spiritual well-being. With the right scent the mundane can be transformed into something magical.
Burning incense is a great way to cleanse the mind, body and spaces. Palo Santo, Sandalwood and White Sage are some of the top cleansing scents.
Whether you are an artist, or just someone searching for a new idea. Sandalwood is also a great scent to unlock creativity and help you find your creative flow. Intentionally using incense in places where creativity is desired can form part of your ritual for higher productivity.
Lavender, Ylang-Ylang and Frankincense are known to be calm, often used in massage as aromatherapy to aid relaxation and relieve stress.
Many swear by incense as part of their mindfulness practice and an aid for meditation. By focusing on the trail of incense, the mind can be drawn to focus on the present and to enjoy the simplicity of the curls of incense as it burns.
Very Well Mind offer some further tips on meditating with incense.
Along with incense, we also love to incorporate crystals into our meditations to elevate the senses and bring the best results from meditative practice. Read more about the Healing Power of Crystals.
Image title: The many benefits of incense rituals include mindfulness and meditation.
Want to invest an hour of your time into something, burning incense is a wonderfully peaceful timer. Next time you set out to meditate, relax or unwind - light an incense stick. They burn for around an hour and the smell can last all day. Just make sure not to burn incense in enclosed spaces. A well-ventilated environment is the better option.
A wide variety of incense
From single fragrance to a blend of scents, there’s a wide variety of incense to choose from. Most, however, can be categorised into one of 5 categories: Citrus, Floral, Herbal, Spice and Woody.
Another key difference between incense options is how they are made. HEM incense are dipped incense sticks made from a charcoal base that is dipped in perfume oil. Satya are hand rolled masala-based incense. The latter are also makers of the world's most popular incense: Satya Sai Baba Nag Champa. Satya Sai Baba Nag Champa is a hand-rolled blend of flowers, spices, and resins that create a sweet, earthy aroma that enhances mood and environment.
We have the largest range of handmade and hand-rolled incense locally, from incense sticks to cones and burners - come and smell the incense and soak up the energy in-store. With most of our incense available at 4 for $10, it’s a small investment for a magical gain. Follow your nose and the coiling scent trails of incense to find us.
Whether you are an incense newbie or someone looking for a particular scent, we are here for all of your incense needs.
Peace and Love,
The Pushkar team