I don’t know about you, but I love stepping into a spiritual or holistic shop only to be met with the delightful smell of incense.
It immediately calms me and makes me feel better.
But incense is not only great for changing the atmosphere and making a room smell delightful, it’s also perfect for cleansing people, spaces and objects.
I’ll talk about this in a bit more depth below:
How To Use Incense For Cleansing
When you light an incense stick, it will smoke. This smoke is perfect for cleansing objects, spaces, and even people.
This method works in much the same way as if you were burning herbs like white sage, rosemary or lavender, but without the need for the herbs themselves.
Opting for incense, instead of purchasing bundles of herbs, can sometimes be a more cost-effective option, especially where herbs like white sage are concerned as the price is on the rise.
I also find the smell is less intense if I cleanse with incense rather than using a bundle of sage, so this can be helpful too.
Step By Step Instructions
To cleanse something with incense, follow these simple steps:
- Light your incense stick or cone and gently blow out the flame so that it smokes.
- To cleanse yourself, pick up the incense and carefully move it around your aura to bathe yourself in the smoke.
- To cleanse a space, pick up the incense and carefully walk around the space you are hoping to cleanse. Using a feather fan to waft the smoke can be helpful here.
- To cleanse a crystal or object, slowly pass it through the smoke to cleanse it.
- No matter what you’re cleansing, focus on the intent and keep this at the forefront of your mind. Focus on your desire to cleanse the item, space or person of negative energy.
- When you’ve finished the cleansing, set the incense back down in its holder and allow it to continue to burn out fully.
What Incense Is Good For Cleansing?
There are numerous options available when it comes to incense. And, just like their herbal counterparts, each scent will have a different purpose.
By trying different scents, you can discover what works best for you personally, and for your own practice.
If I’m looking to remove negative energy with incense, I will often rely on Sage, Nag Champa, or Dragon’s Blood, but that’s just my personal preference.
There are a good number of incense scents that are great for cleansing – I’ve listed the best below:
The Best Scents
Dragon’s Blood
The mighty dragon won’t let anything stand in its way. It’s a powerful creature, capable of banishing whatever it needs to.
Just like its namesake, Dragon’s Blood incense is an excellent cleanser.
This incense was originally created by using the resin of the Dracaena Tree but now consists of a few components that, combined, work well to remove negativity.
Dragon’s Blood will also help to replace the negativity with more positive vibrations.
Sage
Sage is renowned for cleansing – whether used as incense or in its dry leaf form. It is a powerful cleanser that has been used for hundreds of thousands of years.
Remember that Sage is a complete cleanser, and, as such, will remove all energy.
While this is very helpful when it comes to cleansing objects or crystals, as you want a blank slate, you need to bear in mind that the energy needs replacing if you are cleansing a person or a space.
It can be helpful to follow on from sage with an incense with positive vibrations such as Frangipani, Sandalwood, or Ylang-Ylang. These can help to fill the space the negative energy removal leaves behind.
Lavender
Lavender incense has many wonderful properties and it smells great too.
It can be used to create a peaceful and relaxing environment. But did you know that it is also wonderful for cleansing?
I will sometimes use Lavender in place of sage to cleanse crystals and tarot cards – it works wonderfully.
Rosemary
Like Lavender, Rosemary is another great cleanser, which also smells wonderful.
You can use Rosemary scented incense to cleanse crystals and spaces.
Cedar
Cedar is a beautifully calming incense. You can use it to remove nervous energy and tension from a space and replace it with positivity.
Cedar is also naturally anti-bacterial and an insect repellent to boot!
Palo Santo
Palo Santo is a powerful cleanser that has been used in religious ceremonies for centuries to remove negative energy. It is also believed to remove obstacles from your path and attract good fortune.
Palo Santo has a very calming scent and is perfect for removing tension from the aura.
Nag Champa
Nag Champa is a common incense scent. It’s loved by many, not only for its gorgeous smell but also for its ability to quickly banish negativity.
Nag Champa has the ability to change the atmosphere from something negative to a place of zen.
Frankincense
Frankincense has been used for centuries to cleanse and clear the body, mind, and soul.
It is a popular incense for meditation and for aromatherapy purposes as it instills inner peace.
Myrrh
Just like Frankincense, Myrrh has been used for eons for its ability to combat negativity.
Often used in conjunction with Frankincense, Myrrh lifts both your soul and your spirits – making it ideal for cleansing the aura.
Juniper
Juniper is an ideal cleanser if you are suffering from blocked energy – whether that’s in your chakras or your aura.
Juniper can also be used to calm and clear the mind and energetically transform the environment.
Mugwort
Mugwort, often favoured by witches, can cleanse you of stress and can promote restful sleep.
Mugwort is a popular incense for psychic work and achieving trance states.
Patchouli
Patchouli can be used to banish negative feelings and replace them with more joyful emotions.
Patchouli can calm the nerves but it can also be used to welcome luck and prosperity into the environment.
Cones Vs Sticks
Choosing whether to burn cones or sticks comes down to your personal preference, but there are some benefits to using one or the other.
If you’re cleansing a space, or even cleansing your own aura or the aura of someone else, then it can be much easier to use an incense stick.
Incense sticks are far more portable than cones, so you can pick them up to cleanse the area in question.
If you need your hands to be free to pass crystals or cards through the smoke, then sticks and cones work equally well.
I’ve always had a preference for sticks over cones, but I do always keep some cones to hand.
Top Tips For Burning Incense
Now you know what to use for cleansing, I thought I’d share some top tips for burning incense:
- Always use a holder: Incense sticks and cones can be messy, so make sure you have a holder to catch the powdery ash.
- Always ensure the room is well-ventilated: Open a window to allow the smoke to escape.
- Don’t burn around animals: Incense can be overwhelming, and sometimes bad, for our pets, so avoid burning it with them in the room.
- Keep incense away from children: It’s important that, whether lit or unlit, children don’t have access to your incense.
- If you have respiratory issues, don’t burn incense: Or at least speak with your doctor first. The same applies if you are pregnant.
Final Thoughts
Cleansing with incense is an inexpensive way to remove negative energy from your environment, from objects, and even from people.
There are many incense scents that are perfect for cleansing, and I hope this article has helped you find the best type of incense for your needs.
I started Spirit of Sapphire in August 2017 after finally building up the courage to start reading tarot for people other than my loved ones.
At the same time, I embarked upon expanding my spiritual knowledge and skills and so attended various psychic mediumship courses and circles, and I also began to train as a Reiki practitioner.
I’ve designed this site to be a hub of spiritual knowledge. As I learn new things, I want to share them with you.
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