The incense stick ritual: light, blow out, breathe

Simple and elegant, an incense stick fits easily into everyday life: a moment of prayer, of calm, or simply the pleasure of a fragrance drifting through the house. Here is how to enjoy it fully.

What you need

• Incense sticks, chosen to suit your mood (see our selection below)

• An incense holder that catches the ash: our wooden incense holder or our engraved brass incense burner (otherwise, a bowl filled with sand or rice)

• A lighter or matches

The ritual, step by step

1. Light. Hold the flame to the tip of the stick and let it burn for a few seconds.

2. Blow out. Gently put out the flame: only a small glowing ember should remain. It is the ember that releases the fragrance.

3. Place. Set the stick in the holder, slightly tilted, with the ember above the holder so the ash falls onto it.

4. Breathe. Let the smoke scent the room. A stick usually lasts 30 to 45 minutes.

Our tip

To put out a stick before it has finished, gently press the ember into sand or ash: you can relight it later.

A few precautions

• Always use a stable, non-flammable holder.

• Keep incense away from curtains, paper and anything that could catch fire.

• Air the room and never leave a burning stick unattended.

• Keep incense out of reach of children and pets.

Our incense sticks

• Mary Magdalene incense – Lotus

• Our Lady of Lourdes incense – box of 10 sticks

• Saint Rita incense – box of 10 sticks

• Saint Benedict incense – box of 10 sticks

• Saint Joseph incense – box of 10 sticks

• Sacred Heart of Jesus incense, 100% natural

• Tube of 80 sticks – Our Lady of Lourdes

• Tube of 80 sticks – Mary, Undoer of Knots

• Tube of 80 sticks – Guardian Angel

To go further

Do you love incense? Discover also the incense grain ritual on burning charcoal, and our article “Why is incense used in the Christian tradition?”.

A question, or want to discover our incense? Visit the Mariam shop in Saint-Maximin, opposite the basilica, or call +33 7 45 36 50 61.