Love the instant fix of incense, but worry about the smoke and ingredients? Time to upgrade.
Forget cheap sticks dipped in synthetic fragrance. The best modern natural incense is hand-moulded with pure ingredients: resins, tree sap, and premium essential oils. This means:
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Purer Scent: Rich florals, citrus, and true sandalwood, not artificial burn.
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Cleaner Air: Less irritating smoke.
From handcrafted to luxury, we found the best natural incense sticks, including bamboo-free options, to transform your home fragrance ritual.
1
Aesop Sarshina aromatique incense
Brand: Aesop
Price: £30
Scent notes: Sandalwood, cinnamon, clove
Quantity: 33
Material: Sandalwood and organic spice.
Burn time: 40 mins
Do you like to indulge in Aesop products around your home? In that case, they’ve only gone and done it with incense too!
Aesop’s collaboration with Kyoto’s fine craftsmen of incense, has created the Sarashina Aromatique with the earthy, woody notes of sandalwood combined with spiced clove and the sweetness of cinnamon.
The result is an ambience brimming with a rich, meditative warmth that may just prompt you to contemplate gratitude and revel in the present moment. Completely natural and with a non-toxic bambooless core, it’s the evolution of incense, at its finest.
It also comes with a simple pumice holder -which is nice! Just remember to slide a tasteful mat underneath to contain the ash.
2
Calmveda Madagascar vanilla
Brand: Calmveda
Price: £13.29
Scent notes: Madagascan Vanilla
Quantity: 60
Material: Re-cycled flowers of temple waste (phool)
Burn time: 45 mins
If you adore the velvety embrace of vanilla, you may be pleasantly surprised to know it exists in stick form! No heavy smoke, no foggy aftermath, just a smooth, warm aroma gently swirling through your home like a soft, invisible hug.
Calmveda not only use recycled flower powder but the raw ingredients are sourced from rural communities in India championed by women, helping their economical empowerment.
3
Earl of east - Rose
Brand: Earl of East
Price: £18
Scent notes: Rose
Quantity: 16
Material: Bamboo, Macco powder, spring water
Burn time: 45-60 mins
Rose scented incense? Who would’ve thought it! The beautiful unique scent of roses lingers long after burning, perfect for your bedroom to add a decadent touch.
Hailed as one of the best incense brands for its purity and scent throw, Earl of East take pride in their natural hand dipped techniques and use of pure essential oils.
4
Esteban Neroli
Brand: Esteban
Price: £5.98
Scent notes: Floral with Sicilian Bergamot, Blackcurrant and Patchouli
Quantity: 8 sticks
Material: Bamboo with vegetable binder
Burn time: 45 mins
The scent here is rather divine and best of all it keeps on giving long after burnt. Hit with the initial familiarity of woody tones, you’ll be under its spell with its floral, sweeter offering. A little less smoke than you’d expect, this French brand takes incense seriously.
5
Sacred elephant Himalayan musk
Brand: Sacred Elephant
Price: £3.99
Scent notes: Myrrh, Patchouli, Frankincense, sandalwood
Quantity: 10
Material: Sustainable bamboo, natural wood and essential oils
Burn time: 40 mins
Let’s not beat about the bush and get down to good old fashioned, traditionally scented incense, except it’s purer, cleaner and more luxurious. Sacred elephant incense is ethically hand made in India and Himalayan musk is blended with divine notes associated with the serenity and Nirvana of the Himalayan mountains.
If you’re a fan of incense, there must be some part of you that welcomes the sense of spiritual awakening that burning this reflective fragrance can bring. I for one have always wanted to be immersed in the Himalayan majesty and this scent is capable of transporting me to my wish.
6
Shoyeido variety pack
Brand: Shoyeido
Price: £20.35
Scent notes: Light and floral, Green and herbal, Caramel, Fresh and flowery, woody and spiced.
Quantity: 20 sticks total
Material: Sandalwood with Tabu-Koh (Japanese sacred tree) binder
Burn time: 20 mins
If you want to own one of the most natural incenses ever made, this Japanese brand tops the list as one of the best! And with thoughtful selection curated from nature, you can pick and choose according to your mood.
Only herbs, spices and natural wood are used. With five distinct scents to transport you to the deep eclectic wonders of landscapes, this is great value for money.
Just to be clear, this assortment is in Japanese writing but you can find the scent notes on their website in English.
Many incense sticks are made of a bamboo core which can cause extra smoke. Instead, the fragrance you enjoy is that of pure incense. Only the finest blend of plants and flowers is pressed onto the stick with binding material consisting of water and ‘tabu’ (type of Japanese sacred tree) powder which turns into a thick dough to retain its shape.
Fans from all over the world can’t seem to get enough of this top notch superior brand.
7
Temple of incense Orange blossom and lemongrass
Brand: Temple of incense
Price: £10
Scent notes: Lemongrass, orange blossom
Quantity: 20
Material: Bamboo, resin and essential oils
Burn time: 45 mins
What if you want to burn incense first thing in the morning and prefer an uplifting scent to get dressed to? This luxurious citrus offering by Temple of Incense from London, have managed to capture the fresh, optimistic sentiment an early morning can bring (once you’ve stretched our back and rubbed your eyes!).
Made with flowers and resin this hand crafted product oozes the modernity of incense with its invigorating aroma and sophisticated ethical packaging. Plus, they have a whole array of tantalising fragrances to keep you going back for more!
8
TOAST sandalwood incense
Brand: TOAST
Price: £22
Scent notes: Sandalwood
Quantity: 80g
Material: Locally sourced Japanese Bamboo, organic plant oils
Burn time: 15 mins
It seems TOAST has created incense to the next level, because not only does it fill your room with a gorgeous sandalwood fragrance but with no smoke, can you believe it? Each stick takes roughly 15 minutes to burn, great for a quick blast of bliss that flawlessly infuses your surroundings.
The locally sourced ingredients are derived from plants and flowers with binding material claiming to have purifying properties.
Just be aware of the incense’s flimsiness. My heavy handedness managed to snap one easily. Luckily there are like a hundred more!