Incense literally means "to burn". It usually includes the burning of herbs, resins, gums, and plant extracts.

In India, the most popular form of incense is the Agarbatti which is a wooden stick onto which the incense paste or masala mixture is machine or hand rolled on.

Being an incense lover, I have often researched and learned about the numerous benefits of burning a variety of incenses. We have personally used over 200 different incense products. This has helped us formulate these 200 benefits of burning incenses.

As a family, we have ourselves been rewarded and blessed on a regular basis for our daily practice of burning incenses in our home. Let us take a detailed look at the 200 benefits of burning incense...

1. The burning of incense is one of the most potent cleaners in our home. Regular cleansing of our physical spaces and energy fields creates a sense of emotional security, peace, lightness and positivity. It also helps in keeping diseases, germs and evil spirits away.

2. Incense can be burned along with leisurely activities such as light reading, drinking tea or socializing with friends. This helps make the environment soothing, relaxing and positive.

3. Incense burning helps in maintaining the divine and blissful atmosphere inside our living spaces. It also keeps spreading the goodness and positive vibes for as long as the aromas linger in the air.

4. Burning incense daily helps you become more disciplined and maintain your daily routine well. The simple habit of burning an incense stick at the start of your day and before any important task helps us get ready and trains our mind to focus on those tasks better.

5. Couples can burn incense inside the bedroom to heighten sexual experiences and enhance libido. The scents created by certain incenses like Jasmine, Rose, Musk and Lotus can stimulate sexual appetite and increase sexual attraction.

6. Immersing yourself in the smoke of incense helps combat joint pains and rheumatism, with a powerful anti-inflammatory action.

7. The burning of incense elevates the mood and uplifts one's spirit instantly. Even lighting a little incense can brighten your mood in a jiffy.

8. Burning incense as an offering to God generates good Karma. It is a wonderful way to give something without expecting anything in return.

9. Burning some incense can boost your connection with the energy around you and the universe itself.

10. Incense acts as a natural air freshener, eats up undesirable odors and replaces them with a wonderful smell.

11. Monks, priests and sages throughout the ages have used incense during meditation to clear the air as well as their thoughts. You can too.

12. Incense acts as a time keeper during prayer and meditation. When the incense stops burning, it is time to stop meditation and move on to another activity.

13. It is one of the best hobbies to have. Incense enthusiasts are gently and subconsciously trained to learn about different aromas, appreciate little things, to slow down, to live more purposefully, while boosting one's abilities to focus and concentrate.

14. The scent of incense burning turns your home into a temple or church. If you are someone who likes keeping the ambience of your living space like a temple then you will certainly find the burning of incense a wonderful activity to indulge in on a daily basis.

15. You can change the atmosphere inside a room in less than a minute just by burning a single incense stick. Incense is a cheap, safe, quick and amazing way to change the atmosphere of a room within seconds. That too, without redesigning the whole room or making any other changes.

16. Burning incense is an excellent accompaniment for yoga and meditation. It is a non-intrusive way to help you focus on what's most important while maintaining a calm and relaxed state of mind.

17. Burning incense is like music to our nose. The aromas give us an instant and natural high, making us feel light, relaxed and uplifts our mood.

18. Aids in connecting with one's inner voice and the divine. It does this by relaxing our nerves, calming the mind and helps us focus on forging a deeper connection with ourselves and the Almighty.

19. Ushers in bliss and joy into our lives everyday. Certain incenses stimulates our Limbic system and boosts the production of various essential brain chemicals that are associated with the feelings of happiness, serenity and bliss.

20. Incense is often burned to honor our ancestors and loved ones who passed away. Doing so helps in purifying their spirit and to keep the demons away.

51. Productivity in the office can easily be enhanced by improving the quality of air in the premises, not just removing negative odors, but also introducing pleasant ones.

52. We must give some to get some. Burning incense as an offering or gift to the Gods helps in making us less selfish, more generous, less egoistic, more caring.

53. Burning incense is a cultural phenomena since time immemorial. As we immerse ourselves into burning incense, we learn and experience some of the same traditions practiced by cultures totally different from ours.

54. Couples can burn incense to help them connect on a much deeper level with each other. The burning of incense has the innate ability to spread a sense of belonging, love, unity and togetherness inside the four walls of a home. Couples can enjoy a more fulfilling relationship along with the use of incense.

55. Burning incense helps you tune into your spiritual self and fosters faster connections with the almighty, this gives us a clearer passage to the Gods and makes our prayers more powerful.

56. Smelling the fruity and woody scents makes us feel good almost instantly. And whatever makes us feel good regularly also tends to boost our confidence levels as well. We can perform and be our very best when we are feeling extremely confident.

57. Each of us can burn incense before the opening of a new business or moving into a new home. This is done both to attract the blessings from God and to bring in good luck.

58. Yoga studio owners tend to light incense sticks almost all day long inside their premises. The scents tend to ready the body, quietens the mind and prepares the student to fully focus on their Yoga practice. It also helps in removing the negative odors often produced in a sweaty yoga studio.

59. Individuals tend to get along better with each other in offices and business spaces where incense is burned every single day. The pleasant, soothing and lingering aromas of floral and woody incenses makes people feel more at ease, relaxed and friendlier.

60. Incense makes an excellent gift to someone that shows you care. Most people simply love incense gifts. A little bit of research about their favorite scents and their dreams will help you choose the right incense fragrances for them.

61. Particular incenses such as Nag Champa have the unique tendency to promote certain states of mind or activate our past memories. You can be taken back decades in time by whiffing the incense of a good Nag Champa incense stick.

62. Patchouli incense helps to relieve anxiety, depression, fatigue, and curb addictions. It can lift one's mood naturally and is best used in moderation as it has a potent aroma.

63. Musk incense is excellent for protection of one's home and self. It creates barriers, seals entry points and restores balance in the inner environment.

64. Burning Dragon's Blood incense can dispel negative thoughts and remove negativity. It can also be used to enhance one's psychic awareness. It brings in good luck and success too.

65. Certain incense scents such as Patchouli, Sandalwood, Nag Champa stimulates the brain to produce essential chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine, which cause feelings of happiness, relaxation, and contentment.

66. Apple incense helps cure headaches and aids in the treatment of migraine. A study conducted in the year 2008 that participants with migraine who found the scent appealing had a noticeable reduction in headache symptoms and shortened migraine episodes.

67. Woody scents make us feel joyful and help us gain peace of mind. Just like a walk through a forest makes us feel so good, burning a Cedar, Palo Santo, Agarwood, Amber or Sandalwood incense makes us feel happy in a jiffy.

68. Sandalwood incense elicits feelings of serenity and well-being. It is used in temples and holy places in Asia as it produces a calm feeling among worshipers.

69. Neroli incense increases sexual magnetism, attracts romance & love. It is said to bring good luck and an awesome love life to newly married couples when burned inside their honeymoon suite.

70. Cardamom oil incense is good for increasing one's mental prowess and achieving mental clarity. It tends to boost concentration, confidence, enthusiasm and motivation too.

161. Burning Dragon's Blood incense increases the warmth in our homes and enhances the flow of positive energies inside the room where it is lit. It helps soothe the GI tract and is known to reduce emotional pain.

162. The burning of specific incenses such as Myrrh and Frankincense are exclusively used for fumigation, a practice that allows believers to approach God by burning incense and inhaling the fumes.

163. Frankincense is a vital energy purifier that helps to have clearer ideas.

164. Rainforest incenses help our homes smell fresh as a waterfall. The fresh, cool scents relaxes our nerves, helps us calm our anger and aids in making a fresh start.

165. Cedar wood incense symbolizes strength and power. It can be burned to boost one's inner strength, increase one's will and boost virility (in men).

166. Lavender, Vetiver and Chamomile incense can help in falling asleep even on restless nights. It has a calming effect on our minds without having the side effects of sleeping pills.

167. Sandalwood is calming. Practitioners of yoga and meditation swear by the power of Sandalwood incense. They vouch for its calming, relaxing and sexual properties.

168. Aloeswood incense can be burned while working or studying to increase your focus and concentration. Its subtle aroma tends to boost brain power and avoid distractions.

169. Mandarin incense has the profound ability to ease unsettled minds and decrease restlessness. It is also known to awaken our inner being.

170. Agarwood (or Oudh), Sandalwood and Camphor incense have the powerful tendencies to instantly pull the human mind into a state of calm and bliss, which further opens up the doors to reach into a deeper state of consciousness.

171. Incense smoke of Sage, Cedar, Myrrh, Pine and Frankincense can be used to cleanse, purify, heal, bless and restore balance to our surroundings.

172. Cinnamon scents can be a potent force in attracting power, abundance and wealth into your home.

173. The calming effects of certain incense scents such as Pine and Lavender helps to relieve built up tension in the muscles thereby acting as a muscle relaxer.

174. Burning Angelica, Benzoin, Camphor, Cardamom, Basil, Cypress, Fennel, Pine, and Sage incense can help us banish tiredness and fatigue very quickly. It is useful as an energy booster and acts as a quick fix when you are feeling really tired, bored and worn out.

175. The rare and expensive Aloeswood incense is a soothing delight. Smelling just a little bit of aloeswood incense is said to be equivalent to a half hour session of meditation.

176. Rose and Aloeswood incense are known to raise the serotonin in our brain. Serotonin is a natural mood stabilizer that helps to reduce depression, regulate anxiety and reduce headaches.

177. Burning Cinnamon gives us a quick energy boost and fuels us with a gush of vitality to pursue the next task with gusto and vigor.

178. Lavender is the best incense to burn during dates and romantic situations. It helps ignite passion and romance.

179. Rose incense boosts balance and focus which allows the user to practice meditation on a deeper level.

180. Myrrh is often used as an incense for the purification of one's premises and to appease the Gods. It tends to keep evil forces at bay.

181. Rose incense induces freshness with its refreshing aroma. It is a romantic scent that ignites the passion and romance while uplifting one's mood. People feel instantly comfortable and relaxed when entering a room filled with the scents of roses.

182. Incenses such as Sage and Frankinscence help in holistic cleansing. Some places have an unavoidable negative energy. Burning such incense in these areas helps banish those uncomfortable feelings.

183. Burning Loban can keep every germ in the air away from your home whether it is an insect that bites or germs that cause food poisoning.

184. Scents of Benzoin can be used to boost the prosperity of the business by the purification of the atmosphere of commercial spaces.

185. The floral scents of Frangipani creates a peaceful environment indoors and helps to restore the natural harmony inside your home.

186. Incenses such as Myrrh, Pine and Frankincense can be used to disinfect an area of the stench of illness and death.

187. Burning Patchouli and Amber tends to evoke a sense of nostalgia and ushers in happy memories of the good old days.

188. Guggul incense is burned to promote sleep and to allay anxiety and nervousness.

189. Incenses such as Sandalwood helps in the reduction of stress and induces a relaxed state of mind.

190. Fragrant essences like sandalwood, musk and camphor are used in cosmetics.

191. Lavender incense induces relaxation, peace and sleep. It can also be used as an insect repellent.

192. Frankincense can be used to usher in calm, serenity and peace. It can be utilized to relieve stress and anxiety.

193. The sweet scent of Ylang-Ylang is wonderful for reducing stress and also acts as a potent aphrodisiac.

194. Cedar, Myrrh and Sage incense eradicates negative energies, evil spirits and bad influences in and around one's home or office space. They help in purifying as well as creating a soothing, relaxing atmosphere in one's personal space.

195. Jasmine and Lavender incense can be burned to ease depression and enhance libido. It reduces anxiety, tension and stress as well.

196. Clove incense is a highly effective brain stimulant. It is ideal for intellectual stimulation. It can improve memory and focus too.

197. Burning Ladan incense strengthens sensitivity and self-perception, amplifies our memories and nurtures the imagination. It helps one find inner stability.

198. Chamomile incense inspires feelings of warmth and contentment.

199. The burning of camphor helps in creating a spiritual atmosphere inside our home. But is also helps in coping with physical pain and headaches too.

200. Burning pure Loban inside one's home during the morning and evening hours can prevent the onset of air borne diseases and illnesses through the rapid purification of the air along with the killing of many bacteria and germ types.

We hope that the 200 benefits that we have researched and listed for you on this single page will help you understand, appreciate and love incense just as much as each of us at home do.

Whether it is for fragrance or love, good health or purification of one's home, there is absolutely no denying the fact that burning natural incense has a wonderful effect on our mind, heart, body and soul.

In our home, we burn incenses almost every hour during the morning and evening. We have witnessed that we are much calmer, happier, more relaxed and communicate in a more meaningful way with each other.