Our List of the Top Incenses for Meditation and Mystical Practices

Abramelin

Abramelin is the incense described in the book The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage and used for magickal work to contact one’s Holy Guardian Angel, the Higher Self.

The exact formula is highly debated as there are two translations of the book, which reference two different recipes. The most commonly used recipe is 1 part Frankincense, 1/2 part storax, and 1/4 part aloeswood, however, another version which suggests equal parts balsam, galbanum, and frankincense.

We tried the first version and found Abremelin to have a very profound effect on our meditations. We found that the scent inspired in us a strong desire to “do the work,” the Great Work often associated with the pursuit of spiritual attainment.

Agarwood (Lign-aloes)

Agarwood is traditionally used for meditations which are intended to unlock subconscious memories and past life experiences.

Agarwood is associated with Sagittarius.

Although Agarwood is touted to have many excellent meditative properties we decided not to conduct any experiments using it, due to the fact that it is a potentially threatened species. If you decide to use Agarwood please make sure you find an ethical source.

Natural Agarwood Aloeswood is one of the Best Incense Sticks for meditation that you can buy on Amazon.

Amber

Amber’s components include myrrh, frankincense, styrax, benzoin, sal tree, labdanum, and other aromatic compounds, although the exact recipe is very guarded by its producers.

Amber has a very temple-like smell, which is likely because its components have all been used in temple settings for millennia.

It is great for producing clarity and often associated with truth-seeking.

We found it helped produce a higher level of focus during our meditations. The sharp and pleasant smells helped us to shut out the stresses of the outside world and enter into a more mystical mindset. Amber is one of hte best incense for deep meditation.

There are many great amber incense products out there, we used this one.

Ambergris

Ambergris is perhaps one of the most interesting and highly sought after incense on our list. It is produced in the digestive tract of sperm whales and expelled along with their other bodily functions.

When new it smells exactly how you would imagine something that’s been inside a whale’s digestive tract would smell, but over time it loses its pungent smell and reveals a softer and distinctly pleasant scent.

The heavenly scent is why this scent is often associated with Kether on the tree of life. It is considered to be a powerful aphrodisiac. It is used to increase psychic abilities, specifically divination in dreams.

Although Ambergris is not collecting by killing whales, some countries do prohibit the sale of Ambergris as part of a general ban on the sale of whale products, please do your own research and make sure it is legal for you to possess.

We found Ambergris to be absolutely heavenly, it was great for general meditation. We particularly found it useful for enhancing the feeling of a connection to the divine and thought it would be perfect for bhakti yoga or any other form of devotional practices.

Ambergris in its raw form is very expensive and can be hard to find, we used these stick incenses which have a subtle ambergris scent.

Assafoetida

Assafoetida is the English name of the dried product created from the roots of the Ferula plant, native to Afghanistan and Iran. It is known for it’s pungent, unpleasant smell, which is said to keep away negative spirits.

Assafoetida is associated with Saturn. It was traditionally burnt to help alleviate physical and mental stress.

We found the incense to live up to its reputation, the smell to some may be too unpleasant to work with. Some on our team found it somewhat nice and thought it set a nice mood, particularly if one was working with any Saturnian energies.



Benzoin

Benzoin is used in traditional Chinese medicine as a “yang” sedative and is claimed to be an effective remedy for congestion, improving circulation, and clearing away stagnation.

As an incense, it has a rejuvenating effect which is great for purification. The scent is mild earthy scent with undertones of vanilla. It is a commonly used church incense.

Benzoin is associated with Venus and Netzach on the tree of life.

We found it to be very refreshing and rejuvenating. A good choice for deep meditation that is intended as a restoration.

Benzoin is readily available in the raw form which can be burned on charcoal or it can be burned as a stick incense.

Bog Myrtle

Bog Myrtle, or Myrica Gale, is a plant common to northern Europe and North America. It is traditionally used in Europe as a flavoring for beer. Native Americans used the herb as medicine for aiding digestion and fever.

The incense, when burned, has a clove-like aroma, which is reminiscent of Christmas. Myrtle is associated with Venus.

We found the scent to have a very feminine air to it, which would lend itself well to meditations or rituals were one was working with feminine energies.

Our team used this dried herb form.

Cassia

Cassia is very closely related to cinnamon, both come from the bark of their respective trees. The two are similar and as an incense can have a similar effect.

It is worth noting that Cassia contains a substance called coumarin, which in high doses can be toxic. We assume this would only have a toxic effect if one consumed a lot of Cassia, but we can not comment on the toxicity of burnt Cassia. We, therefore, ask you to do your own research and proceed with caution.

We did use Cassia in our little experiment and generally found it to be pleasant and very similar to ‘True Cinnamon.’ The Cassia we used can be bought here. It was in a raw form with just a hint of real Cinnamon.

Cedar

Cedar incense has deep roots in the history of humanity. It was used by the ancient Syrians, Mesopotamians, and Egyptians, to name just a few.

It is said to have a calming effect, that is perfect for times when one needs to increase their composure. It is said to ease tension, anxiety, depression, and aggression.

Cedar is associated with Jupiter.

We agree with these claims and felt that when burned before or during meditation it enhanced our sense of calmness. It would be a good choice for those who are pursuing meditation to help fight against anxiety or depression.

We used a cedar incense cone which can be bought here.

Cinnamon

The use of cinnamon incense in religious rites goes back many millennia. Cinnamon is very easy to find which also led to its widespread use as both an incense and a spice.

Cinnamon has fiery energy which is associated with sexuality, drive, and lust. Cinnamon incense is commonly used today as a way to increase energy in oneself or a ritual.

We found the incense lived up to its reputation and was great when burned in conjunction with restorative meditations and yoga, as well as tantric practices.

Please note: most cinnamon sold in the West is actually Cassia, a close cousin to cinnamon, which is used as a substitute for cinnamon because it is much cheaper to produce. Therefore it is important to research your incense before assuming it is real cinnamon.

There are many kinds of cinnamon incense available on the market, we like this one.

Copal

Copal is collected from the sap of the Protium Copal Tree which is native to Mexico and Central America.

It is said to be great for spiritual cleansing and removing negative energy. It is praised in Mexico for its ability to connect the user to the spirit world. It is also often burnt as a sacred offering to the Gods.

Copal has a crisp, clear, sharp scent. We found it to be great for purifying your energy and space around you. It is an excellent incense to burn before meditation or ritual to prepare the space and participants. It was a great incense for deep meditation.

Copal is one of the best incense scents for meditation. We used both the raw form of copal, which can be burnt on charcoal, as well as the stick form. Please use the one which suits you best.

Cypress

The woody scent of cypress is said to help with stability. The incense can be burned to purify a space. It is also often burnt to honor loved ones.

We found the earthy scent to have a nice calming and comforting fragrance.

We think these Cypress sticks are some of the best incense sticks for meditation.

Dittany of Crete

Origanum Dictamnus (Dittany of Crete) is a tender perennial plant that grows 20-30 cm high. It is a healing, therapeutic, and aromatic plant that only grows on the hills of the Greek island of Crete, where it has a long history of being used for flavoring food and medicinal purposes.

The plant is associated with Earth and has a very grounding effect. Historically it has also been used to aid in astral projection and scrying.

On a more practical level, we found the incense to have a very grounding effect, which allowed one to feel very present for their meditations. Intrusive thoughts of one’s day to day life were lessened when the incense was burned during meditation.

Please note, Dittany of Crete is considered a vulnerable species and it is important for you to make sure your incense has been ethically sourced.

We used this version of the dried herb. Also available as an essential oil.

Dragon’s Blood

Dragon’s Blood is a resin obtained from the Dracaena Cinnabari, also known as the Socotra Dragon Tree or Dragon Blood Tree. The tree is found in Yemen, located near the Arabian Sea. It is called the Dragon Blood Tree because of the red, blood-like, sap the tree produces.

The raw sap has many uses, a stimulant, a cure-all folk medicine, a red dye, and even as a lipstick.

As an incense, it is said to be great for fortifying and banishing. Dragon’s Blood is associated with Aries.

We found it to have a very sturdy scent, that invoked a sense of strength and power.

Please Note: The Dragon Blood Tree is on the conservation list and is in need of protection. Please do your best to find an ethical source of this incense. Lastly, the situation has led to a lot of fake Dragon’s Blood Incense so be cautious when buying.

We used the stick incense which can be found here. It is also available in raw form.

Frankincense (Olibanum)

If we had to choose one best incense we decided it would make the most sense to choose Frankincense, sometimes called Olibanum, because it has been scientifically proven to have a positive calming effect on the brain.

Burning Frankincense immediately transports you into a sacred space. Its use in religious and mystical ritual is well documented throughout written history.

Frankincense is harvested by collecting the sap of the Boswellia sacra tree, which is native to Northern Africa. The Resin has been traded for over 5000 years. It is mentioned several times in the Jewish Talmud and Christian Bible, and it was one of the gifts of the Three Magi (Mages). It also has even older roots far back into Persia, Babylonia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

Frankincense is associated with the sun. It is often used to prepare a sacred space prior to any meditation or ritual work.

We found that Frankincense lived up to the hype and had a very calming, sacred scent, which immediately prepared us mentally for meditation. We also noted it would be a great accompaniment to any ritual practices, specifically ones pertaining to the sun. We feel it is one of the best incense scents for meditation.

There are many Frankincense incenses available commercially. For our study, we used these stick incenses for meditation, as well as the raw form.

Galbanum

Galbanum is made by collecting the resin of Persian plants from the genus Ferula.

The plant has a long history of being used as an incense. It is referenced in the Book of Exodus as one of the incense combined to make Ketoret, an incense used to prepare temple spaces.

The incense is associated with the Libra. It is used for preparing a space for meditation or ritual.

We found the incense created in us a deep sense of the connection to the spiritual pursuits of our ancestors.

Ginseng

Ginseng is perhaps better known for its use in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is prized as a general tonic and stimulant.

As an incense Ginseng is associated with the moon. Folklore also associates Ginseng with breaking spells and warding off evil spirits.

We found the incense to help induce an alert sense of calmness, which enhanced our ability to concentrate. It was particularly good for meditation which involved a mantra or visualization work.

For our study, we used this Ginseng incense.

Jasmine

Jasmine is a group of over 200 shrubs and vines in the Olive family, which are cultivated for the characteristic fragrance of their flowers.

Jasmine flowers at night, which is probably why folklore has always closely associated it with prophetic dreams, as well as the moon. Jasmine is also closely associated with beauty, love, and devotion.

We found the incense to be very embracing, relaxing, and calming. It would be perfect for unwinding after a stressful day and it’s a great incense for deep sleep.

We used Jasmine incense sticks which can be bought here.

Don’t worry it’s not over yet, read more of our Guide To The Best Incenses For Meditation And Ritual Practices Below.

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