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Incense is nearly as old as civilization itself. Prehistoric incense burners have been discovered in ancient ruins in Egypt, China, and parts of South Asia dating back as far as 2000 BCE during the prehistoric Bronze Age.
Made from organic and aromatic materials, like sage, rose, and essential oils, incense releases smooth, fragrant wisps of smoke that have the power to transform the atmosphere of a space to one of peace and gratitude.
Indeed, some of the earliest use cases for burning incense range from religious events and formal ceremonies to meditation sessions, morning affirmations, and aromatherapy practices.
What is a Backflow Incense Burner?
Incense has come a long way since the Song Dynasty, providing ever more unique and creative ways to use the hypnotic mist to bring a greater sense of calm when you need it.
One of our favorite innovations is back flow incense burners. Unlike traditional burners which release the smoke up into the air, backflow burners let the smoke flow downwards like a gentle waterfall.
Don’t believe me? Here’s an example of one in action:
How do backflow incense burners work?
If you’re new to backflow incense burners, you might be wondering what’s going on here. Usually, heat rises upward above the relatively cooler air—and smoke from combustion is undeniably hotter than air.
Backflow incense burners accomplish this feat via a cleverly designed cone that features a small hole drilled into the bottom. This hole is only drilled partway—not entirely—through, creating a little tunnel beginning at the bottom and ending in the cone’s core.
When the outside of the cone is lit, smoke is captured in this hollow core where it is separated from its heat source: the cone’s burning exterior. This separation allows the smoke to cool enough to allow it to fall downward out of the bottom.
Are backflow incense burners good for your health?
Like all incense burners, backflow incense burners can provide a deep sense of calm and relaxation. This is why it isn’t unusual to see incense burners in places of religious or spiritual practice, including aromatherapy and meditation. This sense of calm can also extend to the workplace. Especially with more people working from home than ever before, people have more flexibility than ever to customize their workspaces. A small, low-profile incense burner, like the Jeteven Dragon Backflow Incense Burner, can make a great desk ornament and promote both clarity and focus, unlocking new levels of productivity.
Of course, incense smoke is still smoke. There is some evidence that over-inhalation of incense smoke can introduce carcinogens into your body.1 It’s important to use it carefully and under the right conditions to avoid negative health consequences.
We recommend making sure burning incense in places where you have good ventilation ideally with a source of fresh air like an open window. Also, keep your incense burning sessions to about 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Simple measures like this will allow you to enjoy the benefits of incense while helping to mitigate potential risks.
How long do backflow incense cones burn?
Most backflow incense cones burn for about 10-15 minutes. The duration depends on the size of the cones and the material used to make them.
The longest-burning cones we’ve found are the Zahra Premium Masala Backflow Cones. They come in an extra-large size enabling them to burn for an impressive 30 minutes. And they smell great, too.
Here are some of our favorite backflow incense cones with their respective burn times:
- Zahra Premium Masala Backflow Cones — 30 minutes
- Mosfantal Backflow Cones — 10 minutes
- Jeteven Backflow Cones — 10-12 minutes
Top 3 Best Backflow Incense Burners
Jeteven Dragon Backflow Incense Burner
- Feels substantial and durable
- Smoke accumulates to create fog-like effect
- Supports both incense sticks and backflow cones
- Comes with 10 backflow cones
If you’re looking for a unique, calming, and tastefully designed burner, look no further than the Jeteven Dragon. Fired by natural soil in a furnace, this burner is one of the most durable and substantial-feeling that we reviewed.
Smoke accumulates in an exquisitely designed basin creating a kind of fog effect. Elements of mountain and dragon poke out here and there in a natural way through the density of smoke. It’s a smart design that is also very easy to clean.
It comes with 10 backflow cones, but we don’t recommend them. They are of fairly cheap quality and can leave your space smelling like burnt wood. If you’re looking for really robust, natural smells, check out our recommendations above—especially the Zahra Premium Masalas.
This burner isn’t really designed to be used with sticks, but the backflow hole in the dragon’s head is sized appropriately to support them if you are looking for that option.
DK177 Waterfall Incense Holder
- Made with premium ceramic materials
- Beautiful cascading waterfall design
- Supports both backflow cones and incense sticks
- Comes with 120 backflow cones and 30 sticks
If you’re looking for the traditional waterfall design most commonly associated with backflow incense burners, look no further than the DK177 Waterfall. The beautiful ceramic design is graceful while also feeling substantial and premium.
It comes with 120 cones that burn at a respectable 10-12 minutes each. If you’re looking for longer-burning cones, check out the Zahra Premium Masalas mentioned above. They burn for a whopping 30 minutes, longer than any other backflow cone we’ve found.
The holder can also be used with non-backflow incense sticks, and it comes with a pack of 30 such sticks to get you started. The sticks won’t create the mesmerizing waterfall effect that you’ll get from the cones, but because they release the smoke up into the air, they are a great option for times when you want to change the aromatic profile of a room.
Guilin Landscape Backflow Incense Holder
- Easy-to-clean ceramic construction
- Clever fisherman design incorporates incense stick
- Supports burning cones and sticks at same time
- Comes with 10 backflow cones
Guilin (pronounced gway-leen) is a city in northeastern China famous for its stunning geography. Nestled between the Li River and staggering mountain peaks, Guilin’s natural beauty is enough to take the breath away from even the most anxious among us:
While it might not always be practical to travel to Guilin, the Guilin Landscape Backflow Incense Holder makes it possible to transport you to the Chinese city’s serene majesty whenever you want.
It is made of a solid, ceramic design that makes it very easy to clean between uses. Unlike the other backflow burners on this list, the Guilin Landscape makes use of a dual-incense design, allowing you to burn both backflow incense and traditional stick incense simultaneously.
The backflow incense cone sits atop the Guilin mountains, its smoke splitting into three gentle cascades down its front side. It also features a sculpture of a peaceful old gentleman fishing in the Li River using an incense stick cleverly disguised as a fishing pole. The basin doubles as a collection plate for the incense ash, where it is tastefully covered by the accumulated smoke from the backflow burner.
Important Note: While this burner comes with 10 backflow incense cones, the incense sticks must be purchased separately. Our favorite incense sticks are these Hand-Dipped Premium Incense Sticks. They’re a great value and come in a variety of outstanding scents.
- See this article on Healthline for more details: https://www.healthline.com/health/is-incense-bad-for-you ↩
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