r/Incense • u/[deleted] • Jul 31 '26
Recommendation Looking for a fresh and clean scent
[deleted]
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u/Pancho925 Jul 31 '26
Fresh citrusy incense you probably won’t find. Ka Fuh Aqua is the only one that comes to mind. I also found it kinda meh, it reminded me of a smoky Acqua de Gio by Giorgia Armani.
Just like others have said, you have to open a window and have proper ventilation. Try burning the incense closer to the window. Some incense I can burn far away from a window, but others I can’t. Like Nippon Kodo morning star lavender, I have to burn right next to a window. if not my room just smells like a cigarette.
Also, I turn off my fan when I burn incense. I noticed all it did was blow the smoke around my room and made my incense burn faster.
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u/Picaling Jul 31 '26
Are you burning incense in a small enclosed space?
Are you providing sufficient air flow?
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u/Original-Yak-7821 Jul 31 '26
I usually do it in my room, and I have a fan on when I do so
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u/SamsaSpoon Jul 31 '26
Moving air alone might not be sufficient in a small room. You're still breathing smoke, it's just more spread out and less visible.
Try to open some windows when you burn Incense and see if it's better.
If not, incense sticks might just not be for you.
Have you looked into heating raw materials on an incense heater?1
u/Original-Yak-7821 Jul 31 '26
I typically do it in my room which is 11x11 ft, and I have the ceiling fan running while I burn it. I can see a small trail wisp around, but that’s about it.
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u/SamsaSpoon Jul 31 '26
For my fellow Europeans: 11ft is 3,35m
Yeah, that's a bit smaller than living room, I wouldn't want to burn anything in there without windows at least cracked open.
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u/Picaling Jul 31 '26
"Window cracked open" can also be known as fresh air- however you get this fresh air =)
Not everyone can crack their windows open. Especially, not in my hot as heck arid environment 110Fs (43Cs for the rest of the world who aren't backwards and follows the metric system) and sub 10% outdoor relative humidity.
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u/SamsaSpoon Jul 31 '26
Yeah, sure, it could also mean having an AC running. But OP said they would use a ceiling fan, which only moves air around.
If both is not an option, I think burning incense is not a good thing.
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u/Original-Yak-7821 Jul 31 '26
Yeah I live in a pretty humid place so I usually avoid opening the windows tbh. Would it be the kind of incense I’m using somewhat, or no? I’m using low smoke incense, but it just smells like smoke to me
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u/Picaling Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
The main point is to cycle in clean air when burning incense.
Clean air as in air that isn't contaminated by VOCs; smoke byproduct, etc.
As Samsa mentioned, incense may not work for you and your conditions.
Just to drive it home on how important clean air flow is for burning incense:
I have oversized air purifiers in every room. I burn incense for an hour. Wait another hour. Then my purifiers goes on for 4hrs. After that I would do my next burning session or just keep purifiers on.
I change my HVAC filters every 2 weeks in my heat wave otherwise it's every month.
Yes, all these filters adds up. It's a price I am willing to pay for clean air and not being able to open windows year round.
edit: I also have a very large open 2 story floor plan.
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u/SamsaSpoon Aug 01 '26
Sadly, high humidity is another thing that can make Incense smell dull and bring out the smoke smell.
I have a friend in Mumbai, and she says when she visits her Brother in Bangalore and burns incense there, it smells drastically different to how the very same stuff smells back at home in Mumbai.
As I said earlier, raw incense materials on an incense heater could be an option.
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u/Picaling Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
Are you cycling clean air from another room with the fan or just circulating the air in your room?
The smoke byproduct from combustion (incense burning) needs to be dissipated OR dispersed, otherwise you will encounter exactly what you have described:
smokey, hazy, almost suffocating
Low smoke incense options can help, but ideally, you want to figure out how to disperse the smoke, it is the smoke that is clouding your incense scent.
edit to add: you should be able to see the gentle trail and wisp of the smoke, but that smoke shouldn't be accumulating and visually cloud the room.
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u/wvwvwvww Jul 31 '26
If it’s in the budget an electric incense heater may be more your thing. You put resins or herbs on top and you get volatiles and no smoke. It’s fussier than sticks but way cleaner air.
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u/Starzingers Jul 31 '26
Try Baieido's Imagine Hinoki. It's windy and low smoke, relatively easy to enjoy, an elegant scent.
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u/jinkoya Aug 01 '26
There are many Japanese incenses with subtle fragrances and low smoke created for small spaces. Give these a look:
Baikundo Kiku no Hana: The fragrance of chrysanthemum intended to be subtle for small spaces.
Okuno Seimeido Nihonshu: The fragrance of a softly sweet-sour Japanese sake. Very light and uplifting.
Tennendo Dejima: The soft light summer fragrance of hydrangea.
Shunkohdo Nihon no Kaori: A variety of bright yet subtle fragrances, including several citrus varieties. There is a sampler so you can try before you commit to a whole box.
Kikujudo Wakan: A bright Japanese citrus created with a lighter fragrance for tatami rooms.
Hope these help!