Incense Holders

Incense Holders

Every holder here is made by hand in Japan, most of them Mino ware from Gifu, where potters have worked the same clay for more than 1,300 years. Four series sit side by side: Heritage for unglazed, temple-like surfaces, Lotus for the soft shapes found in modern Japanese homes, Small for a desk or a windowsill, and Plate for anyone who burns incense daily and wants the ash contained.

Each one is sized for Japanese incense, which is thinner than Indian sticks because it has no bamboo core.

Choose by the shape of incense you burn, then by the style of the room it will sit in.
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How to choose an incense holder

Start with the shape of incense you burn. Stick incense needs a holder with a small hole and something beneath it to catch the ash. Cone incense needs a dish or a covered burner. Nearly everything here is made for sticks, which is what Japanese incense almost always is.

Then choose your series

Heritage has unglazed, earthy surfaces drawn from Buddhist and Shinto temples. Best in a meditation corner, or a room with natural wood and linen.

Lotus takes the shape of the lotus flower found in modern Japanese homes. Soft colours and a smooth glaze, suited to a living room or a bedside table.

Small is for tight spaces: a desk, a shelf, a windowsill.

Plate is a wide dish that catches ash along the whole stick rather than at one end. Best if you burn incense daily, or dislike cleaning up.

One thing people forget

Check that your incense will actually stand in the holder you choose. Japanese incense has no bamboo core, so it is thinner than Indian incense, usually around 2.7 mm. A holder sized for a Japanese stick will not always take a thicker one.

Most of the ceramic here is Mino ware from Gifu prefecture, where potters have worked the same clay for more than 1,300 years. The brass pieces will darken slowly with use, which is expected rather than a fault.

Frequently asked questions

Will my incense sticks fit?

If they are Japanese incense, yes. Japanese sticks have no bamboo core and are usually around 2.7 mm thick. Indian or Tibetan incense is wrapped around a bamboo core and is thicker, so it may not sit properly in a holder sized for Japanese sticks.

Which holder catches the most ash?

The Plate series. A flat dish sits under the whole length of the stick rather than under one end of it, so nothing falls past the edge.

Do I need incense ash?

Only for bowl-style burners, where the stick or cone is set into a bed of ash. Stick holders do not need it.

How do I clean an incense holder?

Let it cool completely, then wipe with a dry cloth. Glazed ceramic can be washed with warm water. Avoid soap, which can hold on to the scent. Unglazed Heritage pieces should be wiped dry only.

Can I use these for cone incense?

The wider dishes and bowls work for cones. Narrow stick holders do not, as a cone needs a flat heatproof surface beneath it.

Is it safe on a wooden surface?

Choose a holder with a tray or plate rather than a bare stand, and bear in mind that ceramic gets warm. Use a mat under it on a delicate finish, and never leave burning incense unattended.