The first step to burning incense cones is to choose a good censer because improperly burning this form of incense can be dangerous. While nearly anything can catch the ash from an incense stick, an incense cone will burn completely so the censer that is used has to be able to withstand the heat. Never burn incense cones on wood!
The most common form of censer for incense cones is the small brass burner. Unless you have a grilling style lighter to reach into the neck of the brass burner, it will be necessary to light the cone and get it smoldering before sticking it into the censer. Even if you have a long stemmed lighter, it’s still probably easier and better to light the cone and get it smoldering before sticking it into the censer. Since you will be putting the cone into the censer after it is already burning, it is important to have a censer with a mouth wide enough to fit your fingers into without getting burned.
To get the incense cone smoldering, first light the pointed end and let it burn for several seconds before letting the flame go out naturally or blowing it out. Once the flame is out, the tip should continue to smolder. To help make the entire cone burn, you should increase the air flow under the cone by putting a small amount of sand or ash at the bottom of the censer. This is true whether you are using a small brass burner or any of the other types of censers that are suitable for burning incense cones. Using the sand or ash will also help protect the censer and keep it from getting too hot since the sand or ash keeps the burning cone from touching the censer and acts as an insulator. Sand should be replaced after every four or five uses, while ash can be sifted and re-used indefinitely.
If the censer is not of the hanging variety, it should be placed on a ceramic tile or ashtray. Never use a brass or copper censer on a wooden surface because brass metal conducts heat very well, and even raised censers can burn the wood they sit on. Non-metallic burners don’t conduct heat like a brass or copper burner and, therefore, do not need to be placed on a ceramic tile or ashtray but you should still always test any new burner on a ceramic tile or ashtray first to make sure it doesn’t get too hot.
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