FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Chinese incense is part of a long tradition of blending and burning aromatic materials such as woods, herbs, flowers, spices, and resins.

It has been used in religious and ceremonial settings as well as in everyday life, including alongside tea, reading, writing, and other quiet activities.

Incense can be burned to gently scent a room, accompany reading, tea, or work, or mark a transition at the end of the day.

Chinese incense also has ceremonial and religious uses, but no special occasion or practice is needed to burn it at home.

Not exactly. “Joss stick” is an English term commonly associated with incense burned in Chinese and other East Asian religious or ceremonial settings. “Chinese incense” is broader and can include both ceremonial and everyday forms of incense.

Our incense is coreless and made for everyday use at home rather than specifically for religious ritual.

Chinese incense can be made from aromatic woods, flowers, herbs, resins, spices, and natural binding materials. The exact blend varies from one incense to another.

Our sticks are coreless, so there is no bamboo stem at the center. The incense blend forms the stick itself and burns from end to end.

For a closer look at incense materials and construction:

What Is Incense Made Of? →

There is no single “Chinese incense” scent.

Depending on the blend, it can be woody, resinous, herbal, floral, dry, cooling, soft, or gently sweet.

Our collection includes blends built around materials such as agarwood, sandalwood, frankincense, magnolia, herbs, flowers, and resins, with each incense having its own scent profile.

Coreless incense has no bamboo or wooden stem at its center.

The stick is formed from the incense blend itself, so the aromatic material burns from end to end.

All of our incense sticks use this construction.

We choose a coreless structure because we want the incense blend itself — the woods, flowers, herbs, spices, and resins — to remain the focus as it burns.

It is a choice about how we make our incense, not a claim that bamboo-core incense is inferior or harmful.

Our incense is made with natural aromatic materials including woods, flowers, herbs, spices, and resins.

Natural, however, does not mean smoke-free or harmless when burned. Incense works through combustion, so we recommend using it with appropriate ventilation.

We do not describe our incense as smoke-free, non-toxic, or chemical-free.

Place the incense securely in a stable holder on a heat-safe surface.

Light the tip, let it catch briefly, then gently blow out the flame. The tip should remain glowing and release a thin trail of smoke.

Burn incense in a ventilated space, keep it away from flammable materials, and never leave it unattended.

No. For everyday use, you only need a stable incense holder or burner that can hold a slender coreless stick securely and catch falling ash.

Place the holder on a heat-safe surface away from drafts, curtains, paper, and other flammable materials.

For everyday home use, one stick is enough.

Ceremonial customs vary, but they do not determine how incense needs to be used at home. Burning a single stick also keeps the amount of smoke more restrained.

Most of our incense sticks burn for approximately 40 minutes.

Actual burn time can vary slightly depending on airflow, room conditions, and how the incense is positioned.

Store incense in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, moisture, and strong surrounding odors.

Keep the packaging closed when not in use to help protect the sticks and preserve their scent.

Incense can be burned indoors when used carefully, but all burning incense produces smoke.

Use incense in a ventilated space, place it on a stable heat-safe surface, and keep it away from flammable materials, children, and pets.

Never leave burning incense unattended.

If you are sensitive to smoke or fragrance, consider using incense for shorter periods or avoiding it altogether.

No. Natural ingredients do not make smoke automatically harmless.

Incense is burned, and combustion produces smoke. Good ventilation and moderate use are important even when incense is made with natural aromatic materials.

Use extra caution around pets, babies, pregnant people, and anyone sensitive to smoke or fragrance.

Keep burning incense well out of reach and use it only in a well-ventilated space.

We do not market our incense as pet-safe or as a medical or therapeutic product. If you have a specific health or animal-safety concern, seek advice from an appropriate medical or veterinary professional.

Orders currently ship from mainland China.

We currently ship to the United States and Canada. If your destination is not available at checkout, we are currently unable to ship there.

Please allow 1–3 business days for processing. Standard U.S. delivery typically takes 5–8 business days after dispatch.

For U.S. orders, standard shipping is $9.90 for one box. Orders of two or more boxes receive complimentary standard U.S. shipping.

International orders may be subject to customs duties, import taxes, brokerage fees, or other charges imposed by the destination country or region.

Unless otherwise stated at checkout, these charges are not included in the product price or shipping cost and are the responsibility of the recipient.

You may request a return within 30 days of receiving your order.

For change-of-mind returns, the incense must be unused, unopened, and in its original packaging.

Opened or used incense cannot be returned for change-of-mind reasons.

Please contact us at customer@gobyincense.com within 7 days of delivery. Include your order number and, for damaged or incorrect items, clear photos of the item and packaging.

We’ll review the issue and, once confirmed, arrange an appropriate replacement or refund at no additional cost to you.