The 3 Primary Styles of Incense
Cone
One of the simplest forms of incense to make is also one of the newest forms. The incense cone was introduced at the 1893 World’s Fair. The cone is the most durable form of self-combusting incense. The cone is simple to roll but it does require a little more refinement of the recipe to ensure good burning properties. The issue comes from the tapered shape. The recipe needs to burn well enough to constantly expand the size of the “burning line” as it moves down the cone.
Joss Stick
The joss stick can be thought of as a very thin cone…except it doesn’t taper. A joss stick is a solid stick of incense. The joss stick burns easier than other forms because it is usually thin and has a very large surface area. Although you can roll joss sticks by hand, to get a truly consistent stick you will need to use an extruder.
Masala Stick
A masala stick is essentially a joss stick rolled over the top of a wooden rod. The wooden rod makes the stick a lot stronger than a joss stick, which makes it safer and easier to transport. The stick is both helpful and harmful. While the stick adds strength and support, it also makes the incense more difficult to burn. It is often easier to insert a wooden toothpick into one end of a joss stick rather than putting a rod completely through the stick.