7 Incense Sticks for Love and Connection - and the Temple Flowers Behind Them

All sticks of Help Us Green incense share the same beginnings; they are all made from flowers offered at temples, gathered before being thrown into the river, and hand-rolled into a new creation. With that in mind, when we reference incense alongside love, we aren't doing so for marketing reasons; we are referencing smoke that once had a prayer of another human burning in it, and now, as yours, will carry your prayer.

For thousands of years, people have been using scent to help them to court, comfort and connect. Scent has influenced the way human beings create ambience long before it had a name. Here are seven scents associated with romance and love, what each scent does to the senses and how to use them intentionally, rather than as an ambient background noise. 

How Scent Actually Affects Mood (the short version)

Olfaction would be the right term for "Smell" because it is the sole sensory pathway directly related to the "Limbic System", where feelings and memories are stored. The olfactory connection exists at all times, enabling a single smell to evoke nostalgic recollections as quickly and easily as an image or sound.

Researchers have advanced olfactory science with this type of discovery. However, the exact feelings generated through fragrance are much more subjective than they are clinically proven. Therefore, use aroma for mood-setting purposes, not because it will create a guaranteed outcome.

1. Sandalwood - Calm, Grounded Connection

Sandalwood Incense has been used in temples and many homes as a source of grounding, woody sweetness for centuries. It's an excellent choice when you hope to create a calm, relaxed, yet welcoming environment when meeting with someone or having a serious conversation.

Sandalwood Incense Sticks are an ideal choice for creating a calming and relaxed, yet inviting atmosphere when meeting with someone. 

Try: Sandalwood Incense Sticks

2. Nag Champa - Warm and Welcoming

The scent of Nag Champa (a combination of sandalwood with frangipani and other floral scents) is both sweet and complex. Nag Champa evokes feelings of comfort and openness versus strong (or intense) emotions. This makes it an excellent everyday scent choice for couples or to create a welcoming ambiance for a visitor.

Try: Nag Champa Natural Incense Sticks

3. Patchouli - Earthy and Sensual

The smell of Patchouli is very earthy and musky, making it one of the most well-known "sensual" fragrances in aromatherapy. It is typically linked to being grounding, or making one feel connected to their body and the earth, rather than being light. When combined with our use of recycled flowers, the scent of patchouli becomes not about being a cliché but about the reality of how something can be gifted to another person.

Try: Patchouli Natural Incense Sticks

4. Eucalyptus - Clearing the Air for a Fresh Start

Eucalyptus is known to be a "clean" scent that is very fresh and not at all sweet or heavy. The aroma of eucalyptus is a great choice for a new beginning (new relationship), as it represents clarity and moving on from an old relationship. 

Try: Eucalyptus Natural Incense Sticks

5. Khus (Vetiver) - Stability for the Long Term

Khus' scent, which resembles the roots of a tree or rain on wet earth, can be used to cool and create calm within one another, making it much more conducive to long-term, stable partnerships rather than instant attraction, as it represents endurance rather than temporary excitement.

Try: Khus Natural Incense Sticks

6. Oudh - Rich and Magnetic

Oudh has a warm, very full fragrance that lasts a long time; this is one of the most sought-after materials in aromatherapy. The aroma of oud is often equated with opulence and extremes of luxury to such a degree that it became part of the cultures of both the Middle East and South Asia. Therefore, oud can be used for special moments where you want to create an unforgettable experience (i.e, a. wedding).

Try: Oudh Dhoop Sticks

7. White Sage - Clearing Space Before Inviting Love In

White sage is not associated with being romantic directly; rather, it has traditionally been associated with clearing out negative energy from a space that could otherwise prevent new love from entering into our lives. Consequently, burn this herb in your home or around yourself the morning of an important meeting or after moving in together to ensure all energy is clear before interacting with the other person! 

Try: White Sage Dhoop Sticks

Which Incense Should You Choose?

How to Use Incense With Intention

1. Select a space: An area where people hang out; either a living room or bedroom provides a great place for having a conversation.

2. Select a time: A time, generally speaking, should be late evening, following a bath session or just before you would sit down for a quiet discussion; however, there are no set "appropriately timed events".

3. Set an intention: You should have an intention of what you wish to achieve over the next 20 minutes before lighting an incense stick (calmness; openness; energy).

4. Let Incense get burned completely: Getting the experience of lighting and burning incense should occur frequently, not just on one occasion.

5. Pair scents intentionally: For example, sandalwood balances calming qualities of patchouli with warmth - DO NOT randomly pair scents!

6. Performing The Ritual: Pick one scent, use that specific scent at least eight times a week for three weeks and then notice how much different the feelings of those spaces are after using only that one scent - THIS is the true experience, NOT A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE! 

FAQs

Which incense is best for love and relationships? 

There is no one specific type of incense that would be “best”. Sandalwood and Patchouli are both popular choices; however, what is considered “best” will depend on whether you are seeking calming, intense, or new beginnings type feelings and experiences.

Can incense really affect how a relationship feels? 

The limbic systems of humans are connected to their sense of smell and can create a positive mood and memories through components such as fragrance. By creating a calmer atmosphere, with intention behind it, it is likely to create a setting for richer conversation; however, don’t think of scent as an influence on someone else’s feelings, but rather more like setting a stage, but not creating a guarantee.

Is there a specific time to use incense for love? 

There isn’t a definite answer. Generally speaking, however, evenings and times of relaxation are preferred times by most people to burn incense because it is typically during these times that they slow down.

How often should I burn incense to notice a difference? 

Many people have experienced a few times weekly, consistently, rather than only once or twice during a special occasion, which will create the most noticeable change from burning incense.

Can I mix different incense scents? 

Yes - Many people will burn Sandalwood and Patchouli together: they create a combination of two very different types, a grounding feeling and a warming feeling.