When I am feeling down, one of the things I have discovered that helps lift my spirits is to burn a stick of my favorite incense. It has an instant, euphoric effect on me that I thought was just a personal preference, possibly a link to some good memories through the olfactory sense. And over the years I have also noticed this sense of calm, a feeling of connection to an ancient ritual, a meditative sensation comes over me as soon as the tendrils of smoke begin to rise from my smoking bottle incense burner. I am sure it is this feeling that keeps the burning of incense such an integral part of just about every ancient religious ritual known to man. But perhaps there is something even deeper at work here…

I recently came across a study concluding that incense smoke is actually psychoactive, and has similar effects on our psyche as antidepressants! The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology stated recently that burning frankincense (resin from the Boswellia plant) activates poorly understood ion channels in the brain to alleviate anxiety or depression. So, while religious leaders have been telling us for centuries that burning incense is good for the soul, we now have scientists telling us it is also good for the brain! (You can read more details about this study here.)

While this is an amazing claim, I must admit that I am not that surprised. We know that our moods can be deeply affected by our sense of smell, and that is why so many people turn to aromatherapy to help with stress, anxiety, and other ailments that appear to be on the rise in modern society. For those of us who already make regular use of our handblown glass incense burners for these reasons, this simply underscores a truth that we already knew in our deepest consciousness. So next time you feel the need to relax, meditate, and regain your balance in the world… light one up! And while you’re at it, why not use a handmade color-changing glass bottle burner to add a little extra positive energy to your ritual?!

(Be careful to only burn high quality incense. As with anything that you plan to allow in or on your body, read the ingredients. Some of the cheap, commercial brands found in gas stations and the like can be toxic!)