While you're likely familiar with (and perhaps have used) incense, you might not have considered it as a type of aromatherapy. Incense has been used for several centuries, and for several purposes. The earliest use of incense was in ancient Egypt.

They used incense for a variety of ceremonies related to their religion, and for ridding their homes of evil spirits. Interestingly, there was a close link between the religious and therapeutic uses of incense. That's because the Egyptians believed that the root causes of many ailments were linked to spirits and demons that lurked in their homes. So by treating their physical health, they were simultaneously treating their spiritual health.

Today, some people continue to use incense for religious functions. However, as society has generally become more secular, the trend in incense use has shifted to its therapeutic functions-and in particular its use in aromatherapy.

The incense contains various types of essential oils, which have various effects on people's bodies, minds, and emotions. For instance, while some essential oils are particularly effective for physical healing, others are especially practical for reliving stress or anxiety. Here are some of the most popular types of essential oil incense products:

1. Coil

As its name suggests, this type of incense is shaped like a coil. The main benefit of this structure is that you can burn it for a lengthy timeframe. This period can lasts from hours, to days. The incense that forms the coil will gradually drop as it burns. It's crucial that the coil be placed atop a flat surface. This will make the cleanup of the burnt incense much easier. That's definitely a big benefit in today's world, in which time can be the essence of incense.

2. Cone

Yes, this form of incense is in the shape of a cone. This particular incense structure was invented in Japan, during the 19th century. The main benefit is that the cone burns fairly fast. Simply light the tip of the cone. It's crucial that the burner containing the cone is atop a surface that's heat-insulated. Avoid using wood or glass tabletops. After the cone has burned completely through, you should wait a few hours (or an entire day) for it to cool down. And before you discard the ashes, verify that they're hot when you touch them.

3. Powder

Usually the powder is burned using special clocks or censers.

4. Rope

The incense is rolled into sheets, which is in turn rolled into ropes. The smaller end that is created is the one that you light. The benefit of this type of incense is that it's highly portable. Also, it stays fresh for an extended period.

5. Stick (solid)

This type of incense stick contains no core. In other words, it consists of 100% incense material. Because the stick can easily be broken into smaller pieces, it's also easier to determine the exact amount of incense to burn.

6. Stick (cored)

This type of stick has a bamboo or a sandalwood core. There's also a coating of incense material atop the core of the stick. The cored stick incense is most common in countries such as China and India.