Incense Oils for Household Use

Incense Oil Basics

• Since oils intended for use as incense are either natural or synthetic, the variety of their household uses depends on the type used. Synthetic oils are primarily used for scenting the household, and do not have the beneficial properties of essential oils, such as those used in aromatherapy and medicinal applications. If fragrance is your primary reason for using incense oils, synthetic oils are normally less expensive, and often difficult to differentiate, scent-wise, from essential oils.

Types of Essential Oils

• Essential oils used for their fragrances can be exotic and expensive, although their synthetic counterparts are usually more affordable. Exotic incense oils include agar oil, or oodh, frankincense and sandalwood oil, while more common incense oils include cedarwood, patchouli and rose oil. Many incense makers mix different incense oils, producing special blends that imitate different scents. Also, home-blending of incense oils allows you to produce your own unique scents.

Diffusing Incense Oils

• For household fragrance, incense oils are often used in diluted form, with a few drops placed into water, on candles, and in a variety of diffusers. Some diffusers are heated, while others use natural methods to distribute the incense oil's scent. Reed diffusers use reeds soaked in incense oil infused water and as the household airflow passes through the reeds, the scent is distributed. Heated types include steam diffusers, known to produce a pure fragrance, and heat-pad water diffusers, where incense oil is added to water, heated by a hot plate, similar to potpourri diffusers.

Other Household Uses

• A little imagination produces some interesting ways to use incense oils in your household. An atomizer filled with water, and a few drops of incense oil, can be sprayed anywhere a quick blast of fragrance is necessary. Putting incense oil on a cotton cloth, and tossing it into the dryer is a good way to scent clothes, towels and bed linens. According to Wicca Spirit, adding clove oil to a simmering pan lessens strong cooking odors. Also, lemon, pine, or rose-geranium oils can be added to a vacuum cleaner bag for a fresh scent while vacuuming.