Best Charcoal Incense Burner Reviews and Buying Guide

Burning incense has been a traditional practice for centuries, used in various cultures and religions to purify and sanctify spaces. Incense burning has also been known for its ability to eliminate unpleasant odors, making it a popular practice in homes, cars, and other spaces.

One of the simplest and most affordable methods for burning incense is through the use of a charcoal disc burner.

Charcoal disc burners do not require electricity, making them an ideal option for both indoor and outdoor use.

Not only are charcoal disc burners affordable, they are also easy to use, making them accessible to anyone looking to improve the scent of their home or car, or to incorporate the ritual of burning incense into their daily practice.

Charcoal Incense Burner/Coal Incense Burner

Charcoal Incense holders are designed specifically to hold incense charcoal discs.

Charcoal Discs Incense Burner is also called ~~incense charcoal holder~~ or simply charcoal holder.

Choosing an ideal charcoal burner may seem straightforward at first glance, but it is not as simple as it may seem.

Best Charcoal Incense Burner

A best incense burner is of course an incense burner that works perfectly for you. The right incense burner will deliver the right amount of heat and fragrance, burning the incense properly every time.

There are many different kinds of charcoal incense burners available, and the right one for you depends on personal preferences.

Quick Picks:

Among the best charcoal incense burners I found on the market, here are some of my favorites:

Charcoal Resin Burner

Best Overall:

This beautiful charcoal resin incense burner is designed to burn both powder and resin on charcoal tablets. It is made in brass, painted black and the golden brass is revealed in the etched engravings of abstract forms around the bowl.

It has a wooden coaster and comes with 10 charcoal tablets.

It also comes with one ounce of rare Copal resin, which is made from trees sustainably grown in South America and which has been used in ancient Mayan ceremonies there since before the arrival of Columbus.

Charcoal Frankincense Burner

A resin burner and a tea-light burner in one, I was fascinated by this unique item. It has a lower base cup to hold the charcoal tablet which burns the resin, and it also has an adjustable saucer on a stem that can be used for a tea-light candle.

It comes with three charcoal tablets made from natural coconut shells, which burn without smoke or odor. The burner has a small removable brass sleeve to hold the resin, and it is recommended that before being used this part is wrapped in aluminum foil to prevent discoloration from the burning resin.

It is quite small, at less than 4 inches in height, made with a simple decoration in highly polished golden brass, and the base is embossed with a floral design.

Brass Charcoal Incense Burner

At less than 2 inches in height, this cute little incense burner is made from gleaming gold brass with a wire lattice top.

A small charcoal tablet just fits on top of the bowl, to burn the incense. Because of its very small size it is not really suitable for coil or stick incense. It also has a protective coaster under the base.

Such a small burner, I can see it as part of a collection of small objects as home decor.

Censer Charcoal Incense Burner

Brass Censer Charcoal Incense Burner

A hanging censer such as this is typically used in religious ceremonies, to purify the air and bring blessings to the congregation.

This censer can also be used in the home, suspended by its chain or used on a table-top.

It is cone-shaped, made in brass and the cone top is perforated with stars to release the smoke from the incense burning on a charcoal tablet.

Hanging Charcoal Incense Burner

Hanging Brass Charcoal Incense Burner

The Most Interesting:

For a hanging burner, or censer, I prefer this one for its ornately engraved brass bowl. The top of the censer reminds me of a Tajine (a Moroccan cooking pot) and it has chains so it can be suspended or carried around a home or place of work, to spread peace and tranquility through its fragrant smoke.

It does not have a coaster supplied, and it should be noted that the base can get very hot while the charcoal is burning, so care has to be taken with its placement.

Charcoal Incense Burner with Handle

Brass Charcoal Incense Burner with Handle

Both these burners are quite tall, at just over 7 inches in height, and both have long handles extending from the side so they can be carried when hot.

The first one is brass with a wooden handle. It is in the shape of a chalice, or goblet, with an upturned funnel shape as a lid, and the handle extends from the side, like the handle of a cooking pot.

Video: Brass Incense Burners

The second burner is like a religious object. In polished brass, it has a dome lid with a cross on top, which can be removed for secular uses.

It has a brass cooking pot-style handle and the burner has no decoration apart from oval-shaped holes to allow the smoke to rise.

Both these burners have handles so they can easily be carried from room to room in the house.

Arabic Charcoal Incense Burner

Charcoal Bakhoor Burner

I like this burner because it makes a statement as a decorative object. Quite tall at over 10 inches, it is made from a wood-look resin, and embossed with finely detailed gold and silver ornamental work.

It is in a dome shape in two halves, sitting on a pedestal. The top half is removable to allow incense and charcoal inside.

It also comes in a white resin, again with gold and silver decoration, and in this color is quite exotic and eye-catching.

In white, it would make an interesting wedding gift for someone who appreciates the unusual.

Oud Charcoal Burner

This burner is in a dome shape surrounded by four pillars, and it is all made in a dark-wood style resin.

Inside the top of the dome is a brass tray to hold the coal. I am reminded of the old style world globes in wooden stands, the top hemisphere of which would open to show that it was actually used to conceal a selection of liquor bottles. Of course this one only has room inside for nothing larger than a charcoal tablet.

It is embossed in a detailed gold design and can be used with Oud and frankincense, the fragrances of Arabia.

Screen Incense Burner

Charcoal Screen Incense Burner

Most Minimal & Elegant:

This is a small, simple burner. Basically just a small round black wooden pot or box with star shapes cut into the metal lid.

Video: Item Review: Starry Screen Black Incense Burner

It has a metal tray inside to hold the charcoal and resin incense. Because it is such a plain design I would not recommend it as a decor item, but it is certainly functional, although I can see it on a shelf as another collectible item.

Brass Charcoal Screen Incense Burner

When I saw this burner I was immediately reminded of a Greco-Roman urn. Then I realized it was about 2 inches tall. But in style it is certainly shaped like an ancient vase or urn.

It is in brass, painted black and the paint is etched away to show brass designs. It has a brass wire mesh top which can be removed for cleaning and the burner sits on a wooden coaster. It is very ornamental, at the same time practical but very collectible.

Ceramic Charcoal Incense Burner

Best Budget Option:

This ceramic bowl burner has an ornate bronze lid cut with a floral pattern, and comes in 8 different colors, including fambe blue and deep red.

In addition to burning resin on charcoal, it can also be used for coils, cones or sticks, making it both decorative and versatile.

Incense Burner with Lotus Incense Stick Holder for Sticks or Cone Incense

This bowl burner is also hand made in ceramic with a high-gloss fambe blue glaze. It has a lid decorated in a floral design, which is cut through the bronze metal to allow the smoke to rise.

Inside the bowl it also has a lotus flower incense holder in bronze, which can hold a single incense stick, a cone or support a coil of incense, or even a mosquito coil. With this lotus holder removed the burner can be used for burning powder incense or resin, and can even be used as a decorative ash-tray.

Charcoal Incense Burner Kit

This starter pack would be an excellent gift for someone who already has a burner, although a small plain saucer-style terracotta burner is included.

It contains four different resins including Frankincense, Myrrh, and two types of gum resin. It is all packaged in a neat display box along with ten charcoal tablets.

It would be a great introduction to the ancient resin fragrances, for anyone who appreciates incense.

Incense Burner with Charcoal

Best for Continuous Use:

Handcrafted from recycled silver aluminium and decorated with the auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism, this plate can be used for coils, resins and cones, and has holes to insert and hold up to five incense sticks.

It comes with ten charcoal tablets and one ounce of Myrrh resin. As an unusual example of an aged-look Tibetan incense burner plate it would also make an interesting conversation piece in your home.

Large Charcoal Incense Burner

In the shape of an ancient Chinese cauldron, this burner is made from recycled aluminium and finished in a matte black.

It is simply decorated with just one design on the side of the bowl, a representation of the Flower of Life.

Perfect for resins and herbs, it has a wire mesh top and small handles on each side, although when in use I feel it would be too hot to carry.

Large Heavy Duty Multi Purpose Charcoal Incense Burner

Best Branded Product:

Made in a polished golden brass, this attractive burner is very decorative. It is in a bowl shape on a wide pedestal, with a conical lid and two brass handles. The handles are shaped like stylized elephant heads, with the elephants trunks curved around to form the handles.

It has colored stones like jewels set into the lid, which has a butterfly design around the centerpiece. When using charcoal inside the burner, the lid should be removed to avoid discoloration and damage to the inset stones from the heat.

Small Charcoal Incense Burner

Shaped like a lotus flower, this incense stick holder can hold up to 5 sticks at one time.

Made in brown zinc it has gold edging to the flower petals.

The lotus is a symbol of purity and elegance, and this can be seen in the design of this novelty object.

The ash from the burning sticks falls into the center flower petals which form a tray and can be removed for easy cleaning.

Exquisite Workmanship Incense Burner

Most Elegant:

This bowl burner is in a hand-spun semi-gloss copper finish, and is suitable for most types of incense. The bowl is plain and undecorated but faint grooves from the spinning process can be seen as decoration.

The lid has a simple yet elegant design, a geometric pattern around the edge with a flower shape in the center.

Orthodox Charcoal Incense Burner

In highly polished brass, this censer is almost eight inches in height and can be suspended from its three chains (26 inches long).

Styled as a religious object it has an Orthodox Christian cross at the top of the conical lid, like the spire of a church. The cross can be removed if required for more secular purposes.

It has a stainless steel bowl inside to hold the charcoal tablet, and is designed for the use of resins.

It would make a wonderful gift for a friend who has a strong spiritual nature, or for someone who is involved in a church.

Catholic Charcoal Incense Burner

Best Overall:

In the Catholic liturgy, this censer is known as a Thurible, and is designed to be swung from its four chains, the incense wafting as part of the blessing of the congregation and the altar.

It is in polished brass and has a cross on the apex of the lid. It also has 12 small bells, symbolizing the 12 apostles, which ring as it is swung.

The brass designs on the bowl are aged, as if they have passed through many hands.

Cast Iron Charcoal Incense Burner

Most-Reviewed Product:

This small, 4 inch diameter burner is shaped like a cauldron that I might see in a Chinese peasant cottage.

It has a metal handle of the type that was used to suspend a cauldron over a fire, when cooking soup or stews.

It is made from cast iron and is strictly functional, and not very decorative.

Cast Iron Incense Burner with Wooden Handle

This small black cast iron burner is in the shape of an ancient cooking pot, and has a wooden handle extending from one side. It is only about 3 1/2 inches across, so is suitable for incense sticks or cones. It can fit a charcoal tablet but in that case the lid has to be removed. It is not big enough to fit coil incense.

The black cast iron is undecorated, but could still be a decor object in your home for its novelty value as a miniature cooking pot.

Charcoal Burner Cone Incense

This is a good sized (9 inch by 9 inch) burner in brass metal, decorated on both the top and bottom parts with perforated flower patterns, and with an antique gold look.

I find this burner especially attractive because it not only has chains like a censer but also comes with a brass wall bracket which can be fixed inside or outside the house, from which it can be suspended.

If used outside it can also be used with mosquito coils as an insect repellent. The wall bracket also has curved pieces attached to suspend the small bells that come with the burner, and these will tinkle in the wind or breeze.

Black Charcoal Incense Burner

These two black metal burners, one in cast iron and one in aluminum, are both undecorated, simple objects.

They have only one function, that is to hold a charcoal tablet and to burn incense and aromatic wood chips.

Video: Cauldron alternative

They are both small, round bowl shapes with lids, but are not supplied with coasters. In use their bases will be very hot, so care must be taken to protect furniture.

Wooden Charcoal Incense Burner

This hand-carved, light colored wooden burner has a triangular shaped lid and an octagonal base, making it a very interesting little object.

It has a metal tray inside the base to hold a charcoal tablet. Approximately 5 inches in height, it can also hold incense cones.

After a while in use, the wood will take on the fragrance of the incense from the smoke, and so the odor will be detected even when incense is not being burned in it.

Clay Incense Burner for Charcoal

This clay terracotta burner is in the shape of a grail, an ancient drinking vessel.

It is actually in the style of a sacred Mayan ceremonial cup, used with white Copal resin. This comes from trees in Latin America and is gathered sustainably.

The cup is made in Mexico, in a small family-owned workshop, and as such will make a very interesting decor item, with a back-story

Clay Incense Burner – Ganesh Bowl

Featuring a representation of Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu god, this small cup shaped burner is a simple, open design made from clay.

It looks like the cup handle is the trunk of the elephant, and a simple pattern is decorated around the edge of the cup.

It can hold a charcoal tablet or an incense cone, and can be carried through the house, to purify and scent each room.

Ganesh is known as the Remover of Obstacles, so this burner will be welcomed as a simple housewarming gift, or just a gift to friends.

Right Way to Use Charcoal Incense Burner

To get maximum benefits from this traditional way of burning incense, let’s have a look at the steps to the right way:

Preparation

You need to prepare the base of the burner to put the incense later on. You can use ash, sand, or small pebbles to provide enough insulation. This addition also aids in controlling the temperature of the burner by keeping it moderate and preventing overheating.

Lighting Charcoal

Now light charcoal to provide a heat source for aromatherapy. Charcoal discs are easily available in the market for this purpose. They are also easy to use to heat the incense. Now use a match stick to light it. Hold the flame until the disc turns gray. Now place the hot charcoal over the prepared base of the burner.

Placement of Incense

It is time to put incense sticks, cones, or powder over the gray charcoal. You may directly place it on the disc or use a metal tray. When the incense gets enough heat, you will start to experience the aroma.

Buying Guide

There are certain factors that you need to keep in mind before making a purchase decision for a charcoal incense burner. Let’s check them one by one so that you can make the best choice according to your needs.

Selection of Material

Charcoal incense burners are available in various materials in the market. Common ones are:

Metal
Ceramic
Copper
Bronze
Iron
Silver, etc.

Each one is good to consider in terms of durability and heat resistance. However, the cost varies depending on the material. If you are looking for a luxury option with high aesthetics and durability, silver is a good option. For a cost-effective yet heat-resistant option, you can go for an iron or ceramic one.

Maintenance.

Check out the maintenance and cleaning steps of different burners before making a purchase. Some have removable ashtrays, so you can easily throw the ash away after use. Burners with artistic handwork need special cleaning to ensure dust doesn’t stick to engraved designs. Simple burners with a plain surface are easy to wipe. Each type of burner has its own maintenance requirements.

Compatibility

Check out the burner’s compatibility with different incense forms. Some burners accommodate various forms like cones, stickes, powder, etc, while others are specific in nature. If you want to use the burner for multiple incense options then search for it.

Size

These burners come in a variety of sizes. Some are quite huge, with high artistic design patterns that make them suitable for decoration as well. In contrast, others may fit in your hand and are helpful to carry in your luggage as well. What are your personal and space requirements? Do you need a compact burner or a huge one? Ask these questions and choose accordingly.

Aesthetics

Decide where you will put the burner. Are you considering these burners for interior decoration? Then, try those with floral carvings to make the aromatherapy more luxurious. Remember that high aesthetics mean you need to pay extra money, so determine your budget first.

Convenience

Check out features like weight, size, accessories, etc., to ensure that burners are easy to move around. Some burners have handles so you can carry them even during aromatherapy. Moreover, some charcoal burners are quite heavy in weight with their fine-quality materials, like bronze, while some have light bodies. If you are planning to use the burner in various places, then prefer the ones that are easy to carry around.

Safety Measures for Charcoal Incense Burner

Just like electric burners, charcoal incense burners require some precautions for their safe usage. These are the following:

Use the burner only in your presence, and put off the incense before leaving.
Keep an eye on the burner when in use for issues like overheating or any sort of blockage.
Choose non-flammable surfaces like ceramic, marble, etc, for placing the charcoal incense burner.
Keep flammable objects like rugs, curtains, etc., away as embers may fall on them with the wind.
Keep the burner out of the reach of pets or children.
Use tongs to adjust the charcoal after burning if required. Never touch the plate or the charcoal with bare hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the importance of charcoal incense burners?

These devices are great for safely and effectively burning various kinds of incense, including sticks, cones, etc. They let the incense resin heat up to a certain level, resulting in strong fragrance production. However, separate ashtrays are also easy to clean after usage and promote more profound and authentic aromatherapy sessions.

Q: Why did my incense stop burning on the charcoal incense burner?

Such burners usually come with little holes in the base to let the oxygen come inside for enough burning. The smoke comes out of the chimney. In case of blockage of the hole, the burner can’t suck in enough air for incense, which stops the burning process. Ensure that holes are clear or not against a wall for free air inflow.

Q: Are charcoal incense burners better than electric burners?

Both these burners have features, and you need to define your personal preference. If you are looking for a smoke-free yet durable aromatherapy session, the electric burners are fantastic. If you want to experience an authentic aromatherapy session with a smokey deep fragrance, then charcoal incense burners are great.

Picture	Product Link [*Amazon]
	Sudbury Brass Long Handled Incense Burner
	Censer/Charcoal Incense Burner with Handle

Picture	Product Link [*Amazon]
	Cast Iron Incense Burner
	elite DECORIO Metal Charcoal Incense Burner

Picture	Product Link
~~Photo: www.incensewarehouse.com~~	Clay Incense Burner – OM Ganesh Bowl

Best Overall	Most Reviewed Product	Branded Product