# In cultures where incense is burned ritually, is it also used at home? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 4, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174 "2026-03-04T00:32:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/1 "2026-03-04T00:32:36Z")
When I was a wee lad in the 1970’s, MammaHomie would take me to her favorite head shop to buy incense. She developed a fondness for it from her hippy friends who smoke the Sticky Icky and burned incense to cover the smell. Mom herself never smoked the Devil’s Lettuce\*, she just like the smell of incense. She passed that love down to me, before I even started smoking pot. So anyway, when I lived in Japan, I asked my host if it would be ok if I burned incense in my apartment. He said he didn’t care but my neighbors would console me on the death of my loved one. Apparently that is how incense is used in Japan in the home: ritually and (at least, not in 1996) not burned just for the nice smell. So in cultures where incense is burned ritually (Buddhist, Hindu, etc.), is it also burned non-ritually in the home? \*Though Mom swore up and down to me that she never touched the Loco Weed, privately Dad told me, “yeah, right.” ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/2 "2026-03-04T00:36:50Z")
Roman Catholic: Incense is used in rituals but not used at home. Holy Water, in contrast, _is_ taken home from the Church and used for blessing and wetting things. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/3 "2026-03-04T00:38:16Z")
Does it smell good? ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/4 "2026-03-04T00:46:20Z")
What, church incense? I think it smells good, frankincense and tree resins, I think. I was an altar server in grade school and we had little charcoal briquettes to catch (edit: catch fire, that is) before a funeral so they’d be hot later during the service when the Priest dumps a spoonful of the incense pebbles into the censer, a bronze lantern looking thing on a chain. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/5 "2026-03-04T01:16:54Z")
Hindus will burn incense during prayers at a shrine in the home. At least the ones I know here in the states do. ETA: I now see you asked about non-ritually. I have seen that as well, but not as often for sure. Typically around holidays, so maybe that is still ritual use. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/6 "2026-03-04T17:02:01Z")
When I had a holiday in Thailand, the hotel provided incense and matches in the room, and it certainly wasn’t a religious retreat! 99% of the guests were westerners, so I’m guessing it was just for the nice smells. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/7 "2026-03-04T17:43:50Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Does it smell good? Were you asking @jnglmassiv about Roman Catholic incense or Roman Catholic Holy Water? Holy Water smells just like regular water. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/8 "2026-03-04T18:38:53Z")
Heh. About the incense. I’m sure Holy Water doesn’t have much of a smell or taste. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/9 "2026-03-04T19:17:16Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Roman Catholic: Incense is used in rituals but not used at home. Holy Water, in contrast, _is_ taken home from the Church and used for blessing and wetting things. I was raised Catholic. I’m personally now a deist, but I know plenty of practicing Catholics. None of us have objections to burning incense at home to enjoy the smell. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/10 "2026-03-04T22:44:32Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Roman Catholic: Incense is used in rituals but not used at home. Holy Water, in contrast, _is_ taken home from the Church and used for blessing and wetting things. You can take holy water home? That’s something new I learned today. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/11 "2026-03-04T22:54:16Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > You can take holy water home? You can buy it by the gross. > **[2 oz Holy Water Bottles - 24/pk](https://www.catholicgiftsandmore.com/product/2-oz-holy-water-bottles-24-pk-hm200?promocode=cgmcpc&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17338919728&gbraid=0AAAAADmKTSYQxuzWGq11GI4wBIXjpGwIt&gclid=CjwKCAiAzZ_NBhAEEiwAMtqKyyG8MvlJZYaYJ8MKKWSRJtqaQHarj1a3rc2hXC0a1WRuGBCpMceeiBoCHA4QAvD_BwE)** > > Find rosaries, religious jewelry, sacrament gifts, bibles and decor at Catholic Gifts & More. Order Direct: 1-800-572-5732. 100% satisfaction guaranteed. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/12 "2026-03-04T23:04:27Z")
I grew up in Taiwan (where it’s predominantly Buddhist and Taoist along with traditional Taiwanese ancestor worship) and all of those used a lot of incense in temples and for rituals. However, I never saw them in homes unless someone was being actively mourned or there was a shrine/altar to the dead ancestors (and even those very rarely had actually burning incense, though they may have had incense holders for special occasions). We didn’t even have any in our household. I only encountered incense as an odor tool / air “freshener” after I moved to the US and a Mexican friend routinely used them at home, alongside those tall Catholic candles. That was also the first time I encountered a Western-style incense holder (the diagonal kind where the ashes drip onto a long tray below it). ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/13 "2026-03-05T00:54:29Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > You can take holy water home? Yes and it’s often made available from what looks just like a polished coffee percolator. Another Catholic ritual item taken home are palms, the leafy bits of a palm tree. I often spot palm in people’s cars. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/14 "2026-03-05T01:04:07Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > > [@md-2000](#): > > > > You can take holy water home? > > You can buy it by the gross. Around here (South Texas) what they do is charge for the containers. The water itself is free, available from special water fountains. The basilica at San Juan in the Rio Grande Valley uses this system. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/15 "2026-03-05T04:16:04Z")
You have to pay? Wow. Wasn’t there something in the Bible about money changers in the church being sinful? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/16 "2026-03-05T05:57:08Z")
Note that in Japan, after the funeral, the cremated remains will be kept at the family‘s home for a while. It’s custom to offer an incense stick at the family alter that has the remains. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/17 "2026-03-05T15:36:15Z")
Where does the mourner get it? Does the local temple hand you a few sticks if you ask nicely? Do they have head shops in Japan? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/18 "2026-03-05T15:55:41Z")
Temples and shrines have small shops on the premise that can sell you stuff like incense for the household altar. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/19 "2026-03-05T15:59:49Z")
I suppose there are some households that use sage for [smudging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smudging) and as a seasoning ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174/20 "2026-03-05T16:01:13Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Where does the mourner get it? Does the local temple hand you a few sticks if you ask nicely? Do they have head shops in Japan? In a pinch you could improvise with a [mosquito pig](https://www.google.com/search?q=katori-buta&client=firefox-b-1-m&hs=fH89&sca_esv=110a515e0d96392e&sxsrf=ANbL-n7Zu5B8JP6JJkgDLELgYm6j3U3zOA%3A1772726391658&ei=d6ipafbBJ5rCp84PhsT04Q4&biw=292&bih=574&oq=katori-buta&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIgtrYXRvcmktYnV0YTIIEAAYgAQYsAMyBxAAGLADGB4yCRAAGLADGAoYHjIHEAAYsAMYHjIJEAAYsAMYCBgeMg4QABiABBiwAxiGAxiKBTIOEAAYgAQYsAMYhgMYigUyDhAAGIAEGLADGIYDGIoFMggQABiwAxjvBTIIEAAYsAMY7wVIohJQAFgAcAB4AJABAJgB4AGgAeABqgEDMi0xuAEDyAEAmAIBoAL2AZgDAIgGAZAGCpIHAzItMaAHjgWyBwMyLTG4B_YBwgcDNC0xyAcUgAgA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-cultures-where-incense-is-burned-ritually-is-it-also-used-at-home/1028174.md?page=2)