Ash & Ember Review: Incense, Candles and Smoke-Free Alternatives Tested

Incense is one of the oldest parts of meditation practice, and one of the most divisive. For some people, a thin thread of sandalwood smoke instantly signals that it is time to slow down. For others, it means a headache. If you are in the first camp, quality matters enormously: cheap sticks are often soaked in synthetic fragrance oil and burn with a harsh, chemical edge.

Ash & Ember sells incense, candles and a small range of holders, and says it uses only plant-based materials. Over five weeks I burned a large quantity of everything it sells and inspected the labels with more suspicion than any reasonable person should.

What Ash & Ember sells#

The catalogue includes eight incense sticks and cones ($9 to $16 a pack), six soy candles ($28 to $38), a set of ceramic and brass holders ($14 to $34) and a smoke-free ceramic burner that uses a small tea light to warm wax melts and resins ($58). Fragrances include sandalwood, cedar, palo santo alternative "Wild Sage", frankincense and a citrus blend.

Each product page lists ingredients and typical burn time. Incense packs contain about 40 sticks, with a burn time of around 35 minutes per stick.

How we tested#

I burned five incense types (40 sticks in total), four candles and the smoke-free burner. I measured:

• Scent strength at one, three and five metres in a 20 m² room.

• Smoke amount and how quickly the air cleared.

• Candle burn time by weighing a candle before and after, and observing tunnelling.

• Ingredient transparency, by comparing labels with product pages and asking support questions.

Incense#

The sandalwood and cedar sticks were the best. Both burn evenly, produce a soft, woody scent that is noticeable at three metres and fade out gracefully rather than leaving an acrid tail. Ash stayed intact and curled neatly. The frankincense is sharper and more resinous, brilliant in a large room but overwhelming in a small one.

The Wild Sage is marketed as an alternative to palo santo and white sage, which are overharvested. It has a herbal, slightly peppery scent that I liked, though it lacks the creamy depth of the original. The store is honest about the substitution and explains why it made it.

Candles#

The soy candles are excellent for the price. Cotton wicks, a stated 40-hour burn and a scent that is moderately strong without turning perfumey. I weighed one candle before and after ten hours of use, and it had burned evenly with no tunnelling and minimal soot. They are not the strongest throw on the market, but they are gentle enough for a bedroom.

The smoke-free burner#

The ceramic burner is a well-made object that heats wax melts and resin granules with a tea light. It is pretty and it works, and if you cannot tolerate smoke, it is a real solution. But at $58 for an item that costs about $12 to make, it is hard to justify, and a basic oil burner from a garden shop does the same job.

A note on health#

Burning anything indoors creates fine particles. Incense smoke in particular has been linked with respiratory irritation, and people with asthma, young children and pets are more at risk. Ash & Ember's website includes clear advice to burn in a ventilated room and never to leave incense unattended, which is good, but we would go further: use it sparingly, and open a window.

Shipping, service and returns#

Orders shipped within three business days and arrived in five, well packed with tissue and a small box for candles. Support answered my question about whether the incense contained any synthetic fragrance within a day, with a clear list of ingredients.

Candles and incense are returnable unused within 30 days, at the customer's cost. Burners and holders can be returned free if faulty.

Price and value#

At $9 to $16, the incense is fairly priced. The $28 to $38 candles are similar to boutique brands, with better transparency than most. The $58 burner is overpriced.

Who should buy, and who should skip#

Buy from Ash & Ember if you like a gentle, natural incense for meditation or reading and want honest labelling.

Skip it if you have asthma or sensitivities, want smoke-free options at low cost, or need a strong room fragrance. If you prefer diffusers, see our Ember Botanica review.

The verdict#

Ash & Ember earns 4.0 out of 5. The incense and candles are clean, well made and honestly described. The high price of the burner and the unavoidable smoke keep it from top marks.

Disclosure: we bought all products ourselves. Some links on this site are affiliate links. See our review policy.