Censer

A censer, also called an incense burner, perfume burner, or pastille burner, is a container used to burn solid incense or perfume. These vessels have existed since ancient times across the world, and their size, shape, and materials vary widely: they can be simple clay bowls or fire pots, intricately carved silver or gold pieces, small tabletop objects just a few centimeters tall, or large structures several meters high. Many designs feature openwork to let air flow through. Because burning incense often has spiritual or religious meaning in many cultures, this influences how the censer is designed and decorated.

In Western contexts, the word "censer" usually refers to religious pieces, especially those hung on chains and swung to spread incense smoke widely, while "perfume burner" is used for secular objects. The term "pastille" originally meant a small, compressed mix of aromatic plants and charcoal that was lit to release scent, and pastille burners were made for home use. Pastilles were often homemade until their peak in the early 19th century, and these burners are frequently ceramic. Some types could also serve as pomanders, where perfume diffuses slowly through evaporation rather than burning.

For direct-burning incense, pieces are placed directly on a heat source or a hot metal plate inside the censer. Indirect-burning incense, also called non-combustible incense, is a blend of aromatic ingredients not prepared for direct burning; it needs a separate heat source because it usually won't ignite on its own. The burn time varies with texture—finer materials burn faster, while coarser or whole chunks burn more slowly due to less surface area. Traditionally, heat comes from charcoal or glowing embers. For home use, small concave charcoal briquettes are sold; one lights a corner, places it in the censer, extinguishes the flame, and once sparks travel across the briquette, incense can be added. For direct-burning incense, the tip is lit until it turns to ash, then the flame is blown out, and the incense continues to smolder. Stick incense censers are simple long, thin plates of wood, metal, or ceramic, bent and perforated at one end to hold the stick and catch ash. In Taoist and Buddhist temples, thick coiled incense is hung from ceilings or placed on stands to scent the space; worshippers light individual sticks and place them vertically into censers.