Backflow Burners & Incense Cones

The smoke falls rather than rises. That is the whole trick, and it takes two things: one of these burners, holed through the plate, and cones bored hollow up the middle from £1.95.

Ceramic burners start at £5.95 and run to the mango wood and brass pieces at £33.95, which are quieter to look at than the dragons. Cones start at £1.95 for a box of ten, so the refill is never the expensive part.

Ordinary incense cones will not cascade in these burners, and backflow cones will not cascade in an ordinary dish. If you are buying for someone who owns neither, buy both. Free UK delivery over £30.

Choosing one

The cheapest complete set is a burner plus a box of cones. The mini mountain burner at £5.95 shows the cascade better than anything else at that price, and the palo santo cones are £1.95 for ten.

If it is a present rather than a starter kit, the wooden burners read as furniture rather than as ornaments: the mango wood tree of life is £28.95 with a brass inlay. The skull in hand at £21.95 goes the other way entirely.

For refills, the charcoal-free French vanilla cones at £5.95 are the least divisive scent we stock. Why the smoke falls, and why it sometimes stops, is explained in the journal.

The upright holders, plates and bowls live on the incense holders shelf. If it is the wood rather than the smoke you are after, palo santo and smudge is next door, and under £20 catches most of the cones and the smaller burners.

Questions we get asked

How does a backflow incense burner work?

The cone is hollow through the base. Smoke cools inside the channel, becomes heavier than the surrounding air and sinks through the hole in the burner instead of rising, then pools in the dish below.

Can you use normal incense cones in a backflow burner?

They will burn, but the smoke goes upwards as usual and you lose the waterfall. The hollow channel is what makes a backflow cone a backflow cone, and it is not something you can add at home.

Why has my backflow burner stopped cascading?

Almost always a draught, or a blocked hole. An open window scatters the smoke before it reaches the base, and ash builds up in the channel over a few dozen cones. Clear it cold with a cocktail stick.

How long does a backflow cone burn?

Around 20 to 30 minutes each, depending on size. The foam pad a burner arrives on is packaging rather than a heatproof mat, so take it out before lighting anything.