Incense & Backflow Burners

Tonight has absolutely nowhere else to be. A backflow incense burner gives the mantelpiece something to do, with dragon, tree and waterfall designs in a £1.99–£44.95 range.

Lavender cones come in a pack of 40, while the larger tub holds 45 backflow cones. The order leaves Yorkshire in 1–2 days in a plain parcel with no prices inside; mainland UK delivery is free over £30 or £3.95 otherwise.

Incense & Backflow BurnersAromatherapy Backflow Cones, Relaxing £2.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersSmall Palo Santo Heater, Teak & Mandala £13.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersSmudge Stick, Dragon's Blood Sage, 10cm £11.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersSmudge Stick, Seven Chakra Rose Petals & Sage, 10cm £10.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersBanjara Smudge Stick, Vetiver & Patchouli £5.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersIncense Stick & Cone Disc, Buddha £5.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersMythical Backflow Cones, Angel Touch £2.95

Palo Santo Smudge Sticks, Set of 6 Fragrances

Incense & Backflow BurnersPalo Santo Incense Sticks, Set of 6 Fragrances £2.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersSmudge Stick, Good Vibes Sage, 10cm £10.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersPalo Santo Heater, Greenwash Gamel Wood £10.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersPalo Santo Heater, Natural Gamel Wood £10.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersSmudge Stick, Dragon's Blood & Floral Sage, 10cm £11.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersPalo Santo Incense Sticks, Cinnamon £2.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersIncense Stick & Cone Disc, Seven Chakra £5.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersPalo Santo Incense Sticks, Sandalwood £2.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersIncense Cone Mushrooms, Set of 3, 8–10cm £15.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersMini Incense Mushrooms, Set of 3, 6.5–8cm £7.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersWooden Smudge & Offerings Bowl, Buddha, 11cm £10.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersWooden Smudge & Offerings Bowl, Hamsa, 11cm £10.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersWooden Smudge & Offerings Bowl, Tree of Life, 11cm £10.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersWooden Smudge & Offerings Bowl, Pentagram, 11cm £10.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersWooden Smudge & Offerings Bowl, Buddha, 13cm £13.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersMedium Mango Wood Backflow Burner, Tree of Life £28.95

Incense & Backflow BurnersWooden Smudge & Offerings Bowl, Four Elements, 13cm £13.95

Choosing one

Burners and cones are sold separately, and that catches nearly everyone out. A burner on its own does nothing on the day it arrives, which is why the starter kit at £16.95 exists — burner, a tub of about 45 cones and 40 lavender ones in one box.

Buying separately, the plain Zen Flow at £8.95 shows the effect as clearly as the Dragon Waterfall at £30.95; the difference is theatre, not function. Refills are £4.95 unfragranced or £8.95 for the charcoal-free lavender.

Ordinary cones will not cascade — they are solid, and the trick needs a hole. Here is why. Before the first stick: the holder matters more than the incense, and the foam pad it ships on is not heatproof.

If you want the scent without the smoke, Scent & Flame has the candles, melts and diffusers instead. Nearly everything on this shelf sits under twenty pounds, so it also lives in gifts under £20. If the smoke is going up instead of down, that is nearly always the cone rather than the burner — how a backflow burner works covers the four things that stop it cascading.

The wood-burning half of this — sage bundles, palo santo and the heaters that warm it without smoke — is on palo santo and smudge. Hollow cones and the burners that make smoke fall are on backflow and incense cones.

Questions we get asked

Do backflow incense burners need special cones?

The smoke pattern starts with the cone named for the job. This page lists Lavender Backflow Cones in a pack of 40 and Backflow Incense Cones in a tub of 45 alongside the burners.

Which backflow burner designs are available?

The mantelpiece can take the decision from here. Wrenfold lists Dragon Skull, Zen Flow, Ancient Tree Fairy Lake, Dragon Waterfall and Wiki Waterfall designs up to £44.95; the gifts for him page keeps several in its recipient shelf.

Why has the smoke stopped falling?

Almost always a draught. Move the burner away from windows, doors and radiators and give it a minute to settle before deciding it is faulty. How the cascade actually works.

How long does a cone burn for?

Around thirty minutes. The tub of 45 unfragranced cones is £4.95 and the lavender pack of 40 is £8.95, so a burner bought once keeps going for pennies a session. Sticks are the other route — they burn about as long and shed ash the whole way.