Incense is Nifty

First, it's budget friendly. You can buy a shit ton of incense dirt cheap from the mall. If you can get it from the freakin' mall cheap, that's something. We're talking about the place that demands eighty dollars for jeans and four fifty for some juice.

Second, it's practical. I like having a good smelling room, and incense makes that happen quickly. It also comes in handy for covering the scent of *other* things I may be burning. ;)

But most importantly, it creates an ambiance that's just pleasant to be in. The smell of incense coupled with the visual of flickering candles is relaxing, especially if you're trying to cultivate an atmosphere of meditation. Using the right smell can trigger different memories, moods, or mindsets (pardon my alliteration) that enables one to shut off their conscious chatter for a while and ground themselves a hell of a lot easier.

It's also fairly common knowledge that good scents attract good entities. If you're into things like invoking spirits, burning incense helps ensure that you're not inviting anything malicious. Seriously, if you want to call on some really bad ass demons (not something I would personally try or recommend), be prepared to burn some fecal matter to entice them. Bleh.

My mom, on the other hand, can't stand the smell of incense. Hmm.