The Zensense self-extinguishing incense burner uses an innovative, sliding block feature to control the perfect amount of incense fragrance without having to extinguish the stick manually before its ember reaches the bamboo core many stick incense brands are constructed around. “After creating such a pleasant at­mosphere—to end with the smell of burnt bamboo was an ongoing frustration,” says John Carlile, who invented Zensense along with Rae Randall. By adding a sliding block with a metal grommet to an incense tray, Carlile and Randall conquered their dilemma and created a new way to burn the perfect amount of fragrance for any size room.

Incense as a form of air freshening and aromather­apy is still very popular, perhaps because of the imme­morial roots we share in human spirituality. Incense has been found in fossil records of civilizations dating back to 3300 BCE. Sandalwood, frankincense, lavender and patchouli are blended and constructed today as they were in ancient Egypt, yet only recently has someone figured out how to control when it extinguishes.

Zensense incense burners are handmade by Zen­burner Enterprises, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Burner trays come in a variety of hardwood species, including mahogany, walnut, white oak, cypress, red cedar, North Carolina poplar, American cherry, and 100 percent recycled burners, garnered from the remnants of boats, barns, homes and floor boards.

For more information and product details, visit ZenBurner.com.