Incense Sticks are also known as Joss Sticks. Incense Sticks are used for a wide range of purposes, these include enhancing the smell of a room, as lighters for fire crackers. Incense Sticks are used in many Asian countries and are traditionally burned in front of religious idols and shrines. Also they can be seen burning in doorways or open windows as offerings to heaven and/or devas. Joss is actually derived from the Latin word for god via Portuguese.
Incense Stick burning is the everyday norm in Chinese religion and there are many different types of Incense Sticks used for many different pruposes and festivities. Incense Sticks come in a wide range forms, but most are long, thin and mainly colored yellow, red and sometimes black. The thicker sticks are generally used for special ceremonies, such as funerals.
When burnt the Incense Stick produces a pleasant fragrance. The stick burns completely to a cool white ash with a stamble ember. Incense Sticks burn slowly and leave almost no trace of the original stick once finished. Obtaining these qualities requires great skill with blending the ingredients of the Incense Stick which is why you should generally choose a well known brand Incense Stick over a cheap Incense Stick.
Ideally you should choose to buy Incense Sticks that are imported from Asia or produced using the same techniques and ingredients locally. Dipped Incense Sticks are commonly found in the market place and require the least skill to produce and therefore generally produce less fragrant results.