Scientists report that burning frankincense can activate “poorly understood ion channels in the brain to alleviate anxiety or depression.” Incensemania’s fragrance info page describes the scent as a stimulant used to aid in meditation and prayer and contends it can reduce anxiety and stress. You can buy 20 frankincense sticks made in India for a mere $1.50. But don’t stop there. An amazing variety of incense designed to relax, excite, and transport awaits. Nag Champa’s Satya Sai Baba is one of the most popular fragrance blends on the market ($2 for a 40-gram box). Handmade in India, it gives off a powerful, aromatic blend of resins, gums, spices, flowers and oils, with the red box said to be of highest quality/purity. Coils are great for summer evenings and PaulaWalla has the NK Blend Tea and Tree incense coil set ($25) with scents like green tea, bamboo, and jasmine. Or buy a five-pack of Thai incense coils in “flavors” like freesia, vanilla or cinnamon. Available in sticks, cones, coils, and other shapes, incense can even be disguised as matches ($1). Light one, blow it out and it continues to release a burst of purifying sandalwood or patchouli all the way to the base. These make great alternatives to a can of air freshener in the bathroom. Hari Om Incense has a large selection of Tibetan incense, such as this handmade Himalayan nirvana natural incense ($4.25). And then there’s traditional incense, the purest form you can buy, made of the actual resins, woods, herbs and saps. Want to burn some amber solid resin? It smells warm and sweet ($4 for a six-ounce pack). To burn traditional incense, you’ll need charcoal tablets ($2 per roll) and perhaps an antiqued brass and copper hanging burner with lucky signs ($29; pictured). Incense Warehouse has some of the prettiest burners we’ve seen, like this cobalt-blue raku-fired lotus flower burner ($19), which can be used for cones or sticks, or the celadon burner from Bali with the Sanskrit symbol for “om” ($7).