Incense is an aromatic resin or wood burned in times of meditation, prayer, or religious ceremonies. Thought to banish evil spirits and thoughts, incense is particularly common component of a priest’s paraphernalia. Still, given the air quality in cities, incense serves a more practical purpose, such as covering foul odours. Incense comes in sticks (punks coated in resin or oil) or blocks. In either case, a single piece of incense burns for about 30 minutes.[1a]