Because it has been in use since early civilization, the practice of burning incense has evolved from being a religious practice to other more practical uses. Whether it is a simple burning of incense sticks, the use of scented candles or with the help of a bottle incense burner, people of different cultures have found other uses for incense burning. One of its most common uses is to cover up odors. The aroma of incense is strong enough to mask undesirable odors. I use it in the kitchen when I fry fish. Others use it to mask the smell of smoke in a room.

Depending on the content of the incense, it is also commonly used to repel insects. Citronella is a popular herb fragrance that naturally repels mosquitoes and other insects. Fragrance is one desirable quality of burning incense. People often burn incense just to indulge their sense of smell. Different kinds of fragrances have different effects on a person.