When life feels heavy, the air around us can carry that same weight. Rooms may feel dense, our bodies might hold on to stress, and even our thoughts can feel clouded. In those moments, many people look for incense to remove negative energy — not as a forceful act, but as a simple, soothing way to clear the atmosphere and soften the nervous system.
For centuries, cultures around the world have turned to incense for cleansing negative energy and creating sacred space. The gentle curl of smoke can serve as both a symbolic release and a sensory anchor, reminding us to breathe, slow down, and invite calm back in.
On this page, we’ll explore some of the best incense to remove negative energy, along with ways to use them safely and intentionally — whether for your body, your mind, or your home.
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1. Sage Incense: Clearing Stagnant Energy
Sage has long been one of the most trusted scents when people think about incense to remove negative energy. Traditionally used in cleansing ceremonies, its earthy, herbal smoke is believed to sweep away what feels heavy or stagnant — leaving space for freshness and renewal.
How to use sage incense for cleansing:
- Light a single stick or cone of sage incense and let the tip glow before gently blowing out the flame.
- Hold it safely over a heat-proof dish, allowing the smoke to rise.
- If you’re clearing your body, slowly move the incense around yourself, noticing how your breath and shoulders soften with each exhale.
- If you’re cleansing your space, walk gently through each room, letting the smoke drift into corners, around doorways, and near windows.
As you move, you might softly say an intention like: “I release all negative energy and welcome peace into this space.” This transforms the act of burning sage into a cleansing spell for negative energy that works both symbolically and somatically.
For another way to work with release through fire, you may also explore our cord burning ritual.
Best for: clearing stuck or heavy energy from rooms after conflict or stress; a quick whole-home reset.
2. Palo Santo Incense: Gentle Purification
If sage feels a little strong for you, Palo Santo incense offers a softer, sweeter way to get rid of negative energy. Known as “holy wood,” Palo Santo has been used in South America for centuries in rituals of healing and blessing. Its warm, calming aroma can feel like a quiet invitation to let tension melt away.
How to use Palo Santo incense for cleansing negative energy:
- Light the stick and let it catch flame for a few seconds, then blow it out so the fragrant smoke begins to rise.
- Hold the incense near your heart or take a gentle inhale of the scent (always with good ventilation).
- As you breathe, imagine the smoke wrapping around you, loosening and dissolving heavy or stagnant energy.
- Walk slowly around your space, especially near doors and windows, while softly repeating: “This space is clear. Only peace may remain.”
This practice can be a protection spell against negative energy, especially if you are sensitive to the moods of others or feel your home has absorbed stress. Palo Santo’s gentle energy makes it a beautiful ally when you want to purify without overwhelming your senses.
Best for: sensitive noses and subtle cleansing; soft protection after social overwhelm or visitors.
3. Frankincense: Spiritual Protection
Frankincense has been burned in temples and homes for thousands of years. Its resinous, slightly citrus scent carries a sense of reverence and calm, often used to lift prayers or intentions. Many people turn to frankincense incense for protection and cleansing, trusting its smoke to help remove negative energy and invite in clarity.
How to use frankincense incense to clear negative energy:
- Light a frankincense stick, cone, or resin on charcoal in a heat-proof holder.
- As the fragrant smoke rises, close your eyes and breathe slowly, noticing how your body responds.
- Imagine the smoke forming a protective veil around you, strengthening your boundaries.
- You may choose to walk through your home, letting the incense drift through each room, especially around entrances and areas where energy feels heavy.
This simple practice can feel like a banishing spell for negative energy, gently clearing what doesn’t serve you while leaving behind a sense of sacred stillness.
For additional support, you might combine frankincense with crystals for home and protection to create a deeper shield of peace around your space.
Best for: creating sacred space, meditation, and strengthening energetic boundaries at doors/windows.
4. Myrrh: Deep Grounding
Where frankincense feels airy and uplifting, myrrh incense carries a rich, earthy depth. Across many traditions, myrrh has been used for purification, healing, and spiritual protection. Its grounding aroma makes it a trusted choice when you want an incense to clear negative energy that feels steady and supportive.
How to use myrrh incense for grounding and release:
- Light a myrrh stick, cone, or resin on charcoal in a safe burner.
- Sit nearby and place your feet firmly on the ground.
- As the smoke curls upward, breathe gently and imagine roots growing from your feet into the earth.
- With each exhale, picture heavy or unwanted energy leaving your body and dissolving into the earth, where it can be transformed.
This simple practice works almost like a spell to banish negative energy from the body. It not only clears the atmosphere around you but also helps your nervous system find steadiness, like leaning back into solid ground.
Best for: settling the nervous system, grief work, and releasing heaviness from the body.
5. Cedar or Sandalwood: Creating Sacred Space
Both cedar and sandalwood have warm, calming scents that many people use when they want to make their surroundings feel safe and grounded. Burning these woods as incense is often seen as a way to create a sanctuary — a cleansing spell for negative energy that both clears away heaviness and welcomes in peace.
How to use cedar or sandalwood incense for protection:
- Light a stick or cone and allow the smoke to rise steadily.
- Walk slowly around the edges of your room or home, letting the fragrance settle into corners and doorways.
- As you move, you might whisper: “This home is filled with calm, light, and protection. All negative energy is released.”
- When you finish, leave the incense to burn out safely in a holder, or gently snuff it if you feel complete.
This practice can act as an incense spell to get rid of negative energy in your house — turning your living space into a place that feels like a true refuge.
Best for: making a calm, safe sanctuary; evening wind-down and bedtime protection rituals.
🌿 Pro Tips for Burning Incense to Remove Negative Energy
- Crack a window so the smoke—and the heaviness—has somewhere to go.
- Less is more: one stick can be a powerful cleansing spell for negative energy.
- If smoke feels strong, burn incense near a doorway and stand a few steps back.
- Move slowly: let the smoke linger in corners, around doorways, and by windows.
- Pair with grounding: a few slow breaths or a hand on the heart/body helps release.
- Layer support: add crystals for home and protection at entryways.
How to Use Incense to Get Rid of Negative Energy in Your Home
Sometimes the atmosphere in a room feels heavy — like it’s carrying the weight of arguments, stress, or past experiences. Burning incense to get rid of negative energy in the house can help shift that atmosphere and create a sense of freshness.
Here’s a gentle step-by-step way to try it:
- Open windows or doors so the smoke — and the energy you’re releasing — has somewhere to go.
- Light your chosen incense (sage, palo santo, frankincense, myrrh, or sandalwood) and place it in a heat-safe holder.
- Move slowly through each room. Let the smoke drift into corners, closets, and around doorways where stagnant energy often lingers.
- Set an intention as you walk: “I clear this space of all negative energy and invite in calm and harmony.”
- When finished, allow the incense to burn out naturally, or gently snuff it if you feel complete.
You can also pair this ritual with other practices — such as sprinkling salt around entryways or placing crystals for home and protection in each room — to deepen the sense of safety and renewal.
This simple incense ritual to clear negative energy can be repeated whenever your home feels unsettled, after guests leave, or as part of your regular cleansing routine.
Incense for the Body & Mind
Negative energy doesn’t only linger in spaces — it can settle in our bodies and nervous systems too. When stress, tension, or unspoken emotions build up, lighting incense can become a gentle way to mark a pause, breathe, and soften. Many people turn to incense for cleansing negative energy when they want to feel calmer inside.
A simple body-clearing ritual:
- Choose a soothing scent such as sandalwood or frankincense.
- Light the incense and sit comfortably with it nearby, making sure there’s good airflow.
- Close your eyes and breathe slowly, allowing the rising smoke to remind you to release heaviness with each exhale.
- If you like, move the incense stick in a slow circle around your body, imagining the smoke dissolving tension, fear, or lingering energy.
This practice can serve as a spell to get rid of bad energy from your body, while also giving your nervous system a moment of rest. For more support, you might combine it with the grounding practices in how to remove negative energy from the body.
When to Burn Incense for Energy Clearing
You don’t need to wait for a special occasion to use incense to remove negative energy. These rituals can be woven into everyday life whenever you feel the weight of heaviness around you. Some gentle times to try include:
- After conflict or tension. If an argument or stressful moment has left the air feeling thick, a cleansing spell for negative energy with incense can help restore calm.
- When moving into a new home. Burning incense to get rid of negative energy in the house is a common practice to clear out any lingering vibrations from previous occupants.
- After illness or fatigue. A simple incense ritual can mark a reset, symbolically clearing away stagnant energy so your body and mind can feel refreshed.
- Following deep release work. If you’ve practiced a cord burning ritual or a spell to get rid of negative energy, incense can be used afterward to seal the process with light and protection.
- As a weekly practice. Many sensitive souls like to burn incense for protection and cleansing at regular intervals, such as during a Sunday reset or before meditation.
Trust your own rhythm — your body often knows when it’s time for a gentle clearing.
🌿 FAQs About Incense to Remove Negative Energy
What is the best incense to remove negative energy?
Common favorites include sage incense, palo santo, frankincense, myrrh, and sandalwood. Each has a unique scent and tradition behind it, so the best incense to remove negative energy is often the one that feels most supportive to you and your space.
Can incense really get rid of negative energy?
Incense has been used for centuries in cleansing and protection rituals. The smoke itself can shift how a room feels, but the true power comes from your intention. When you light incense for cleansing negative energy, you’re creating a ritual of release that your body and mind can sense and respond to.
How often should I burn incense for cleansing?
There’s no strict rule. Some people like a spell to banish negative energy after a stressful day, while others burn incense weekly as part of a regular clearing practice. Let your intuition and your environment guide you.
Is incense safe for sensitive people or pets?
Incense can sometimes be strong for sensitive lungs or animals. Always make sure there is good ventilation, and if smoke feels overwhelming, try crystals for home and protection or other gentle rituals to release negative energy instead.
Can I combine incense with other cleansing spells?
Absolutely. Many people pair incense to clear negative energy with salt rituals, candle spells, or a cord burning ritual. Combining practices can create a fuller sense of release and protection — just choose what feels comfortable for you.
## Common Pitfalls When Using Incense to Remove Negative Energy – **Too much smoke.** A little goes a long way—heavy smoke can overwhelm sensitive lungs and pets. – **No ventilation.** Always open a window so both smoke and stagnant energy can move out. – **Unattended burning.** Keep incense in a heat-proof holder and never leave it burning alone. – **Rushing the walk-through.** Move slowly; let smoke drift into corners, closets, and near thresholds. – **Expecting dramatic signs.** An *incense spell to remove negative energy* works through presence and intention; trust the subtle shift. – **Ignoring your body.** If you feel tense or headachy, switch to milder scents, shorten sessions, or try non-smoke options (salt bowls, crystals, sound).
Closing & Gentle Reminder
Burning incense to remove negative energy can be a tender way to invite lightness back into your life. Whether you’re cleansing a room after a stressful day, creating a protective circle before rest, or simply sitting quietly with the smoke to ease your body, these rituals are about presence and intention more than perfection.
Trust what feels right for you — perhaps a single stick of sage is enough, or maybe you feel drawn to the grounding depth of myrrh. Each moment of pausing, breathing, and releasing is itself a ritual to let go of negative energy.
If you’d like to explore more gentle ways of clearing and protecting your energy, you may enjoy:
- How to Release Negative Energy — a full guide to body, emotional, and spiritual practices 🌿
- Spells to Get Rid of Negative Energy — simple rituals for letting go
- Crystals for Home and Protection — stones that support cleansing and safety
🤍 Unfold Consciously offers gentle reflections for personal growth and emotional support. This content is not medical or therapeutic advice.
Your unfolding is already underway — and it’s beautiful.