FAQ

Hourstick is incense calibrated to keep time. Every stick is batch-tested to burn for a consistent 25 or 50 minutes — the length of one deep-work session. Light one, put your phone in another room, and work until the ember reaches its end. The stick is the timer; no screen, no alarm, no app.

Each box contains 20 incense sticks, a weighted ceramic holder, and a ritual card with the three steps of the practice — packed in a recyclable molded-pulp box with paper shred cushioning. Everything you need for your first session is included; you only add a match.

Three steps. Light one: hold a flame to the tip for 2–3 seconds, then gently blow it out so the ember glows. Begin: place the stick in its holder, put your phone out of reach, and start your single task. Then rest: when the stick ends, so does the session — stand up, stretch, take your break. One stick. One task. Then rest.

They're the two most-used units of deep work — one short sprint, one full block. The idea is older than it sounds: Song-dynasty scholars and monks measured sittings by yi zhu xiang — "one stick of incense" — incense made to burn at a known, steady rate. We rebuilt that instrument around the modern working day. Each stick is calibrated to ±3 minutes.

Match the stick to the moment of your day: First Ink (25 min, bergamot · yuzu · mint) for the morning start; Scholar's Sandalwood (50 min, aged sandalwood · cedar) for the deep-work block; Second Wind (25 min, ginger · green tea) for the afternoon reset; Quiet Page (50 min, hinoki · white musk) for evening study; Last Light (25 min, lavender · vetiver) to shut the day down. If you only pick one, most people start with First Ink.

Hourstick is tuned for desk distance, not for perfuming a house. The scent is designed to sit quietly within arm's reach — present enough that your brain learns "this smell means work," soft enough that it never becomes the distraction. If you're used to temple-style incense, expect something noticeably gentler.

Solid extruded sticks of aromatic wood powders and plant-based binders — no bamboo core, no charcoal powder, no combustion accelerants. The bamboo-free build is why the burn is slow, even, and low-smoke, and why the stick can keep time in the first place.

Always use the included holder (or another heat-resistant one) on a stable, heat-safe surface. Keep the burning stick away from curtains, papers, and anything flammable; keep it out of reach of children and pets; crack a window for airflow. Never leave a burning stick unattended — if you step away, put it out. Make sure the ember is fully out before discarding ash.

Hourstick's low-smoke formula was engineered for exactly that — regular use at a desk in a normal room. We still recommend reasonable ventilation. If you're pregnant, have asthma or another respiratory condition, or share the space with someone who does, talk to your doctor first and use your judgment.

Yes. Press the ember gently into the holder's dish or a ceramic surface until it's fully out, and relight the stick next session. (Though we'd argue the whole point is to stay until it ends.)

Let it cool completely, then sweep it into the trash — or into your plants; wood ash is inert. The molded-pulp box and paper shred are curbside-recyclable or compostable.

We currently ship within the United States. Join the newsletter and we'll let you know when international shipping opens.

Orders are packed within 1–2 business days and typically arrive 2–5 business days after they ship. You'll get a tracking link by email the moment your box is on its way. Full details are in our Shipping & Returns policy.

If your order hasn't shipped yet, we can usually fix it. Email focusincense@hourstick.com with your order number as soon as possible — within 2 hours of ordering is safest.

Unopened boxes can be returned within 15 days of delivery for a full refund. Opened a box, burned a few sticks, and it's not for you? Email us anyway — we'll make it right with an exchange or store credit. Start any return at focusincense@hourstick.com with your order number.

We're sorry — send a photo of the box and contents to focusincense@hourstick.com within 7 days of delivery and we'll ship a free replacement. No need to mail anything back.

Yes — we love working with studios, bookshops, coffee shops, and focus-minded spaces. Write to focusincense@hourstick.com with "Wholesale" in the subject line.