In the realm of spirituality, incense is a tool used for cleansing the energy in a space, according to Lala Lopez, the owner of Mothball Memoirs. Within some cultures, it plays a significant role in ceremonies and traditions. For example, burning incense in tombs to worship the gods was fundamental in ancient Egypt. Greeks and Romans used it to repel demons and evil spirits. Eastern religions often use it as a way of honoring ancestors. Ms. Park points out that incense was “historically used as a measurement of time.”

“It’s about not just the ritual of lighting incense, but it’s the whole sensory experience,” said Ms. Lopez, who views goods like Teomati and Espiritus del Ande as tools that should be treated with great reverence. Plant-based incense, which contains dried woods, herbs, spices, resins, and barks, is a fundamental part of her lifestyle. She said she uses it to “clear the energy” in her home, on new items that she buys online, when she gets back from seeing people and even when she wants to change her own negative feelings.

Mothball Memoirs’ sales tripled when quarantine started in mid-March through the end of June, based on the same time period last year. Ms. Lopez believes this has something to do with the psychology behind the buying and the need for balance, peace, and comfort in her customer’s homes. Many of her customers have also requested care packages with handwritten notes, sometimes even to themselves.

“You’ve had the spike of the ideas of spirituality becoming mainstream and sexy, and all of these things becoming commodified into big business,” Ms. Lopez said. “When you strip back all of those layers, what’s really there is people wanting to take care of themselves and paying more attention to how they’re doing all the things.”

Is incense good for us?

Health concerns arise when incense is made out of synthetic ingredients because it pollutes the air when burned and inhaling these toxins is bad for the respiratory system according to Dr. Allen Dozor, a professor of clinical public health and chief of the Pulmonology, Allergy and Sleep Medicine division at New York Medical College.