There's a particular moment when a backflow burner is working properly and the smoke starts spilling down through it.
It looks almost like water.
Then there's the other version: you light the cone, wait, and watch a tiny thread of smoke disappear straight into the ceiling.
If that's happening to you, don't assume the burner is broken. Most of the time, the problem is much simpler. It's the cone, the way it's sitting, a draught, or a little bit of resin blocking the hole.
Most of these things take a couple of minutes to sort out.
First, what is it doing?
Before taking the burner apart or throwing the cones away, have a look at the symptom.
| What you're seeing | Usually means | Try this |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke goes straight up | Wrong cone or poor alignment | Check that it's a backflow cone and line up the hole underneath |
| Nothing happens | It hasn't burned far enough yet | Give it 2–5 minutes |
| Smoke falls, then blows sideways | There's a draught | Shut windows and move it away from fans and radiators |
| Very thin waterfall | Damp or poor-quality cone | Try a fresh, dry cone |
| Smoke comes out of the top | The burner's hole is blocked | Clean it with a pipe cleaner |
| The smell is unpleasant or burnt | Dirty burner or simply the nature of backflow | Clean the burner, or use a normal incense stick when fragrance matters more |
If you're getting some backflow but it's weak, that's actually useful information. It means the basic setup is working. You're usually looking for a cone or airflow problem rather than a faulty burner.
How backflow incense works
The cones aren't quite the same as ordinary incense cones.
A backflow cone has a small hole in the bottom and a hollow channel running up through its centre. When the cone has burned far enough, smoke travels down through that channel and comes out underneath.
The smoke has cooled by the time it reaches the bottom. Because of the way the cooled smoke behaves in the surrounding air, it can settle and flow down through the channels in the burner.
That's the “waterfall” you're seeing.
So there's no special mechanism hidden inside the burner. The cone is doing a lot of the work.
And that's why choosing the right cone matters so much.
1. You're using ordinary incense cones
This is the first thing we'd check.
A normal incense cone doesn't have the hole and internal channel needed for backflow. Light one on a backflow burner and the smoke will simply rise.
Turn your cone over.
A backflow cone has a small hole in the base.
If the bottom is solid, you've got a normal cone.
The two aren't interchangeable. A backflow cone will burn perfectly well as ordinary incense, but a standard cone won't suddenly start producing a waterfall because you've put it on a backflow burner.
If you need some proper backflow cones, the 42g Golden Nag Chandan cones are £1.95.
Golden Nag Chandan Backflow Cones — £1.95
A good inexpensive place to start if you've just bought your first burner and aren't sure which cones you need.
If you need some proper backflow cones, our Plant-Based Backflow Cones start at £1.99.
Plant-Based Backflow Cones, from £1.99
Look at the top of your burner. There's usually a small hole or channel where the cone sits.
The hole in the bottom of the cone needs to line up with it.
If the cone is sitting off-centre, tilted, or isn't sitting properly in its little holder, smoke can escape upwards instead of travelling through the burner.
Take it off, let everything cool if necessary, and put it back so it's sitting flat and centrally.
You don't need to press it down hard. Just make sure the two holes meet.
3. You've given up too soon
Backflow cones don't immediately produce their waterfall.
The tip has to burn down far enough for the smoke to reach the internal channel. Depending on the cone, that can take a few minutes.
So if you've just lit it and nothing has happened after 60 seconds, don't panic.
Give it two to five minutes.
Once the smoke starts coming out of the bottom, it can take another little while for it to settle into the burner and start flowing properly.
4. There's a draught in the room
This is probably the most common problem after the cone itself.
The falling smoke is very easily disturbed. You might not notice the airflow at all, but the smoke will.
Try the obvious things first:
- Close nearby windows.
- Turn off fans.
- Move the burner away from air-conditioning vents.
- Keep it away from radiators and other sources of rising warm air.
- Don't put it directly beside a doorway.
Watch what the smoke does.
If it starts falling nicely and then suddenly drifts off to one side, you've almost certainly got moving air interfering with it.
This is also why a backflow burner that works beautifully one evening can seem completely useless the next. Nothing has necessarily changed with the burner. The room has.
If your house is particularly draughty, a burner with some protection around the falling smoke can help. The Dragon Waterfall further down the page is designed with a glass tube around the effect.
5. The cones have picked up moisture
Incense cones don't particularly like damp storage.
If you've left an open packet in a humid room for weeks or months, the cones can absorb moisture from the air. They may still light, but they might burn differently and produce a weaker backflow effect.
British kitchens and bathrooms aren't ideal places to store incense for exactly this reason.
Keep your cones somewhere dry and preferably in a sealed bag or container once the packet has been opened.
If a cone feels noticeably soft or damp, give it some time somewhere warm and dry. Don't put it directly on a radiator, though. You don't want to overheat or scorch incense just to dry it out.
The small 10-cone masala packs are useful if you don't burn incense very often. You can finish a small packet before it's had much chance to sit around.
Masala Backflow Incense — £1.50
Sandalwood and vanilla, with 10 cones in the pack.
6. The hole in the burner is blocked
This is one to check if your burner used to work and has gradually become worse.
Backflow smoke contains condensed fragrance oils and resins. Some of that eventually settles inside the burner. That's why you can get those brown, sticky marks around the channels.
Over time, some of the residue can build up inside the small hole where the smoke is meant to travel.
Wait until the burner is completely cold, then use a pipe cleaner, narrow brush or similar soft cleaning tool to clear the hole.
You don't need to attack it with a screwdriver or anything sharp. You're just trying to remove the build-up.
It can be quite surprising how much residue comes out of a burner that looks clean from the outside.
7. The cones aren't very good
Not all backflow cones are equal.
This is particularly worth remembering if you're using the handful of cones that came free with your burner.
Some cheap cones burn unevenly. Some produce very little smoke. Others can be inconsistent from one cone to the next.
If your burner works with one packet and barely works with another, you've already found your answer.
There's no need to replace the burner.
A few inexpensive options we sell include:
Biofresh Backflow Cones — £5 for 40
A charcoal-free option and a good everyday cone if you want to experiment with different scents.
Aromatica Nag Champa — £1.65
A classic Nag Champa fragrance made with herbs, oils and resins.
Tribal Soul White Sage — £1.80
A more herbal, cleaner-smelling option if sweet incense isn't really your thing.
Two more we would put in the same bracket: the plant-based Californian white sage cones (£1.99) and the plant-based apple and cinnamon cones (£2.99).
How to light a backflow cone
There's not much to it, but the way you light the cone does make a difference.
- Put the cone somewhere safe and hold it by the base.
- Light the tip.
- Let the flame burn for a few seconds until you can see that the cone has properly caught.
- Blow out the flame. You want the cone smouldering, not burning with a flame.
- Put it onto the burner and make sure the hole underneath is lined up.
- Leave it alone for a few minutes.
Don't keep relighting it every 30 seconds because you haven't seen the waterfall yet. Give it time.
If the ember keeps going out, particularly before any backflow starts, try a fresh cone. Damp incense is often the culprit.
How long should a backflow cone last?
Most standard backflow cones burn for roughly 15–20 minutes, although it varies between brands and sizes.
The waterfall doesn't necessarily last for the entire burn. It starts once the burn reaches the internal channel and usually becomes less pronounced towards the end.
If you want something longer, our assorted long backflow cones burn for around 30 minutes and cost £5.95 for a box.
Long Backflow Incense Cones — £5.95
Assorted fragrances with an advertised burning time of around 30 minutes per cone.
What if I need to put it out?
If you can, the simplest option is to let the cone finish burning naturally.
If you need to stop it early, use tongs to move it onto a suitable heatproof surface and extinguish the glowing end.
The important bit is don't pour cold water into a hot ceramic burner.
The sudden temperature change can crack the ceramic, and you'll then have a much bigger problem than a cone that won't backflow.
Let the burner cool naturally.
One thing about backflow incense that doesn't get mentioned enough
Here's the slightly unromantic bit.
Backflow incense isn't usually the best choice if your main priority is fragrance.
The smoke is deliberately cooled and directed down through the burner. Some of the oils and resins end up condensing inside the burner, which is why it develops that sticky brown residue.
The scent can therefore come across differently from the same fragrance burned as a standard incense cone or stick. You may notice more of the smoky or burnt side of the incense and less of the fragrance itself.
That's not necessarily a fault with the cone.
It's part of what you're asking the incense to do.
We'd think of a backflow burner as something to watch as much as something to smell. On a quiet evening, with the lights down, watching the smoke roll through a good burner is genuinely lovely.
If you mainly want your room to smell good, we'd use a good masala incense stick instead and keep the backflow burner for when you want the visual effect. We've explained the differences between masala, dipped and resin incense and incense sticks and cones.
Plant-Based Masala Incense Sticks — £1.65
Sandalwood, and a better option when fragrance is more important than the waterfall.
Choosing a backflow burner
Once you've got the right cones and a reasonably still room, most backflow burners will do the job.
The choice then comes down to what you actually want it to look like.
Some give you a long drop. Some let the smoke collect in a pool. Others are more decorative and make the burner itself the main feature.
Mountain Scape — £21.99
If you've never tried backflow incense before, this is where we'd start.
The smoke falls down the face of the mountain, so the effect is obvious from across the room — which is rather the point. See the Mountain Scape burner.
Dragon in Pool — £23.99
A dragon lying along a shallow ceramic pool, around 24 cm end to end.
See the Dragon in Pool burner. The smoke comes down through the dragon, fills the channel and travels the whole length of the body. Shorter burners never quite manage that — the smoke runs out before it reaches the end. The dark glaze also makes the white smoke particularly easy to see.
Serene Oval Cascade — £12
Around 18 cm tall, with a simple oval shape.
If you're not a fan of dragons, skulls and elaborate fantasy designs, this is much more understated. It looks closer to a piece of pottery than a traditional incense ornament.
Lotus Pond — £8.50
A useful option if you burn both sticks and cones.
It has a backflow cone holder as well as a holder for standard incense sticks, so you don't need two separate burners.
Skull in Hand — £19
This one's for someone who likes their décor a little darker.
The smoke falls through the skull and collects in the hand below. It's not subtle, but that's rather the point.
For more ideas along the same lines, our witchy gift guide is worth a look.
Mountain Scape — £21.99
A wide ceramic dish with a range of little peaks cast into it. The cone sits on the tallest one and the smoke runs down the slopes, pools in the valleys and spills over the rim, so you get the falling effect spread across the whole piece rather than down a single drop.
It is a good choice if you want something that still looks like an object when nothing is burning. See the Mountain Scape burner.
Small Mango Wood Tree of Life — £18
If ceramic isn't your thing, this carved mango wood burner is warmer and more natural-looking.
It needs slightly different care from a ceramic burner, though. Don't soak it or scrub it aggressively. A dry or barely damp cloth is enough for routine cleaning.
It is also available in larger sizes.
If you want to spend more
The more expensive burners aren't necessarily better at making smoke flow. You're mainly paying for a larger design, more detail and a bigger visual effect.
A larger burner can, however, give the smoke a longer distance to travel and a larger area for it to collect.
Dolphin Wave — £32
Three dolphins around a curling ceramic wave, approximately 15 × 13 cm.
The smoke travels through the wave and gives the impression of moving water. A good choice for someone who loves the sea.
Dragon Waterfall — £27.50
This is the one we'd consider if you've got a particularly draughty room.
The dragon sits inside a clear glass tube around 22 cm tall, which helps protect the falling smoke from air movement.
It won't make a windy room completely still, but it gives the smoke a much better chance of falling properly.
Zen Circle of Life — £27
A ceramic ring with several little shelves inside it. Smoke moves from one level to the next before collecting in the bowl at the bottom.
It's a quieter design than some of the more elaborate burners and suits a meditation space or a fairly minimal room.
Large Mango Wood Ohm — £30
A carved mango wood burner, around 22 cm across, with an Om design.
It's more of a centrepiece than a small ornament and has the warmer appearance you get from natural wood.
As with the smaller wooden burner, keep it dry and clean it gently.
Large Dragon Pool — £23
The larger version of the £10 dragon.
It's around 20 cm tall and weighs approximately 850g, with a wide pool underneath for the smoke to collect in.
If you like the dragon design but want something with a little more presence, this is the one.
Where should you put a backflow burner?
This matters more than people expect.
Choose somewhere with very little air movement.
A shelf away from an open window is better than a windowsill beside a window. A quiet corner is better than somewhere people are constantly walking past.
Also keep it:
- On a stable, heat-resistant surface.
- Away from curtains and other flammable materials.
- Away from pets and young children.
- Away from shelves or objects directly above it.
- Away from smoke alarms where possible, while still following your home's fire-safety requirements.
Don't forget that although the smoke is travelling downwards, it is still smoke.
And backflow resin can mark furniture. A tile, coaster or small tray underneath the burner is a cheap bit of insurance, particularly on polished or varnished furniture.
You'll also see the effect much better if the burner is around eye level or slightly below rather than hidden on top of a tall bookcase.
Cleaning a backflow burner
That brown residue isn't unusual. It's one of the unavoidable side effects of backflow incense.
You don't need to clean the burner after every cone, but once you notice the channels becoming sticky or the smoke isn't travelling as well as it used to, it's time.
Ceramic burners
Wait until the burner is completely cool.
Remove any ash and leftover cone material, then wash the burner with warm soapy water. An old toothbrush is useful for getting into the channels.
Clear the small smoke hole with a pipe cleaner.
If there's stubborn resin on glazed ceramic, a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton bud can help, but use it carefully and avoid it on painted or delicate finishes.
Most importantly, let the burner dry completely before using it again.
A wet channel isn't going to give you a convincing waterfall.
Wooden burners
Don't soak them.
Brush away the ash and wipe the surface and channels with a dry or barely damp cloth. A pipe cleaner can be used to clear the smoke hole.
Be more cautious with alcohol on wooden, painted or coated burners because it can affect the finish.
A few safety basics
Incense is still burning material, even when the smoke is doing something pretty.
- Never leave a burning cone unattended.
- Keep the burner somewhere stable where it can't easily be knocked over.
- Keep it away from children and pets.
- Keep it away from curtains, paper and other flammable materials.
- Let the burner cool before moving or cleaning it.
- Make sure the room has reasonable ventilation after burning incense.
Backflow burner FAQs
Why is my backflow smoke going upwards?
First check the cone.
Turn it over and make sure there's a hole in the bottom. If there is, make sure that hole is lined up with the hole in the burner.
If both are correct, look for a draught and give the cone a few minutes to reach the internal channel.
Can I use normal incense cones in a backflow burner?
You can burn them, but you won't get the backflow effect.
Normal cones don't have the internal channel required to direct the smoke underneath.
Why does my backflow cone take so long to start?
The cone needs to burn down to the internal channel before the smoke can be directed through the bottom.
Two to five minutes isn't unusual.
Why does my waterfall start well and then disappear?
Check the room first. A change in airflow can be enough to disturb the smoke.
If it happens consistently with every cone, clean the burner and check that the smoke hole isn't becoming blocked with resin.
Why does my backflow incense smell burnt?
Some of that is simply the nature of backflow incense.
The smoke is being cooled and redirected, and some fragrance material condenses inside the burner. The result can smell smokier than the same fragrance burned normally.
Cleaning the burner and trying a different cone can help.
If you care more about fragrance than the visual effect, use a good incense stick instead.
Why is smoke coming out of the top of my burner?
The internal hole is probably blocked or partially blocked.
Wait for the burner to cool completely, then clear it with a pipe cleaner or narrow brush.
How long does a backflow cone last?
Most standard cones burn for around 15–20 minutes. Larger or specially made cones can last around 30 minutes.
Can I leave a backflow burner burning while I go out?
No.
Treat it like any other burning incense or candle. If you're leaving the room or going out, put it out first.
A backflow burner is one of those things that's easier to understand once you've seen a good one working. Get the right cones, line up the holes, find a still corner and give it a few minutes.
If it still refuses to cooperate, clean the burner before buying a new one.
And if you've tried all of that and still aren't getting much of a waterfall, try another packet of cones. Nine times out of ten, that's where we'd look next.
If you're buying cones as well as a burner, you can browse our backflow incense cones here.
