Censer

A vessel designed to burn incense, releasing fragrant smoke. Some censers are suspended from chains and swung during religious ceremonies.

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Incense: Aromatic material burned to release fragrant smoke. Censers hold the material whose combustion produces their smoke.
Christian liturgy: The established forms of public worship in Christian traditions. Censers release incense during processions, prayers, and other liturgical actions.
Frankincense: An aromatic gum resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia. Its trade helped sustain ancient demand for vessels that could burn costly aromatics.
Combustion: A chemical reaction in which a fuel reacts with an oxidant, releasing heat and often light. A censer’s contents rely on combustion or smoldering to release aromatic smoke.
Charcoal: A carbon-rich fuel made by heating wood or other organic matter with limited oxygen. Burning charcoal commonly supplies the heat that releases incense fragrance.
Eastern Orthodox Church: A communion of Christian churches sharing Orthodox doctrine, worship, and tradition. Its services use a hand-held censer to incense people and sacred objects.
Myrrh: An aromatic gum resin from trees of the genus Commiphora. It was burned as incense in ancient religious and funerary practices.
Perfume: A fragrant substance used to give a pleasant scent to people, objects, or spaces. Incense serves as a solid or resinous source of fragrance when burned.
Resin: A sticky substance produced by plants, often hardened into aromatic solids. Frankincense and other resins can be placed on heat inside a censer.
Roman Catholic Church: The largest Christian church, headed by the bishop of Rome. Its liturgy includes the use of a chained thurible at solemn ceremonies.