Smelling incense?

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Hello,
I googled catholic incense supernatural and found this site. I was recently brought back to the church by Jesus and the holy spirit. I have been a lay apostle (direction of our times) and a practicing catholic since Oct. This week I was in New Ulm, MN for business and went to adoration when I arrived on Mon evening. It was a very beautiful 100 year old church and I sat in the back. I was about to leave and someone up front started the rosery so I stayed. When I got to my hotel I noticed a strong incense odor in my room. I looked around, even opened the door to find out where it came from. Couldn’t find anything so I did not think much about it. I went to bed and woke up in the middle of the night and there was no odor. I did not have a meeting until 9 am so I went to service the next morning.
That same smell was in the church though much weaker. After reading your messages, I have no doubt about where the incense came from. Jesus spoke to me and told me that “You don’t have to understand what I do and you don’t have to like what I do. All you have to do is accept what I do.” I will take his advice. Don’t worry, be happy! (Jesus likes that song!) 🙂 🙂
 
Matthias123 said:
Praised be Jesus Christ!

For some time now I think I may have been smelling incense where there is no incense. Sometimes after I pray I can swear I can smell incense – this also happens during prayer. I can only smell it for a fraction of a second. However it is just long enough to get my attention. It feels like it is just on the tip of my nose. This sometimes happens when I am thinking of God throughout the day. It happened to me once as I was walking to mass.

I am probably just imagining it, or there may be some kind of natural explanation. (My body spray does smell kind of like incense, but I have smelt it while not wearing it.)

Or perhaps the incense from mass is getting stuck in my nose, and I am just smelling its residue.

I am an extremely credulous person, so I am always inclined to rule out all natural phenomenons.

Now I know there are countless reports of God actually making people smell things – which I believe are quite genuine. I know there are people that are close to Saint Theresa that wake ups smelling flowers. I also know some people smell flowers while in adoration where there are no flowers. (Attributed to the presence of Mary.)

But are there any reports of anyone smelling incense for no reason?

Yours in Christ,

Matthias
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This only happened to me one time. It was the first night of the cursillo I was working during the Stations of the Cross. It was very strong and others smelled it as well. Many of the ladies on that weekend smelled roses too, but I only smelled the incense.

Blessings,
MOJ
 
I realize this is an older thread but thank you for this

I have also smelled incense various times (without incense being present)

When I watched the Christmas Mass on T.V. with Pope Benedict XVI, he was carrying a thurible blessing with incense <—I smelled incense.

I have also smelled roses as well (without roses being present)

Shin and CNS- Beautiful thanks for sharing

There was a beautiful fragrance in the chapel on various occasions, once continuously for 17 days. · After the 17 days there was a terrible stench in the chapel, most particularly in the Confessional, and the sisters discerned that this was the stench of Sin.
from the book Our Lady of Akita <–My apologizes if this is inappropriate to post here.

God bless,
goforgoal
 
Hi!
Code: 
 I was looking through the internet to see if i could find somone else that was smelling incense. I ran across you. I have been smelling incense in my livingroom for about 2 months. It is happening almost on a daily basis. I am sure it is from God, only I would like to hear more about it from somone that is having the same experience. Any (name removed by moderator)ut that you could give, would be helpful.

                     Thanks,
                                 Possibilities
 
It COULD be a form of synaesthesia, where the words of the prayer triggered a smell sensation.

I
 
There are some forms of hallucination that can trigger smells which aren’t really there as well. However, this does seem harmless.
 
I am not sure about synaesthesia or the halluciniation thing. They probably account for many instances like this. Jesus and the Holy Spirit can do anything they want and if they are giving us a gift, who am I to say that is is not possible or likely. I personally am grateful for the instance where I received this gift.
“Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”
 
jima said:
I am not sure about synaesthesia or the halluciniation thing. They probably account for many instances like this. Jesus and the Holy Spirit can do anything they want and if they are giving us a gift, who am I to say that is is not possible or likely. I personally am grateful for the instance where I received this gift.
“Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”
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I agree with you that God can do those things if He wants to.
 
I want to thank you all for sharing here. I am so glad to have found I’m not the only one who has had this happen!

For me, so far the only time was last night. I was flipping through channels and ended up on Salt & Light. I was doing some stuff on my laptop at the same time. Mass was on, just in time for Communion. I stopped what I was doing on the laptop and just watched and prayed. At the end of the show, I felt this wonderful sense of love and peace. That was when I smelled the incense. A beautiful smell. Not overwhelming. But it stayed–yet only really when I looked toward the TV. I kept the TV on S&L and stayed in that state of love and peace. Every now and then, I would smell the incense again, but more faintly. I sniffed my bedding, my clothes, all kinds of things–nothing. I very rarely wear perfume. It didn’t smell like any of the after shave my husband wears nor his cologne. It smelled like incense. It faded away. I smelled it again faintly while getting ready for bed. I tried looking things up online last night and didn’t really find anything. Tried again this morning and found this thread.

I have not been particularly devoted to my prayer life and whatnot lately. This experience has rekindled my desire.
 
PraiseB2God said:
I want to thank you all for sharing here. I am so glad to have found I’m not the only one who has had this happen!

For me, so far the only time was last night. I was flipping through channels and ended up on Salt & Light. I was doing some stuff on my laptop at the same time. Mass was on, just in time for Communion. I stopped what I was doing on the laptop and just watched and prayed. At the end of the show, I felt this wonderful sense of love and peace. That was when I smelled the incense. A beautiful smell. Not overwhelming. But it stayed–yet only really when I looked toward the TV. I kept the TV on S&L and stayed in that state of love and peace. Every now and then, I would smell the incense again, but more faintly. I sniffed my bedding, my clothes, all kinds of things–nothing. I very rarely wear perfume. It didn’t smell like any of the after shave my husband wears nor his cologne. It smelled like incense. It faded away. I smelled it again faintly while getting ready for bed. I tried looking things up online last night and didn’t really find anything. Tried again this morning and found this thread.

I have not been particularly devoted to my prayer life and whatnot lately. This experience has rekindled my desire.
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God bless you for sharing this — I personally believe that God sends us signs, messages, and so forth just to let us know that He is still with us. This past Sunday “Gaudete Sunday” before Mass started I saw our parish Priest wearing the rose colored vestment and when I saw him – instantly I smelled roses. This past month, I have had plenty of wonderful experiences happen to me they could very well be just coincidences.

What is important is that this experience has rekindled your desire for your faith within God and your Prayer life and it is a great reminder for me too.

God bless,

goforgoal
 
PraiseB2God said:
I want to thank you all for sharing here. I am so glad to have found I’m not the only one who has had this happen!

For me, so far the only time was last night. I was flipping through channels and ended up on Salt & Light. I was doing some stuff on my laptop at the same time. Mass was on, just in time for Communion. I stopped what I was doing on the laptop and just watched and prayed. At the end of the show, I felt this wonderful sense of love and peace. That was when I smelled the incense. A beautiful smell. Not overwhelming. But it stayed–yet only really when I looked toward the TV. I kept the TV on S&L and stayed in that state of love and peace. Every now and then, I would smell the incense again, but more faintly. I sniffed my bedding, my clothes, all kinds of things–nothing. I very rarely wear perfume. It didn’t smell like any of the after shave my husband wears nor his cologne. It smelled like incense. It faded away. I smelled it again faintly while getting ready for bed. I tried looking things up online last night and didn’t really find anything. Tried again this morning and found this thread.

I have not been particularly devoted to my prayer life and whatnot lately. This experience has rekindled my desire.
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That is awesome! :D:p:thumbsup:
 
I smelled it again last night. I have to admit it got me second-guessing myself–I was in my room again. This time, though, I was looking up something about St. Francis de Sales and feeling a bit in the same state I had been the night before. A hint of the incense came again. I smelled everything around me that I could, feeling doubtful that it wasn’t something physical in the room. I tried to come up with rational reasons: scent packets in my dresser drawer (not the same smell); candles that were out waiting to be wrapped as a Christmas gift (not the same smell). It wasn’t as strong as Friday evening, but it was there. Mind you, my peaceful state wasn’t as intense, either. I don’t know if they’re connected or not. I just find myself very puzzled by the whole thing. I guess confused as to if it’s really incense I’m smelling (I don’t see how it couldn’t be, but the mind seeks to dispute what “can’t” be possible!) or if something else is going on.

Whatever it is, I have felt more connected with Christ these past couple of days than I have in a long time.
 
PraiseB2God said:
I smelled it again last night. I have to admit it got me second-guessing myself–I was in my room again. This time, though, I was looking up something about St. Francis de Sales and feeling a bit in the same state I had been the night before. A hint of the incense came again. I smelled everything around me that I could, feeling doubtful that it wasn’t something physical in the room. I tried to come up with rational reasons: scent packets in my dresser drawer (not the same smell); candles that were out waiting to be wrapped as a Christmas gift (not the same smell). It wasn’t as strong as Friday evening, but it was there. Mind you, my peaceful state wasn’t as intense, either. I don’t know if they’re connected or not. I just find myself very puzzled by the whole thing. I guess confused as to if it’s really incense I’m smelling (I don’t see how it couldn’t be, but the mind seeks to dispute what “can’t” be possible!) or if something else is going on.

Whatever it is, I have felt more connected with Christ these past couple of days than I have in a long time.
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God bless you for sharing this with all of us. One of St. Francis de Sales patronages is Confessors. Do you think perhaps St. Francis de Sales and Our Lord is trying to tell you something? ← I do apologize if I sound critical, judgemental, and negative in anyway and you’re revealing this is a great reminder (to me it is anyways) that we should always be connected with Christ.

St. Francis de Sales, Pray for us. Amen

saints.sqpn.com/saint-francis-de-sales/

God be with you,

goforgoal
 
I welcome all (name removed by moderator)ut! I am trying to really understand what is going on and the longer it goes on, the more confused I feel.

A brief recap: Friday night I was watching Mass, during Communion, I was going to pray the Act of Spiritual Communion, but they had a different prayer that captivated me. I ended up looking it up online while Mass was finishing. I do not know at which point I started smelling the incense; I only know it was near the end of the Mass or just after it. Preceding the smell of incense, I felt an intense joy and peace, of connection. I could still smell the incense on and off while I kept that channel on, and then again when I went into the bathroom to get ready for bed.

Yesterday, smelled it again in my bedroom, but while looking up St. Francis de Sales and his Introduction to the Devout Life. It was not as intense as Friday. Was it about St. Francis’s ties to Confessors? Was it about his book? Was it about the peace I was connecting with? Was my mind playing tricks on me? I don’t know. But that feeling of peace, of connection, is present in all incidents.

It happened again today. Part of me wants to experience the smell; another part of me kind of feels like my brain is making things up. It logically doesn’t make any sense.

I felt physically awful all morning, which meant missing Mass. I was going to attend a different parish today, one that is closer and that I felt I got more out of than our regular parish, but there was absolutely no way I could have gone. I spent hours curled up, with a headache and just feeling ill, and feeling sick to my stomach if I sat up. Is being too physically ill to be even able to sit up somehow related?? I had been feeling very tired yesterday.

I watched TV and stayed curled up, intermittently praying. After being led to drink some diluted juice and to eat some saltines, I felt somewhat better and was able to take care of some things while my husband took the children out for Christmas shopping before he had to meet up with people late afternoon. I eventually ended up back in bed. I decided to pray the Rosary. I got through the first decade and just felt the need to sleep. Put the Rosary on the dresser and slept a bit. I woke up, took up the Rosary again and as I was completing it–praying the Hail Holy Queen–I again entered a sort of state of peace. And I smelled that particular faint smell again. Not nearly as strong as Friday, to the point that I doubted it was incense. But I continued to just remain in that peaceful state, at first finishing off the final prayers of the Rosary, then just remaining in my bed, Rosary in my hands, wordlessly praying. I smelled the smell the entire time. Yet I hadn’t smelled it before falling asleep, nor upon waking, nor during most of the Rosary.

What does this all mean??? I’m afraid to actually speak to anybody about this. It just sounds so crazy. I even hesitated posting that there was yet another incident. I’ve never heard of anything like this before.

I guess I need to address this in my prayers. I feel very emotionally affected at the moment, but after a rough day, maybe I just need some sleep.
 
After a reasonably decent sleep and some prayer about this all, I’m emotionally much better. However, physically is another matter. I believe I have a sinus infection that has run amok. It is giving me a headache, making me feel dizzy and at times, sick to my stomach. Prayers would be appreciated from anybody who is reading this! I have much on my plate today and this whole week, as I imagine many do. And I can’t take sinus medications.

There has been no recurrence of the smell since yesterday afternoon. Which does seem to convince my mind that it isn’t something actually physical in my room since I would have smelled it upon going to be last night or while awake a while this morning.
 
Dear Friend,

I too have smelled “something”. But, I got nervous because I thought the house was burning. I love Jesus and God so much and with my whole being, but I always think I am not worthy of anything. And it is a very deep feeling I have.

Those who smell flowers and see flowers in their house are indeed spiritual and I commend you on that. My sister found a rose on her bureau the other day and I thought two ways about it. First, she said her friend had given her flowers, but my sister is not one to just “lay a rose” around willy nilly and not put in water." Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

I have question. Do you have to be open to such things? Thank you.

Oh and I wish I could hug you for having that experience for I truly think it’s real even though I still feel unworthy to experience those myself. And if I envy others who have those experiences, “Satan get behind me”!

Love ya’ll,
Sheila
 
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