Incense

Cored stick:

This form of stick incense has a supporting core of bamboo.  Higher quality varieties of this form have fragrant sandalwood cores.

The core is coated by a thick layer of incense material that burns away with the core. This type of incense is commonly produced in India and China. When used for worship in Chinese folk religion, cored incensed sticks are sometimes known as Joss sticks.

Solid stick:

This stick incense has no supporting core and is completely made of incense material. Easily broken into pieces, it allows one to determine the specific amount of incense they wish to burn. This is the most commonly produced form of incense in Japan and Tibet.