Censer    

I shouldn't imagine that there is anyone alive who at some point in their life has come into contact with incense whether it be in the form of joss sticks or a incense in a burner or as it is called a censer. The ritual use of incense it to cleanse and purify your sacred space or your home to remove any negativity. Incense represents the element of Air, while the charcoal represents Fire. The combination of these two elements are used in the purification process of the circle. It is also used as part of the ritual itself and in spell working or invoking. It is used to heighten psychic awareness and to carry communications from the world of form to the ethereal realms. 

So what form do you envisage your sensor to take? A shell, a fire resistant bowl, mini-cauldron, or one of the common brass types? Entirely up to you but bare in mind that if you wish to carry your sensor around to smudge and cleanse then ensure that what ever you hold it by is heat resistant so you don't burn yourself or the surface you rest it on. If you are good with your hands, why not make a ceramic censer with patterns, sigils and symbols of your choosing? You can then fire it and glaze it and it will be empowered with your will. You could use sand or cat litter as insulation to prevent the bowl from cracking. Also, this helps the charcoal to burn evenly. 

I would advise you to buy quick lighting charcoal as it can be tedious waiting for the charcoal to be the right shade of grey! Also, cheaper charcoal can break up before you've even got it out the packet! The other thing you will want to invest in is a small pair of tongs to hold the charcoal as you light it as the stuff spits and gets hot very quickly.

Incense is quick and easy to make and the scents found in commercial incenses aren't always that fresh... you don't know how long they've been on the shelf. So why not have a go at making some yourself. Getting hold of most of ingredients is easy and relatively inexpensive. Why not give it a go?