The incense burning of the Shino-ryu school is performed by placing the Koro in the left hand, placing your thumb on the edge, turning the Koro around counterclockwise, directing 'kikisuji' (a thick line made on the ash when shaping the ash; the direction of this line corresponds to the front face of Koro) drawn on the ash, toward the opposite side of the listener, placing your right hand in the shape of a tube on Koro, and listening to the incense by approximating your nose in the tube.
志野流香道では、左手の上に聞香炉をおき、親指を縁に掛け、香炉を反時計回りにまわして灰の上に記される「聞き筋」（灰の上には形作るときに一本太い筋が作られるが、これを聞き筋といい、この方向が香炉の正面に一致する）を自分とは反対の側へ向け、右手を筒のようにして香炉の上に覆い、その間に鼻を近づけて香を聞く、という作法がある。