I guess he might have missed your question. Short answer, there is not much difference in them. It is more of a preferences and ease/practicality. There are a few types of incenses, mainly being sticks, coils (Like mosquito coils), cones and some shapes like pagoda shapes (they are actually cones but people just make them into creative shapes). Most people uses the joss sticks as they will to "bai bai" (motion of lifting the joss stick over the head and then move down or bow) and some pray in their mind and stuff. This is the most practical ways and after that they can just stick it into a pot/vase of sand/ash and let it burn until the end. The cleaning person will just have to take out the end sticks that are not burn and discard them. This also enables people to lit them in a bunch easily.

Some people (like me) prefer cones. Just lit the head (the smaller part) and leave it to burn until finish. With this type you cannot "bai bai" and you need a special container for it as the "fire" will burn all the way to the end. If you leave it on the table or places with wood, it make a burnt mark at the end or worse, create fire. The coils is the same and requires special holder that props the coil up and you will have to clean it later. Some people prefer these coils if they "hang" them down on the ceiling. If you look at some temple, they hang the coils and lit them. Some says this will create a sacred space for the deities to work but I believe its mainly the practicality issues. You can't just hang a bunch of joss sticks on the ceiling and on big occasions, a lot of believer will come and if the temple keeper/guardian have to lit a bunch of joss sticks too and fight for space in the urn, its not practical. The act of burning joss sticks is "offering" to the deities. In this case, its the "smell" offering. What "type" or shape does not really matter but what you "offered", both the joss sticks and your heart/intention is what it matters.

Ok, i say in short there is no difference. But there are a few with differences but it might not be sintua but other paths. Some people use for certain "types" of ritual stuff like "smogging" where someone burnt some specific scent to "smoke" the parameter or place to cleanse or "halau" the evil stuff. In this case, either the "raw" ingredient (prefered) or cones will be used for "practicality". They are other occasions or rituals that require specific incense "flavour" but it is not Sintua already so it is outside the scope.

Now, as we covered the type of "incense" as in the forms, there is another another types of incense as in "flavour". It will be better explained if you look at "how" it is made. Most common incense is made of dried wood powder (sandal wood or agarwood). They are crushed into fine powder, with a mixture of other powder, wetted lightly and then pinched into shape and let dry. Some add resins and other dried flower petals and so on and so forth. You can add anything you wish and then make them into both cones or sticks as you like. You can get from the most basic types like the sandalwood/agarwood incense to complex flowery types of flavours. As i mention above, this is a "smell" offering to whoever you wish to give. In the same way, there is another method of making by using powdered resins (crushed) or dried flowers or plants origins and then mix with two other ingredients which helps it stick together and burn nicely. One of the two ingredients needed in this process is charcoal. This creates the black "finished looks" on the incense/cones. Last but not least, there is also another type called "dipped" incense where "original" incense stick was made (cut by manufacturer) and then we dip them into "oils" we want and let the fragrance oil sipped in and then dried them for a few weeks. This is the 3 main ways it is made and of cause they might be others (i dont think i am aware of others at this point) and that is the difference in "flavour". In sintua, does it makes a difference? I do not think so. An offering is just an offering. It is more practicality to me than anything else.

I just type this off on top of my head and in a short time so i might have missed a point or two. Please correct me if i am wrong and tell me if i missed any points *runs and hides from TS*

Ah, I knew i forget some points. Some deities are said to prefer certain scents but it is not essential. An offering is still an offering and as I mentioned, what you give as in your intention/heart when giving is more important than what you give as in material. Of course this is up for debates as some practitioners will say there are no such things and some will argue they were "told" or "feel" certain deities prefer certain things. This one is really up for debates.