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Incense
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How To Burn Incense
Enjoy your experience a little more
This has lead to many phone calls and emails, asking why the incense "does not work" "why it all smells the same" or why "it burns out in less than 5 minutes". These problems usually occur, because the person is unfamilliar with HOW to burn incense. Burning incense is VERY easy, if you will observe some basic rules for burning.
This page is dedicated to those of you, who would like to venture into the wonderful world of incense, but have been afraid to ask how or just did not know who to ask. We do not promise to provide all the answers, just some of the basics to help you to enjoy your experience a little more :)
Burn VS Smolder
Rather than use the phrase Burning Incense, you might think of Smoldering Incense. Smoldering is much more accurate and will produce much more enjoyable results. Most incense is ignited, then the fire is extinguished. This leads to smoldering, the actual"burn" of the incense.
ALWAYS use a heatproof container to burn your incense. Some incense can get VERY hot, hot enough to shatter a glass burner, or glass table top! Be sure your container will catch any falling ash and that the surface that your container will be sitting on is insulated from any heat. My favorite is a large ceramic bowl, filled with sand. The sand insulates the bowl and table surface from the heat of the incense.
NEVER leave your incense burning unattended. Pets and
Children can get curious and can knock over your incense,
possibly starting a fire or injuring themselves. An open window
with blowing drapes, too near your incense, can spell disaster.
ALWAYS keep your incense away from your pets, children,
draperies, or anything that might ignite because it comes into
contact with fire.
ALWAYS be sure that your incense is completely extinguished
before you dispose of the ashes. Ashes from charcoal, in
particular, can remain hot for many hours after the charcoal "burns out". This is a possibility for all types of incense. Make sure that your incense is cold to the touch, before disposing of the remains.
Want to know how to burn a particular incense? Then read on to learn more!
©Erin Gjertsen
Instructions-How To Burn Cone Incense
Take the cone and set it in a heatproof container with the point facing up. (Try to avoid glass, as the bottom of the cone can get pretty hot.)
Light the narrowest end of the cone incense with a match, or
candle. Let the fire burn for about 10 seconds, then blow out, or fan until the flame goes out. The end of the cone should burn hot red, but no fire.
The cone should begin to smolder, letting out a fragrant smoke.The cone must smolder, NOT flame, or you will only get a charcoal/fire type of fragrance.
This is the main reason people complain that the incense
smells bad, or only burns for 3 minutes! The fire MUST be out! If you let your cone incense smolder, your cone will probably burn like this, for 20-30 minutes. This will depend on the type of cone incense and the size.
If you want more smoke, you may light a few more cones, at the same time.
Known Issues For Cones-
If your cone incense goes out, it is usually because there is not enough oxygen to keep it burning. This will also depend on the quality of your incense and how much moisture the cones have been exposed to. Be sure to store your incense in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight.
If your cone incense burner has a lid, try removing that lid to give your cone more oxygen. This is especially true, if you live in a cooler climate and it is wintertime, some
cones will go out, if burned in covered containers during this
time.
Instructions-How To Burn Dhoop Incense
Dhoop incense comes in many sizes and shapes. Most will be in tubular format and many will come with their own aluminum burner, or will have a hole cut out in the box.
If the dhoop is hard and inflexible, just place it upright in a dhoop burner, or in a bowl of sand. Make sure your table top is protected from any lightweight aluminum burner (aluminum heats fast) that comes with the incense. If your dhoop comes with a burner cut out of the box, be VERY careful and do NOT leave it unattended! Great way to start a fire. :)
If your dhoop is soft and flexible, break off a piece, about an inch long. Roll this piece between your fingers, shaping it gradually into a cone shape.
When you have your dhoop ready to light, place it upright, into a heatproof burner and light with a match or candle. Let the fire burn for about 10-15 seconds, then blow out, or fan until the flame goes out. The end of the stick should burn hot red, but no fire.
Like all the other incense, the dhoop should begin to smolder,
letting out a fragrant smoke. The dhoop MUST smolder, or you will only get a charcoal/fire type of fragrance. This is the main reason people complain that the incense smells bad, or only burns for 3 minutes!
If you let your dhoop incense smolder, your cone will probably
burn like this, for about 30 minutes. This will depend on the type of dhoop incense and the size.
Issues with dhoop incense:
Many dhoop incense come in packages of 5 or 6 sticks
connected in a row, side by side, in the box. These need to be separated, before you burn them. Sometimes, they will break in the wrong places.
Don't Worry, if you break one in half, or have two halves stuck together. It is only incense, after all. Just place the unit, point up, in an open burner (like my bowl of sand) and they will burn quite nicely.
Instructions-How To Burn Stick Incense
Most stick incense is made of a combination of herbs, wood,
and/or oils, rolled onto a bamboo stick or wood punk.
The stick has a narrow end, and a thicker coated end.
To light your stick incense, place the wooden end into a heatproof holder. I use a bowl of sand and just place the stick right into the sand. This holds my stick upright, so the ashes fall right back into the container.
Light the coated end with a match or candle. Let the stick burn for about 10 seconds and blow or fan the flame out. If you still see a flame, you need to put it out. The incense must smolder, NOT burn, for you to get the proper fragrance. The end of the stick should burn hot red, but no fire.
The stick should begin to smolder, letting out a fragrant smoke. The stick MUST smolder, or you will only get a charcoal/fire type of fragrance. This is the main reason people complain that the incense smells bad, or only burns for 3 minutes! If you let your stick incense smolder, your stick will probably burn like this, for 30-45 minutes. This will depend on the type of stick incense and the size.
How To Use Charcoal
What is Charcoal?
Charcoal is necessary for burning smudge/herbs/resin incense. It usually comes in a foil wrapped tube of 5 or 10 disks. The disk has a concave indentation at the top to hold the resin. Self-Lighting Charcoal means that it will light with a single match. Regular Charcoal must be held over a flame for several minutes before it will light but Self-lighting, when touched with a match, begins to sparkle as it lights itself.
How To Use Charcoal
Remove tablet from sealed roll and place charcoal, the round side down in abalone shell, censer, or other "fire proof" dish. Light the edge of the tablet with a match or taper. Hold the match to the edge of the charcoal until it begins to sparkle. The sparkling will continue across the charcoal, otherwise use additional matches till it does. You may fan the tablet a little to get it good and hot. Once the tablet is lit, you may take a small amount (1/4 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon) of burning herbs or resins and pour onto the lit cake of charcoal. The incense will burn/melt and smoke releasing it's scent into the air. These will burn for several minutes and then you may add more. If the ashes start to give off an unpleasant odor, take a metal spoon or knife and scrape off any residue before adding more material. Tweasers work well for moving the tablet around INSIDE the censer.
The tablet should be left to burn out and cool in the censer. To extinguish a tablet before it has fully cooled quench in a container of cold water.
PLEASE NOTE-When the tablet is lit, do not handle it as it WILL cause a burn. Charcoal can burn at up to 1500 degrees F. and may burn up to an hour before burning out. Do not dispose of the ash remains in a waste paper bin as this may cause a fire. Do not hold the tablet in your hand when lighting or burning. This product ignites instantly.
Instructions-How To Burn Resin Incense
Resin incense usually comes in packets of small chunks, "tears" or powder.Resin Incense is burned over hot charcoal tablets or in a fire. These charcoal tablets can get up to 1500 degrees, so it is very important to learn about how to use them, as well. Once you have your charcoal tablet lit, just spoon or drop a 1/4 teaspoon or so of resin, onto the hot tablet. The resin will begin to melt and smolder.
This should last for about 5-10 minutes, depending on how much resin you used. Be careful not to put too much resin on the tablet, or you may smother the charcoal tablet, and will need to begin again.
An alternative that I particularly enjoy, is burning my pine resin on my barbecue, before we cook out. It gives out an aroma, like we are in the woods camping. I just love it! Some people will put a little resin on a log they are going to burn in the fire place. This is another great way to enjoy resin incense.
Still, by far, the most popular method is to burn over charcoal
tablets. ALWAYS make sure the tablet is extinguished, before disposing of it. For me, the safest way to get rid of my old charcoal is in my sink or toilet. No chance of a fire, in this way.
Instructions-How To Burn Herbal Incense
Herbal incense is burned the same way as the resin incense,
UNLESS it has a burning agent included in the incense. Thesetypes will usually say something like "match light" or give specific instructions for burning. What I am talking about, is burning dried herbs over charcoal.
Herbal Incense is burned over hot charcoal tablets or in a fire. These charcoal tablets can get up to 1500 degrees, so it is very important to learn about how to use them, as well.
Once you have your charcoal tablet lit, just spoon or drop a 1/4 teaspoon or so of herbs onto the hot tablet. The herbs will begin to burn and smolder. This should last for about 5-10 minutes, depending on how much you used.
Be careful not to put too much incense on the tablet, or you will smother the charcoal tablet, and will need to begin again.
An alternative that I particularly enjoy is burning my cherry wood, pine cones, or cedar on my barbecue, before we cook out. You could also put some herbal incense in your fireplace, but be aware that because these are herbs, they will not emit the same kind of smoke in a fire that they will if you wait until the fire has burned down to embers This is another great way to enjoy herbal incense!
Still, by far, the most popular method is to burn herbs over
charcoal tablets. ALWAYS make sure the tablet is extinguished, before disposing of it. For me, the safest way to get rid of my old charcoal is in my sink or toilet. No chance of a fire, in this way.
Complaint:
My incense all seems to smell the same!
All blended incense has some sort of base. Many use a hardwood, such as sandalwood, as the base fragrance. Other scents or herbs may be added, but the base fragrance will usually be the same for all fragrances made under a particular brand name.
In order to get the full aroma of your incense, it should smolder, NOT burn. If you burn your incense like a fire, right down to the bottom, it will burn in only a couple of minutes and you will only get a charcoaly smell of burning wood. It will ALL smell pretty much the same.
However, if you let it SMOLDER, you will get the full fragrance of the various herbs, woods, oils, and/or resins and it will be quite different, MUCH more pleasurable, and definitely burn longer.
Of course, you will always get a sense of whatever base is used. That is why many brands of incense smell similar, from scent to scent. A brand may the same wood base, with other top notes added for the different fragrances. So, if you are burning Rose, you will sense a similarity to the amber made by the same company.
Finally-The Last Word
This is NOT a course, in how to burn incense.
These are only basic guidlines. If you purchase an incense and it gives you instructions, naturally, use THOSE instructions. They have been designed by the manufacturer, who knows how to get the best enjoyment from that incense!
Use the brain that Spirit provided you. USE COMMON
SENSE! Don't burn incense while under the influence of mind
altering substances or when you are going to sleep. Don't use incense if you suffer from Asthma or other respiratory difficulty unless you check with your physician, first. Let some fresh
air into the space, where you are burning your incense. You need fresh air to breathe.
This is only intended to be a guide for general usage and is not intended to be an instructive course.
Also, this is not intended to answer ALL questions of fire safety. Ultimately, you are responsible for your own outcome, and for seeking proper safety advice. Please, check with your local fire department for any local fire regulations or safety tips on this subject.
Always remember: SAFETY FIRST!
As always, feel free to email, if you have further questions.
Have fun, & enjoy all the exotic scents of the wonderful
world of incense!
Love & Peace,
Erin Gjertsen
Used with permission
©Erin Gjertsen
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Online Catalogue
:
Incense, aromatherapy, soaps & massage
:
Incense
:
How To Burn Incense
