If you’re a fan of the smell of incense but don’t want to use traditional stick or cone incense, then you should try using powder incense. This is a great way to add fragrance to your home and help with relaxing your mind, relieving stress and repelling insects!
To begin, take a heat-safe dish and place a candle in it. Let the candle burn for a few minutes until it creates a pool of melted wax.
Burning with a Candle
Since antiquity, incense has been used to create a fragrant environment. Its pleasant aroma relieves stress, induces relaxation and enhances meditation and mindfulness practices. The smoke it emits also purifies the air and eliminates negative energy.
It’s important to always use caution with any type of fire. Make sure your work area is well-ventilated and never leave burning incense unattended. Using metal tongs to handle hot charcoal is recommended.
A charcoal burner or urn, a bowl or plate that can withstand heat, and sand are needed to keep your powder incense safe from catching on fire. Alternatively, you can use an electric incense burner.
Add a little vegetable oil to the charcoal before you begin. Vegetable oil has a very light fragrance that won’t interfere with the incense scent. Avoid thick oils, like olive or sunflower seed oil, that will add a stronger fragrance to the smoke. You’ll want to experiment with different oil types until you find one you prefer.
Burning with a Charcoal Briquette
This method involves placing powder incense on a charcoal briquette that is then set on top of a heat proof bowl (like a thurible). The briquette will produce a lot of heat, so you need to use it on a surface that can withstand the heat.
Light the end of an incense stick, and let it burn down to a red ember before applying the incense powder. You can also use a fragranced tea light, but make sure that the scent doesn’t compete too much with the resin. Vegetable oil is a good choice, as it has little to no fragrance.
Place the ember-covered charcoal tablet on the sand/gravel. It should start burning and turn a light gray color. Once it’s ready, you can add incense powder or resins. The scents will rise through the smoke, and the resins will release their essential oils. It’s an elegant way to enjoy the natural aromas of these fragrant resins and herbs!
Burning with an Electric Burner
When burning powder incense, the charcoal can produce a lot of smoke that can be unpleasant for people who are sensitive. To combat this problem, you can use an electric burner that is designed specifically for the purpose. These are available in many different styles, and they are usually a little bigger than a thurible. Place the incense on top of the burner, and then light it.
Once the incense is fully lit, it will begin to burn and release its fragrance. It is important to avoid handling the hot charcoal with your hands, so a pair of metal tongs should be used instead. This is a simple and easy way to enjoy the benefits of powder incense, without the excessive smoke that can be produced when burning it with charcoal. It also allows you to create delicate ash patterns that are more beautiful than the traditional drippings that are left behind when using stick incense.
Burning Directly
If you prefer a traditional, low-tech approach to burning incense, powder incense is an option. You simply place a scoop or mound of the powder incense onto a piece of charcoal in a thurible and light it.
The incense will generate a light smoke, which then diffuses a fragrant fragrance into the air. This type of incense is usually used for prayer, spiritual purposes, scenting the air, driving away insects, purifying and more.
Incense is also believed to calm the mind and create a sense of peace. Biziou notes that certain scents, like rose and jasmine, have a natural aphrodisiac effect while cedar and vetiver help calm and ground the user.
Before using any incense, it is important to choose a high-quality product and read the directions carefully. Be sure to open a window during and after the incense is burned, as breathing in too much smoke can be dangerous for those with respiratory problems.