HOW TO USE OUR RESIN INCENSE & INCENSE BLENDS
Warnings
Always be cautious when using hot charcoal and do not produce large amounts of smoke around children & pets! Keep in mind that even natural products sometimes induce allergies in certain individuals. Be considerate around those who may experience allergic reactions to incense. Feel free to contact us if you have a known allergy and would like to check if that ingredients is used in a particular blend you are interested in purchasing. If you ever have a severe allergic reaction, whether it be incense or something else, seek medical attention immediately! Always maintain good ventilation when producing smoke of any kind in doors. Always be cautious when using hot charcoal and keep out of the reach of children & pets!! Incense is not edible. This incense blend is intended to be used as an aromatic incense only. None of our products are intended as food and should not be ingested in any way
Smokeless Incense
Did you know that there are numerous electric incense heaters on the market which are designed to provide a superior aromatic experience without producing smoke? Many of our incense blends are designed to be used this way. It is not only the healthiest way to enjoy many incense products, but also provides an optimal aromatic experience complete with all of the nuances that are often missed when smoke is employed.
When using electric incense heaters, be sure to have a plan for how to keep the resin contained as it melts. You do not want a resin coating your heating apparatus, as it will be difficult to clean. There are small foil cups available which are intended for this use, however you can use small foil muffin cups from your grocery's baking isle or even create your own with a piece of aluminum baking foil. While not all incense materials melt, many (like copal) will turn into a hot liquid that must be contained. As the incense heats, the essential oils and other aromatic molecules will be released and dispersed into the air. You may use the incense resin as long as you like. Expect the scent profile to change over time, though you might find that you enjoy the milder aroma produced even days later. This is all up to your personal taste.
Once you decide that you are finished with the incense, turn off the heater and allow it to cool. Keep in mind that you can use the same batch of incense for days, turning it on and off as you wish. Once the heater has fully cooled, remove the incense contained in the foil. If there is any residue that happened to get on your heater, you should be able to remove it using rubbing alcohol. The remaining incense can now be safely disposed of in the trash. Another option is to reuse the "spent" incense on top of an incense/hookah charcoal! While most of the intended aromatic elements have been removed, it is possible to still enjoy the resin using the traditional charcoal method. We recommend using the charcoal method outdoors!
Some of our blends contain ingredients that do not easily melt when heated, just as some resins (like myrrh) will mostly hold their form if whole pieces are placed on the heater. In these cases, we recommend breaking those chunks of resin into smaller pieces to optimize the surface areas and allow the fragrance to more easily be released. The same method may be used for any of our "incense pearls" if desired.
Our favorite electric heater is The Golden Lotus from Mermade Magickal Arts. We have been using ours for many years and love it. There are also other options available out there, but this is the one we have experience with.
When using electric incense heaters, be sure to have a plan for how to keep the resin contained as it melts. You do not want a resin coating your heating apparatus, as it will be difficult to clean. There are small foil cups available which are intended for this use, however you can use small foil muffin cups from your grocery's baking isle or even create your own with a piece of aluminum baking foil. While not all incense materials melt, many (like copal) will turn into a hot liquid that must be contained. As the incense heats, the essential oils and other aromatic molecules will be released and dispersed into the air. You may use the incense resin as long as you like. Expect the scent profile to change over time, though you might find that you enjoy the milder aroma produced even days later. This is all up to your personal taste.
Once you decide that you are finished with the incense, turn off the heater and allow it to cool. Keep in mind that you can use the same batch of incense for days, turning it on and off as you wish. Once the heater has fully cooled, remove the incense contained in the foil. If there is any residue that happened to get on your heater, you should be able to remove it using rubbing alcohol. The remaining incense can now be safely disposed of in the trash. Another option is to reuse the "spent" incense on top of an incense/hookah charcoal! While most of the intended aromatic elements have been removed, it is possible to still enjoy the resin using the traditional charcoal method. We recommend using the charcoal method outdoors!
Some of our blends contain ingredients that do not easily melt when heated, just as some resins (like myrrh) will mostly hold their form if whole pieces are placed on the heater. In these cases, we recommend breaking those chunks of resin into smaller pieces to optimize the surface areas and allow the fragrance to more easily be released. The same method may be used for any of our "incense pearls" if desired.
Our favorite electric heater is The Golden Lotus from Mermade Magickal Arts. We have been using ours for many years and love it. There are also other options available out there, but this is the one we have experience with.
Traditional Charcoal Smoldering Method
The charcoal method is one of the oldest traditional ways of burning raw aromatic plant materials. Various cultures throughout the world use this method: such as copal throughout Central America, agarwood and bakhoor through Arabia, and the use of frankincense and myrrh used in many Catholic churches. There are many others, though these are the most iconic. Hot charcoal is used as a base to place resins, woods and other botanicals, destructively smoldering the incense and releasing its fragrance contained in wisps of smoke. Many kinds of incense materials produce a lot of smoke when using this method, so it is best to start with a small amount until you are comfortable with the process. We recommend using this method for outdoor use or for large areas with excellent ventilation.
Most importantly, be sure to use a heat resistant dish such as one made from metal or ceramic materials, preferably 5 inches or larger in diameter and at least 2 inches deep. The bigger, the better! Fill the bottom of the dish with at least 1 inch of sand or ash. We do not recommend using glass or any resin container. Large shells may be employed or other natural containers, but always test out new incense dishes before long term use and always keep them in line of sight. Hot charcoals can be dangerous, and can easily catch flammable materials on fire!
Light a combustible hookah-style charcoal outdoors. This is most easily achieved using a butane torch lighter. You may do this with the charcoal disk sitting directly in the dish, or using tongs/pliers to hold the coal when lighting. Holding the charcoal with tongs will help it to light quicker and more evenly. Always use dry charcoal and keep it away for high humidity. Allow the charcoal too fully heat to red hot. To achieve a better aroma, it is recommended to allow the charcoal to form a thin layer of ash on top of it before placing your incense on it. Always start with small amounts of incense, as larger amounts will sometimes melt and smother the coal!
When using one of our original blends, place one "incense pearl" upon the fresh charcoal. You may be able to reuse the charcoal numerous times to add additional amounts of incense before it becomes too small and dies out. Often it is not as necessary to worry about breaking up chunks of resin to increase the surface area when using hot charcoals, but that is always an option and may be determined at the users discretion.
Always be cautious when using hot charcoal and do not produce large amounts of smoke around children & pets! Keep in mind that even natural products sometimes induce allergies in certain individuals. Be considerate around those who may experience allergic reactions to incense. Feel free to contact us if you have a known allergy and would like to check if that ingredients is used in a particular blend you are interested in purchasing. If you ever have a severe allergic reaction, whether it be incense or something else, seek medical attention immediately!
Most importantly, be sure to use a heat resistant dish such as one made from metal or ceramic materials, preferably 5 inches or larger in diameter and at least 2 inches deep. The bigger, the better! Fill the bottom of the dish with at least 1 inch of sand or ash. We do not recommend using glass or any resin container. Large shells may be employed or other natural containers, but always test out new incense dishes before long term use and always keep them in line of sight. Hot charcoals can be dangerous, and can easily catch flammable materials on fire!
Light a combustible hookah-style charcoal outdoors. This is most easily achieved using a butane torch lighter. You may do this with the charcoal disk sitting directly in the dish, or using tongs/pliers to hold the coal when lighting. Holding the charcoal with tongs will help it to light quicker and more evenly. Always use dry charcoal and keep it away for high humidity. Allow the charcoal too fully heat to red hot. To achieve a better aroma, it is recommended to allow the charcoal to form a thin layer of ash on top of it before placing your incense on it. Always start with small amounts of incense, as larger amounts will sometimes melt and smother the coal!
When using one of our original blends, place one "incense pearl" upon the fresh charcoal. You may be able to reuse the charcoal numerous times to add additional amounts of incense before it becomes too small and dies out. Often it is not as necessary to worry about breaking up chunks of resin to increase the surface area when using hot charcoals, but that is always an option and may be determined at the users discretion.
Always be cautious when using hot charcoal and do not produce large amounts of smoke around children & pets! Keep in mind that even natural products sometimes induce allergies in certain individuals. Be considerate around those who may experience allergic reactions to incense. Feel free to contact us if you have a known allergy and would like to check if that ingredients is used in a particular blend you are interested in purchasing. If you ever have a severe allergic reaction, whether it be incense or something else, seek medical attention immediately!
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