How to Burn Resins

Resins are probably the oldest form of incense known to mankind. Resins are made from the dried sap of trees & plants. Resins, in my opinion, aren’t really burned, but heated to melting point to emit the fragrance.   Resins don’t usually have a fragrance until they are heated.  If you’ve never burnt resin you’re in for a royal treat.   Here is a list of what you will need to burn resins, and a how to (at the bottom):

1) A “Charcoal-Safe” incense burner/censer: Whether choosing a metal or ceramic burner, the most important thing to look for are air flow, insulation, and safety. Charcoal needs a good supply of air to burn successfully. Air should be allowed to circulate around the tablet. A lidded censer should have air holes in the top and bottom. A dish shaped burner should have a large mouth.

2) Insulated Material: Always insulate the inside of your burner with stones, ceramic pieces, or sand. Form a cone shape with the insulation and place the charcoal tablet at the peak. this allows adequate air to flow around the charcoal. Always place your burner on a burn-proof surface, such as a stone or ceramic tile, since it may get very hot. NEVER leave a burner unattended and keep it away from children and pets.

3) Charcoal Tablets(designed for incense use): The most common and recommended charcoal for incense use is self lighting. Igniter is mixed into the tablet before it is formed. The tablets are easily lit by holding the edge with tweezers and holding it over a lighter or match for a moment. It will get hot very quickly. When the tablet is glowing red and covered with a fine white ash, it will be ready for use (between 5 and 10 minutes). The charcoal will stay hot enough to burn incense for about 45 minutes to an hour.

4) Aluminum Foil: Traditionally, incense is put directly on the hot charcoal, before it scorches, but after it is burned. It is scraped off the charcoal with tweezers.. Consequently, the melted resin spills into the holder and melts onto the tweezers. Each time the holder or tweezers get hot it releases the fragrance again. This works well if only one type of incense is burned, but does not allow for changing incense frequently. There are advantage to using aluminum foil between the charcoal and the material to be incensed. Form a cup approximately the same diameter as the charcoal, leaving a quarter inch lip. The cup can be easily manipulated with your tweezers, and can be placed on the charcoal after it is hot. Incense can be added and left on the heat until it reaches its maximum incense effect. It can be removed again with your tweezers before it scorches. At this point, either more can be added, or a new scent can be added in a new cup.

CAUTION: The incense in the aluminum cup becomes very hot , can be in a liquid state, and could burn your skin if it comes in contact with it.

DIRECTIONS How to burn Resin:

1) Prepare the resin burner.

2) Light the charcoal tablet

3) Place aluminum foil cup directly onto the hot charcoal tablet

4) Add the incense to the cup (be conservative at first)

5) Cover, or not, depending on choice

6) Remove foil cup and incense before it scorches

7) Add more resin or allow the tablet to burn out and cool in the holder.

To extinguish the tablet before it has fully cooked, quench it in a container of cold water.

Posted by Kolfinna

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Why Burn Incense?

I’ve been asked this question at times and my answer is “why not?” I have, however, explained probably the four most common reasons here.

You can burn incense for Pure enjoyment. Different smells and even odors can bring back fond memories of childhood experiences or othwe expierances in life. Things such as the apple pie you remember your mother baking, the smell of dirt from a popular playground, or the smell of your father’s aftershave can stimulate the euphoria of childhood. The smell of colognes and perfumes of a loved one can bring the memories of  love rushing over you in a flood of emotions. There are many wonderful experiences that olfactory stimulation can bring about, however, memories may have nothing at all to do with it. In many cases it is just because the aroma is pleasing to you.

Incense has been burned for thousands of years in many cultures for worship and spiritual reasons. In Exodus 30:7,8 of the Bible, Aaron is commanded to burn sweet smelling incense in the temple. Even in the vast differences between so many religions a common factor among many of them is the burning of incense.

Aromatherapy is a form of complimentary medicine that uses volatile liquid plant materials know as essential oils and scented compounds of plants to stimulate a persons mood or health. Two main reasons are argued for the effectiveness of this. One is the medical use of the plant and the other is stimulation that triggers things in the brain such as the things covered under “Enjoyment” in this article. If laughter is good medicine, which I believe it is, then joy can’t be to far behind.

And last, but not least, I think one of the most popular reasons us is covering those bad smells. Sometimes we have to deal with offensive or even repulsive oders. Bathroom oders, spoiled food, the litter box, the list could be endless. Lighting some incense can be a quick fix to a sometimes embarrassing situation.

Posted by Kolfinna

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