Loose Incense Burning
Burning incense sticks, also known as joss sticks are create for scenting a sacred space - but very few are created from natural materials. Many are just full of synthetic fragrances! Meaning that energetically, they don't really bring much to the table on a vibration level. (If you're looking for natural incense sticks, check out our range of Celtic Tree Essence Incense Sticks which are made from pure essential oils, absolutes and of course the essence of the tree itself).
Many magical practitioners prefer the burning of loose incense for their workings, rituals and ceremonies. Sometimes this is referred to as burning grain or resin incense.
Because our loose incense is not combustible, it needs a heat source in order to make it burn.
Traditionally, many people use Charcoal Discs, which once applied to a heat source, begin to activate and heat up themselves. These can then be placed into a suitable burner or heat-proof dish and the loose incense added to the surface of the disc. A small warning here - burning loose incense indoors is extremely smoky. A little goes a very long way! You really do only need a small pinch.
Alternatively, we offer a range of loose incense and resin burners that just require a tea-light candle to heat the incense. We currently use these at home and in store and while they do produce some smoke, they are in no way as overpowering as the smoke created when using charcoal. The loose incense burners will require cleaning from time to time - the grating may become clogged with the remnants of resins and gums, but this is easily rectified.
Using tongs, you simply hold the grating over an open flame and the remaining resins will catch light. Once the flame as gone out, you can gentle brush the grating using a wire brush and it will be good to go once again.
For more loose incense burning accessories, please click here.
Loose Incense Burning Methods Explained
Using Charcoal
If you are using charcoal, simply hold the disc with some tongs and hold it over an open flame. It will start to crackle and sparkle and begin to become hot. Place the hot coal onto a heat-proof disc or dish and wait for the charcoal to stop crackling and sparking. Once it has, it will be ready to use. Sprinkle the loose incense (only a small amount if indoors) onto the charcoal and enjoy the aroma and ambience that it creates.
Using a Burner
If you are wanting to use one of our Loose Incense Burners to burn the resin incense, then you simply need to place a t-light candle in the base of the burner, add the grating to the holder on the top and then sprinkle your incense onto the grating. As the candle warms the gauze, the heat will cause the incense to release it's aroma. This is much less smoky than using charcoal to combust the incense and will also make your blend last longer.
Using an Oil Burner
Unfortunately, you cannot place loose incense into the top of a ceramic oil burner (that you place a candle underneath). It just won't work. You can however, add approximately 1cm depths worth of sand to the dish of the burner, and then place the incense on top of the sand. You will find that you get very little smoke and just a small amount of the aroma - but this is an ideal way to burn it if you are sensitive to smoke or the other methods tend to set off your fire alarms.
