Incense, from the Latin incensum , means “to burn.” This preparation in the form of resin or powder is obtained from natural essences present in plants, roots, seeds or flowers. Through combustion, natural incense gives off an aromatic smoke that has traditionally meant a source of healing and purifying powers since ancient times. On many occasions, putting incense at home is not only rewarding but also pleasant. Incense smoke relaxes the nervous system, helping us fight symptoms of depression or anxiety.
In one how we tell you how to light incense at home, what it is for, and some practical tips.
Is it good to put incense at home?
Even though it comes from one hundred percent natural elements, the smoke is not exempt from being harmful to the lungs. In this case, the smoke given off by the incense can be more harmful to our body than that of tobacco, since it also penetrates our lungs and, therefore, harms them. Some of the consequences of incense smoke can be serious diseases, such as cancer.
The published studies on the effects of incense smoke on people were carried out on a few tests that, moreover, were not carried out on humans, but on animals, so it would not be a determining alarm. However, experts point out a series of recommendations to put incense at home:
- First of all, ventilate the spaces well before setting the house with incense. Proper ventilation is the best way to keep the air in your home clean and free of toxins.
- Also, avoid exposing yourself directly to the smoke of the incense for a long time. An hour and a half are more than enough time to take advantage of any of the properties and benefits of incense without exceeding the harmful limit for health.
- Look closely at the color of the smoke that is released. If the smoke is too dark, it means that the incense is too concentrated, so it could be harmful to our bodies.
- Finally, always check that the incense you are going to buy has a quality certificate. Optionally, you can be guided by the price: the cheapest ones will surely be the ones that contain the most toxins. Also, uncolored incenses will always be more natural, since they will contain fewer coloring chemicals.
You should also know that there are different varieties of incense depending on its origin. Japan, Nepal and Tibet are known for being the best and most expert producers of natural incense, which, in addition, are usually of very good quality. In India, however, both excellent quality natural incense and more synthetic varieties are produced. It also occurs in countries like China, Thailand and Indonesia. As we mentioned, you can guide yourself according to the price of the products. And if you find natural fair trade incense, do not hesitate, it is always the most recommended option.
What is incense for?
One of the main properties of incense is its relaxing power since it positively affects the nervous and endocrine systems. It, therefore, makes sense that since ancient times, frankincense has been used for spiritual and religious purposes, both in ceremonies and in private homes.
Today, although the perception of certain home accessories has been changing, the use of incense seems to be very similar to its origins. In many homes, incense is lit to accompany wishes and attract good energies, for example, in rituals to attract good luck. Also, in many homes, it is accompanied by the purpose of giving a space a cozy aura, of intimacy and peace. Incense can be very stimulating, therefore, in intimate moments, its use is recommended to take advantage of all its aromatic and aphrodisiac properties.
If you want to know more about the uses of incense, we invite you to consult our article What is incense used for.
How to light incense at home – Steps and tips
The most common and comfortable way to burn incense at home is to use the stick format. The appearance of the incense stick is similar to that of a sparkler: it is a stick of about eight inches, made of fine wood, which is almost entirely covered with incense powder. Only the part of one end will be free, where we will hold it. Although there are also those that are completely made of incense powder.
We will only need the incense stick and a censer or incense holder. There are many forms, the important thing is that it is a container where the wand can be punctured or supported and that, in turn, collects the ash that falls as it burns. We recommend you consult our article How to make a container with incense at home to make your own container quickly and easily.
- Place the wand by clicking its exposed part in the small hole that the incense holder has for this purpose.
- Light it at its upper end with a lighter or match. You will see how the wand begins to change color in the heat of the fire.
- Put the incense away and let the stick burn down.
- Relax and enjoy.
You have already seen how simple it is to burn incense. We only hope that these tips have served you so that you are the one who decides which procedure to choose. Remember: the quality of the incense is important for your health.
You can also use an incense burner. They are very easy to find on the market and very practical when it comes to lighting incense at home.
How to light grain incense – With and without charcoal
The steps for burning grain incense are quite simple but often unknown. In the event that you are going to burn incense with charcoal, it will be enough for you to have a container that can withstand high temperatures. If you are going to do it without it, you will have to get an essential oil burner or an electric burner.
- Prepare the container to burn the incense. There are specific ones, but you can use any small container you have on hand, as long as its material is suitable for it. It must be a material that can withstand high temperatures, such as metal, glass, or clay. It is recommended that you find another container in which to place the one that you will use as a burner since it will reach too high a temperature and you will not be able to touch it. Thus, in case you want to move it, you can always do it by grabbing the container that you have placed underneath.
- Light the charcoal pill. It is better to hold it with a pair of tweezers as sometimes these pills come with gunpowder and in those cases, they burn very quickly.
- Place the grain incense on the charcoal and fan it with your hand or with a small piece of paper or cardboard, so that it begins to release the smoke. Like when we light a barbecue. When the incense you have burned is consumed, you can add more.
In the case of burning incense alone, you can use an electric burner, whose mechanism will replace the charcoal when heated. You can also use an oil burner; this way is more traditional. This way you will know how to burn grain incense without charcoal :
- Pour some vegetable oil over the top. It is better than this oil is odorless, so that it does not mix with the aroma of the incense or cancel it out.
- Add a few grains of frankincense to the oil. In the event that it is powdered, the amount will be one teaspoon.
- At the bottom of the burner, place a lighted candle. Immediately, the oil will begin to heat up, giving off the aroma of the incense.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to light incense, we recommend you visit our Culture and Society category . Bibliography
- Organization of Consumers and Users (2013). Some air fresheners incense and oils emit more benzene than tobacco. Organization of consumers and users. Available at: https://www.ocu.org/organizacion/prensa/notas-de-prensa/2013/ambientadores. Retrieved March 8, 2021
- Jia-Chen Tung, Wei-Chien Huang (…) (2017). Auramine O, an incense smoke ingredient, promotes lung cancer malignancy. National Library Of Medicine. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28722353/. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
