Loose incense is fabulously versatile and is untainted by fillers or combustibles. However, burning this type of incense is something of an art form. Read on as our incense experts explain how to burn loose incense and let these unique fragrance combinations take you on a soothing and spiritual journey.
"Incense makes my house smell like my home. I feel at instant ease when I walk in" ~ Eve
Loose incense is incense in its most natural form; it usually consists of fragrant dried herbs, spices, botanicals, and resins. And that's it. No filler, no nasties. The most commonly used loose incense today is smudge sticks, bundles of white sage used to drive away negative energies.
However, other than smudge sticks, these loose forms of incense are still relatively unheard of, with people often opting for the more readily available incense sticks and cones.
It is important to read the label of your loose incense. Sometimes other fragrances and toxins can be added.
How to Burn Loose Incense
Safety First!
Always place the incense holder on a fire-resistant surface.
Always use an appropriate loose incense burner bowl.
Never burn incense around children or pets as they are sensitive to the smoke.
To burn this incense, you will need:
Loose blend of incense aromatics.
Heatproof incense-burning bowl.
Charcoal disc.
Metal tongs.
Match or lighter.
How to burn loose type incense
Time needed: 30 mins
Prepare
Spread a layer of sand or uncooked rice on the bottom of your heatproof bowl. This adds an additional layer of fire protection.
Light the charcoal
With the tongs, pick up the charcoal disc and light it with a match until it begins to spark.
Wait for the coal to heat up
Set the disc down in the heatproof holder and allow 2 - 5 minutes for it to turn a whiteish gray colour.
Sprinkle your incense and enjoy!
Get a pinch of your incense blend and sprinkle it onto the disc, allowing the resins and herbs to burn away to ash.
Only use a pinch at a time, and use the tongs to tip off the ash after each use.
Extinguish
Once you have finished burning your incense, place a lid on the burner to starve the charcoal of oxygen. If your burner does not have a lid, allow the disc to burn itself out and cool before disposing of the ash.
The possible combinations of scents and benefits are endless when it comes to loose incense. This makes this type of incense one of our favorites, However, it is crucial that you enjoy your loose incense correctly and follow the steps above to ensure that your loose incense experience is as safe as it is calming.
