Lance Carson
Copal is a natural tree resin that has been used for centuries by the Mayan people of Mexico and Central America for its medicinal properties. The resin is burned and its sacred smoke is believed to carry messages to the spirit world, bringing peace and clearing negative energy. Burning copal incense is a popular way to benefit from its properties, and there are several ways to do it. You can use a charcoal puck, an oil warmer, a resin burner, or burn it on a stove.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Copal Incense Description | A golden, black, or white resin with a woody, frankincense-forward, and slightly hypnotic scent. |
| Use | Burned to clear negative energy, provide peace of mind, and aid meditation. |
| Cultural Significance | Sacred to Mayan and Aztec cultures, used in ceremonies and considered medicinal. |
| Burning Methods | Charcoal puck/disc, resin burner, stove burner, pan, oil warmer, incense stick holder, or abalone shell. |
| Burning Temperature | Recommended temperature of 235 °F (113 °C) for resin burners. |
| Burning Time | Light for 5-10 seconds, blow out the flame, and let a glowing ember appear. |
| Burning Surface | Use a non-flammable surface, such as sand, dirt, or ash, to prevent resin from sticking. |
| Resin Amount | Start with a small piece, about the size of a pea or peanut, and add more as needed. |
| Smoke Control | Adjust distance between resin and heat source, use less resin, or add salt to reduce smoke. |
| Safety | Keep an eye on it while burning, don't leave unattended, and extinguish with water if necessary. |
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What You'll Learn
Using a resin burner
To burn copal incense with a resin burner, you will need to:
- Put a small amount of copal into the cup of the resin burner.
- Plug the burner into an electrical outlet.
- If the burner has a temperature setting, turn it to 235 °F (113 °C), and place the lid on top.
- Wait for the burner to heat the resin.
- Use tongs to move the lid once the burner gets hot, as it will get very warm.
- If your copal chunks are too large to heat easily, crush them a bit with a mortar and pestle.
It is important to note that the lid of the burner will get very warm, so always use tongs to move it. Additionally, make sure to place the burner on a heat-resistant surface, as the bottom of the burner can get very hot and may damage your surface.
You can also burn copal resin using an aromatherapy oil warmer or an electric burner. To do this, you will need to pour a small amount of vegetable oil into the dish of the warmer or burner. Then, add a small amount of copal resin to the oil. The oil will heat up, causing the resin to release its aroma.
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Burning copal on a stove
Burning copal incense on a stove is a great way to fill your space with wonderful fragrances without bothering others with smoke. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving this:
Prepare your stove and copal:
Firstly, decide whether you want to use a pan or foil on your stove. If you opt for a pan, choose a small one that you are happy to dedicate to resin burning. You can line the pan with foil if you wish. If you prefer to use foil only, ensure it is heavy-duty aluminium foil and consider doubling it up.
Prepare your copal:
Copal incense comes in various forms, including resin and incense sticks. If you are using resin, a peanut-sized piece is a good starting point, as you can always add more later. If you are using incense sticks, look for ones with copal formed around a stick.
Heat your stove:
Turn your stove burner to medium-high heat. If using a pan, place it on the burner now.
Burn the copal:
Place your copal resin or incense stick on the foil or in the pan. If using an incense stick, light the bigger end and set the smaller end on the foil or in the pan. If using resin, light a charcoal disk separately first, using matches or a lighter, and then place the lit charcoal in the pan or on the foil. Add a small amount of resin to the charcoal. The resin will burn and release aromatic oils through the smoke.
Safety and maintenance:
Always be cautious of the potential fire hazards when burning incense. Never leave burning charcoal or incense unattended, and ensure everything is completely cooled before handling. If using charcoal, place it in a heat-proof bowl or burner filled with sand, dirt, or ash to prevent the resin from melting onto the bowl. If using incense sticks, ensure they are placed in a holder or sand to catch any residue.
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Using an oil warmer
Step 1: Prepare the Oil Warmer
Place a small amount of vegetable oil in the dish of the oil warmer. The amount of oil used will depend on the size of the dish. If you are using an electric oil warmer, plug it into an electrical outlet.
Step 2: Add the Copal Resin
Place a small amount of copal resin on top of the oil in the dish. A peanut-sized piece of copal is a good starting point, and you can always add more later if needed.
Step 3: Light a Candle
If using a tea light oil warmer, light an unscented tea light candle and place it in the chamber underneath the copal resin and oil. If your oil warmer does not have a chamber for a candle, you can place the warmer on top of an inverted, empty soda can with holes punched in it.
Step 4: Enjoy the Fragrance
Allow the candle to heat the oil and resin. The resin will begin to melt and release its fragrance. You will know when the oil is hot enough when you start to smell the resin. You can reuse the resin a few times before it loses its scent.
Step 5: Extinguish and Clean
When you are finished, blow out the candle and let the oil warmer cool completely. Wipe the bowl clean with a paper towel. It is important to never leave the oil warmer unattended while in use, as it can become very hot.
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Lighting incense sticks
- Prepare your workspace: Place your copal incense stick in a holder or a bed of sand. You can use a traditional Japanese ash bowl, a ceramic bowl, or any incense burner. If using a bowl, fill it with sand, dirt, or ash to prevent the resin from sticking to the bowl. Alternatively, you can use an electric burner, which offers better temperature control and can help the resin last longer.
- Light the incense: Light the bigger end of the incense stick. If your incense stick doesn't have a stick, you can light a charcoal puck or disc instead. Hold the flame to the charcoal until you hear a slight crackling sound, indicating that it has ignited. You can also use matches or a lighter to light the charcoal for about 20 seconds until it self-ignites.
- Let it warm up: Place the lit charcoal in the bowl or burner and let it warm up for a few minutes. You'll know it's ready when the edges turn gray. If using a charcoal puck, wait until you can feel heat emitting from it before proceeding to the next step.
- Add the resin: Place a small amount of copal resin on top of the charcoal. You can start with a pea-sized or peanut-sized piece and add more later if needed. The resin will burn and release aromatic oils through the smoke. If using an incense stick, gently blow on the flame after lighting it to create a glowing, red ember.
- Maintain and monitor: Continue to add resins or powder as they burn out to maintain the smoke. If the copal is burning too hot, turn down the temperature on your burner or adjust the distance between the resin and the charcoal. Always keep an eye on the burning incense and never leave it unattended to prevent accidents.
- Extinguish and clean up: When you're finished, extinguish the charcoal with water. You can warm the same resin over several days by letting it cool in the warmer and reheating it when needed.
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Burning copal with charcoal
Burning copal incense with charcoal will produce a lot of smoke, so it's best to do it outside or in a well-ventilated area. To start, place your charcoal tablet or disc on a bed of sand, dirt, or salt inside a heat-proof container, such as a ceramic bowl or burner. You can also use a cauldron, pan, or Japanese ash bowl.
Light the charcoal with a match or lighter and let it burn for 5-20 seconds or until it self-ignites and forms a layer of ash. This may take up to 15 minutes. You can also use a charcoal incense burner with a mesh screen, flipping the screen to create a bowl-like shape to hold the charcoal.
Once the charcoal is ready, use tongs to hold the charcoal tablet and place a small piece of copal resin on top. You can also use a metal spoon for this step. The resin will melt and burn, releasing its fragrance. If you want to reduce the heat, you can place a sheet of tinfoil or mica between the charcoal and the resin.
You can continue to add more resin as the charcoal burns out and the smoke decreases. When you're finished, allow the charcoal to cool completely before disposing of it. You can also extinguish it with water, but be aware that this can be messy.
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Frequently asked questions
First, light the edge of the charcoal puck with a lighter until it self-ignites. Place the lit charcoal in a heat-proof bowl filled with sand, dirt, or ash. Once the charcoal is fully ignited and turns grey around the edges, add a small amount of copal resin. You can adjust the distance between the charcoal and resin to control the temperature.
You can burn copal incense using a resin burner, an oil warmer, a pan, or an electric stove burner.
Copal incense is believed to have several benefits. It is said to clear negative energy, aid divination, and open the soul to intuition and inspiration. It is also used for meditation and to purify and protect.
