Anisha Riggs
Burning incense is a sacred act often used in ceremonies, religious practices, and life transitions. It is a great way to fill your home with fragrance and connect with the plants, flowers, and herbs native to the land of your ancestors. However, burning incense with charcoal can produce a lot of smoke, which can be harmful to some people and pets. Fortunately, there are alternative ways to burn herbs as incense without using charcoal.
How to burn herbs as incense without charcoal
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense type | Loose incense or raw incense |
| Incense ingredients | Herbs, flowers, resin, woods, or spices |
| Incense form | Individual or blended into a mixture |
| Incense burner | Electric incense heater, ceramic bowl, metal bowl, old soda can, aromatherapy oil warmer |
| Incense preparation | Shredded, formed into cakes, or balls |
| Incense base | Soil, sand, rock salt, ash, or vegetable oil |
| Incense lighting | Lighter, tea light candle |
| Incense safety | Avoid toxic ingredients, keep away from pets and children, avoid open flames |
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What You'll Learn
Use an electric incense heater
Burning loose incense or raw incense from herbs is a great way to release an energised stream of aromatic scents. This can be done using an electric incense heater, which is a safer alternative to charcoal. Here's how to use an electric incense heater:
Firstly, prepare your work area. Ensure that the surface you are working on is fire-safe and away from anything that could be damaged by fire, such as curtains, or anything that could be easily knocked over. Make sure the area is well-ventilated and keep it out of reach of children and pets.
Next, prepare your electric incense heater. You can purchase these from many online stores that sell candles and candle stands. Place your heater on the fire-safe surface and ensure it is switched off and unplugged before adding your herbs.
Now, you can add your herbs. Place a couple of pinches of loose incense or raw herbs into the heater. It is important to only use a small amount of herb matter, as a little smoke will go a long way. You can use a variety of herbs, such as lavender, mint, rosemary, or garden sage. However, be cautious and always identify the herb before burning it. Do not burn anything poisonous.
Once the herbs are in the heater, you can switch it on. Allow the heater to warm up and diffuse the herbal aroma into the room. Some heaters may require you to light the herbs with a lighter before placing them in the heater, so be sure to read the instructions for your specific device.
Finally, remember to clean your electric incense heater after each use. Remove any ash or burnt bits to ensure a fresh burn next time. Always follow the safety instructions provided with your electric incense heater and be cautious when working with any fire-related practice.
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$9.99
Burn herbs in an incense bowl
Burning herbs in an incense bowl is a safe and natural way to enjoy the smoke without artificial fragrances. You can use a metal or ceramic bowl for burning dried herbs. However, it is important to avoid using glass or plastic as these materials can be damaged by fire.
To start, place your incense bowl on your altar or in a safe place, away from flammable objects and out of reach of children and pets. Fill the bowl partway with soil, sand, rock salt, or ash to insulate the bowl and absorb heat. You can also use dried white sage leaves or Yerba Santa as a base to burn other herbs on.
Next, light your herb of choice with a lighter and let it burn for a few seconds before dropping it into the bowl. You can burn herbs such as lavender, mint, rosemary, garden sage, parsley, and catnip. It is important to avoid burning anything poisonous, such as foxglove.
Once the herb is in the bowl, use your hands to waft the smoke up, keeping the air circulating and prolonging the burn. The ashes will fall into the bowl, and you can continue to add more herbs until your last pinch has burned entirely.
When you are finished, do not throw out the herb or the ashes until the plant matter is completely extinguished. You may need to run the herb under water or let it sit for a few minutes until there is no smoke.
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Make a DIY incense burner with a soda can and tea light candle
Burning loose incense is a great way to fill your home with fragrance. While the most popular way to burn loose incense is by using charcoal, this produces a lot of smoke, which can cause breathing problems for some people. However, there are other ways to burn loose incense without using charcoal. One way is to make a DIY incense burner using a soda can and a tea light candle. Here's how you can make one:
First, prepare your workspace with a stable surface and good lighting. You will need two soda cans, a pocket knife or scissors, and strong glue. Start by cleaning out the soda cans and drying them. Next, carefully cut off the top portion of one of the soda cans, including the mouth and the area just below the curve. Smooth any jagged edges with a file or sandpaper to make the can safer to handle and give it a polished look.
After removing the top, cut the can in half horizontally. This creates the two main parts of your incense burner: the base and the lid. The bottom half of the can will serve as the base of your burner, where the incense will sit and the ash will collect. The top half, now open on both ends, will become the lid, which helps control airflow and smoke release.
To create the legs for your incense burner, use the leftover scraps from the can. Cut out three thin strips of aluminum, each about 1 cm in width and long enough to provide adequate height and stability. Gently roll or fold one end of each strip to create a small loop or curve that will form the base that supports the burner. Adjust the legs as needed to ensure they are uniform in height and angle. This step is important to ensure that your incense burner sits level and doesn't wobble.
Once the legs are prepared, attach them to the bottom half of the can with hot glue or by creating small cuts and slots in the base. Position the legs evenly and spaced equally to provide stability. Finally, drill a hole in the bottom of the second soda can. Light the incense, blow out the flame, and insert it into the hole in the second can. Place the lid on top of the base, and your DIY incense burner is ready to use!
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Use an aromatherapy oil warmer
Using an aromatherapy oil warmer is a safe and easy way to burn resin incense without charcoal and with little to no smoke. Aromatherapy oil warmers are available in two types: ceramic and glass. Ceramic oil warmers are single pieces, while glass ones are usually a glass dish set on a metal or ceramic stand. You can purchase these in most stores that sell candles and candle stands.
To use a ceramic oil warmer, pour a small amount of vegetable oil, such as olive oil or sunflower seed oil, into the dish. Typically, this will be around one to two teaspoons, or enough to fill the dish a little less than halfway. Then, place your resin on top of the oil.
To use a glass oil warmer, first, light a small unscented tea candle and place it underneath the glass dish. Next, take an old tea light candle, clear out any excess wax, and fill it halfway with vegetable oil and resin. Finally, place the glass dish on top of the lit candle, and the resin will warm and diffuse into the room.
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Burn herbs directly with a lighter
Burning herbs directly with a lighter is a straightforward process, but it's important to take the necessary precautions. Firstly, ensure you are burning your herbs in a safe location, away from anything flammable and in a well-ventilated area. Use a fireproof dish, such as a metal or ceramic bowl, to burn your herbs. A metal bowl with a metal base is ideal, as it prevents the heat from reaching the surface of the table or any other surface that could be damaged. If your bowl doesn't have a base, place it on a coaster or a heat-safe mat.
To burn herbs directly, you can use a bundle of herbs, such as sage, or individual herbs with a stronger structure, like lavender sprigs. If you're using a bundle, light one end of the bundle with a lighter, then blow out the flame and allow the herbs to smolder and release their aroma. If you're using individual herbs, separate them from the bundle and place them in your fireproof dish. Light the herbs directly with a lighter and let them burn for a few seconds before dropping them into the bowl. You can use your hands to waft the smoke upwards and enhance the fragrance.
It's important to note that some herbs may be more challenging to ignite if they are not completely dry. In such cases, you can use a small amount of lighter fluid to aid the ignition process. However, be cautious when using lighter fluid, as it can leave an unpleasant taste and impart chemicals that may be unsafe. Always exercise caution and common sense when working with fire, and never leave open flames unattended.
Once your herbs have finished burning, ensure that the plant matter is completely extinguished by running it under water or letting it sit until there is no more smoke. You can burn the herbs again if you wish, but be sure to remove the ash and burnt remnants from the previous burn to ensure a fresh experience.
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Frequently asked questions
You can burn loose herbs as incense without charcoal by using an electric incense heater or an aromatherapy oil warmer. Alternatively, you can use a tea light candle setup, an incense bowl, or a heat-proof dish.
An electric incense heater is a device that heats up your herbs without the need for charcoal. It is a more expensive option but provides a clean scent and is eco-friendly.
Aromatherapy oil warmers are available in ceramic and glass variants. They are typically used for wax cubes or wax melts but can also be used for burning herbs.
You can use a tea light candle setup by placing a candle underneath a can with holes in the side and top for airflow. Once the candle is lit, place an old tea light candle filled halfway with vegetable oil and your herbs of choice on top of the can.
An incense bowl is a safe way to burn dried plants and ensures you are getting a pure experience with no fillers or fragrances. You can use a metal or ceramic bowl for this purpose.
