Antonio Mcgowan
Burning incense is a great way to create a calming, aromatic atmosphere. To light an incense charcoal, you will need an incense burner, charcoal tablet, and incense. You can light the charcoal using a candle, lighter, or blowtorch, or by placing it on a gas stove top. Hold the charcoal with tongs and light the other end. Once the charcoal is burnt from the edges, place it on the incense burner. The charcoal will be ready for incense burning when white ash forms on top. You can then add your loose-herb incense or resins such as frankincense or myrrh. Remember to always place your burner on a heat-resistant surface and ensure proper ventilation.
How to Light an Incense Charcoal
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lighting the charcoal | Hold the charcoal with a pair of tongs and use a candle, lighter, blowtorch, or gas stove top to burn the charcoal. |
| Placing the charcoal | Once the edges of the charcoal are burnt, place it on an incense burner. |
| Burning the incense | When the charcoal is covered in white/grey ash, place the incense on top. |
| Extinguishing the charcoal | Pour water on the charcoal to ensure it is extinguished. |
| Safety | Place the burner on a heat-resistant surface, away from flammable materials, and ensure proper ventilation. |
| Incense types | Resins, herbs, powders, and natural tree resins can be used as incense. |
| Incense burners | Electric thermostat-controlled burners, charcoal-based burners, and tea light heaters are some of the types of burners available. |
| Incense heat control | The closer the incense is placed to the charcoal, the more intense the smoke and burn will be. |
| Incense amount | Start with small amounts of individual ingredients before trying mixtures. |
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What You'll Learn
Using a charcoal disc
To light an incense charcoal using a charcoal disc, you will need a charcoal burner, charcoal disc, incense, and a heat source such as a candle, torch lighter, or regular lighter. You may also want to use a heat-proof surface or container, and tongs to hold the charcoal.
First, prepare your vessel. It is recommended to use a screened charcoal burner with a concave screen to create a nook for the disc. If your burner doesn't have a screen, place sand in the bottom of the vessel and put the charcoal disc on top, as charcoal touching metal won't burn. Make sure your container is heat-proof—metal is the best option. Charcoal gets extremely hot and can cause fires if the container is not heat-proof. If using a metal burner, place a wooden coaster or cloth underneath to protect the surface underneath from scorching.
Next, you will want to light the charcoal disc. Hold the disc by one end with tongs and apply a flame to the other end. If using self-lighting charcoal, it will spark and crackle as the surface ignites. You can gently blow on it as if blowing on a campfire. When the whole surface is glowing, it's ready for incense. If using non-self-lighting charcoal, you may need to burn it for a few minutes on a stovetop or with a torch lighter.
Once the charcoal is lit and has a ring of ash, it's ready for incense. Add a pinch of loose incense at a time. Different brands have different burning times, but most tablets will burn for around 15-20 minutes. Allow the charcoal to cool completely before cleaning up the ashes.
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Lighting methods
Using a Charcoal Disc
Charcoal discs are easy to light. Hold one end of the disc and light the other with a match or lighter. You will see some sparks, then place the disc on a heat-proof surface, such as a metal bowl or shell. Once the charcoal is burning from the edges, you can put it on your incense burner. The charcoal will be ready for incense when you see white ash forming on top.
Using a Candle, Lighter, or Blowtorch
Hold a charcoal tablet with a pair of tongs and light it with a candle, lighter, or blowtorch. Alternatively, you can place the tablet directly on a gas stove. Once the edges of the tablet are burning, place it on your incense burner. As with the disc, the charcoal will be ready when white ash forms on top.
Using an Electric Stove
If you are using coconut charcoal, an electric stove is recommended to heat the coals until they are glowing. This is because coconut charcoal requires a higher temperature to light. Once the coals are glowing, use a torch-style lighter to light the charcoal.
Using a Quick-Light Charcoal
For coconut charcoal, you can also use a quick-light charcoal puck. Light the quick-light charcoal and place your coconut charcoal cube on top. After about ten minutes, the coconut charcoal should be hot enough to light with a torch-style lighter.
Using a Tealight Incense Heater
If you only want the scent of the incense without the smoke, you can use a tealight incense heater. This method takes longer but produces less smoke.
Safety Precautions
Always use heat-resistant surfaces and tools when lighting incense charcoal. Never touch burning charcoal with your fingers, and ensure proper ventilation as incense charcoal produces a lot of smoke. It is also recommended to light the charcoal outdoors before bringing it inside.
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Burners and heat sources
When lighting an incense charcoal, there are several burners and heat sources you can use. You can use a candle, lighter, or blowtorch to burn the charcoal. Alternatively, you can place the charcoal tablet on a gas stove top or electric stove to burn it. If you don't have access to a stove, you can use a quick-light charcoal and then place your charcoal on top of it. You can also use a barbecue lighter or a tea light to ignite the charcoal.
If you are using a charcoal burner, always place it on a heat-resistant surface and keep it away from flammable materials. Charcoal burners can produce a lot of intense smoke, so ensure proper ventilation and never leave it unattended due to potential safety risks. You can use tongs to grip the charcoal and hold it over a flame to ignite it, then place the charcoal on top of the burner. You can also place the charcoal unlit in the burner and use a barbecue lighter to ignite it.
If you are using a cauldron, you can purchase white ash from the Shoyeido brand to place at the bottom of your cauldron. You can also use rice, salt, or place the briquettes directly on a metal surface, but these methods are not recommended. You can also use green sand at the bottom of your cauldron, which can be purchased on Amazon.
If you are using a tealight incense heater, you can tear off a piece of incense and place it on top of the heater. This will allow you to enjoy the scent without having to deal with a lot of smoke.
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Incense types
Incense is available in various forms and can be broadly categorized into two types: "
Direct-burning incense
Direct-burning incense, also known as combustible incense, is lit directly by a flame and then fanned or blown out, leaving a glowing ember that smoulders and releases a smoky fragrance. This type of incense is either a paste formed around a bamboo stick or a paste that is extruded into a stick, coil, or cone shape. Direct-burning incense can take nearly any form. The combustible base of a direct-burning incense mixture binds the fragrant material together and allows the incense to burn with a self-sustained ember. The base is chosen so that it does not produce a perceptible smell.
Indirect-burning incense
Indirect-burning incense, also known as non-combustible incense, is an aromatic material or combination of materials, such as resins, that does not contain combustible material and therefore requires a separate heat source. The finer forms tend to burn more quickly, while coarser or whole chunks may be consumed very gradually, having less surface area. Heat is traditionally provided by charcoal or glowing embers. In the West, the best-known incense materials of this type are the resins frankincense and myrrh, due to their numerous mentions in the Bible.
Incense sticks
Incense sticks are the most common form of incense. They are made from aromatic biotic material (combustible material coated in aromatic essential oils) that releases fragrant smoke when burned. The incense stick as we know it has been used in many ancient cultures, such as India and Egypt. The type of incense stick produced by Czech & Speake has its origins in China. This form of incense consists of a thin stick made from bamboo, coated in scent-infused material. The even thickness of the material allows the aroma to be released gradually over an extended period. Japanese incense sticks are made by kneading ingredients, which are then extruded and dried. They come in a wide range of fragrances, including woody, floral, citrus, and fruity.
Incense coils
Coil incense is made by pressing the aromatic material into a flat, coil shape. It has no supporting core as it simply lies flat on sand or a specially designed heat-proof dish. The coil shape provides more area for the incense to burn and for a longer duration, which means this type of incense is best suited for outdoor use or in large, well-ventilated spaces.
Incense cones
Incense cones, invented in Japan in the 1800s, have no supporting centre. Instead, the fragrant material is pressed into a small cone shape so that it can sit upright. The dense area of fragrant material produces a strong scent, although it does not last as long as a stick.
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Safety precautions
Lighting and burning incense charcoal can be dangerous if the necessary safety precautions are not taken. Here are some important safety measures to follow when lighting and using incense charcoal:
Fire Hazards
Be aware that burning incense charcoal poses a fire hazard. It is easy to forget that incense is burning because there is no conspicuous flame. Both the burning incense and the ash present fire hazards. Be careful not to touch the lit end of the incense, as it can cause burns. Ensure that burning incense is not left unattended and regularly monitor it. Avoid lighting incense and then going to sleep. When burning multiple sticks at once, take extra caution as a common cause of fire is one stick accidentally lighting another. Ensure that ash from one stick does not fall onto another, and be cautious of any breeze that could blow a curtain or other flammable object into contact with the flame or knock over a lit stick.
Ventilation
Burning incense produces smoke, so it is important to ensure adequate ventilation and a source of fresh air, such as a window kept slightly open.
Handling
Never hold or touch burning charcoal with your fingers. Do not check if it is extinguished by touching it; instead, pour some water on it to ensure it is out. Use tongs to handle the charcoal and incense.
Health Precautions
The incense smoke is not the incense fragrance. The fragrance is produced just below the smoldering tip where the aromatic ingredients are heated. Do not intentionally breathe in the smoke. Prior to using incense, anyone with an underlying health condition that may be affected should speak to their medical professional. Incense is meant to be enjoyed for its fragrance and is not intended as a medical remedy.
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Frequently asked questions
Hold the charcoal with a pair of tongs and light the other end using a candle, lighter, or blowtorch. Once the edges are burnt, place the charcoal on a heat-proof surface or a metal incense burner.
Once the charcoal is lit and ashy, you can add your incense. You can use resins like frankincense, myrrh, or herbs. Place the incense directly on top of the charcoal or beside it.
Charcoal incense produces a lot of smoke and can be harmful. It is recommended to keep it away from flammable materials and ensure proper ventilation. Do not touch the charcoal with your fingers to check if it is extinguished.
A charcoal disc typically burns for about 30 to 45 minutes.
