Anisha Riggs
Incense is a fragrant product with a long history in almost all regions of the world. It is commonly used to create a pleasant scent in the home or as an accompaniment to meditation or yoga. The most popular form of incense is the stick, which can be lit with a match or lighter. To make the smoke go straight up, it is recommended to hold one end of the stick or place it on an incense burner at an upward angle. The stick should then be lit, with the flame burning for a few seconds before being fanned or blown out.
Characteristics and Values Table for Making Incense Go Straight Up
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense Type | Stick incense, incense sticks, cones, loose incense mixtures, incense pellets, charcoal incense, mica incense, makko incense |
| Lighting Method | Use a match or lighter, immerse in flame, fan out flame, allow to burn slowly |
| Burner Type | Incense burner, bowl, cup, or saucer filled with ash or sand, hot rock |
| Preparation | Pulverize ingredients into a fine powder, form cones or sticks, allow to dry for at least two weeks |
| Ember Check | Observe a small glowing ember and smoke, ensure scent and ash creation |
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What You'll Learn
Lighting incense sticks
To begin, you can choose to either hold one end of the incense stick or place it on an incense burner to keep it steady and angled upwards. Lighting incense sticks with a match or lighter is the most common method. Ensure that the incense is immersed in the flame until it ignites and a small flame is visible.
Allow the flame to burn for a few seconds, then gently fan or blow out the flame. If you are using a burner, you can skip this step and allow the incense to burn out on its own. However, be aware that in some cultures, blowing out the flame is considered disrespectful to nature.
To check if the incense has been lit correctly, observe the tip where the flame was. A small glowing ember and a small amount of smoke indicate that the incense is burning as intended. If you are unsure, leave the incense for a minute or so, then check again. You should be able to smell the scent and see more ash created at the tip. If you do not see a glowing ember, and there is no smell or ash, you may have accidentally extinguished the incense and will need to start again.
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Lighting incense cones
Firstly, place the cone in a heat-proof container with the pointy end facing up. If you are using an incense box, place the cone in the designated small circular slot. If not, place the cone in the centre of any heat-proof box or tray. The flat, wider part of the cone should be on the surface, with the tip of the cone facing upwards. If you have filled the container with sand or salt, position the cone evenly so it doesn't fall over.
Next, hold the incense cone with one hand or with some tweezers. Light the pointy end of the cone with a match or lighter, as you would a candle wick. Ensure that the incense is immersed in the flame until it ignites with a small flame. You may need to hold the tip in the flame for longer if it is a handmade cone. Then, gently fan or blow out the flame or its remnants. For some incense, you may need to wait for up to 30 seconds before blowing out the flame to ensure it lights up properly.
Check the incense tip where the flame was. If you see a small glowing ember, and smoke starts to come out of the bottom, then the incense has been correctly lit. Once the flame disappears, the tip of the cone should have an orange glow. If the tip looks dark or burnt, try to relight it until it is orange. The orange glow signals that the cone is properly heated, like embers in a fire.
Finally, allow your incense to burn from the tip to the bottom of the cone. If your incense container has a top, lightly cover it to let the smoke trickle out slowly. You may want to open a nearby window, but be sure the cone isn't directly in front of it so that it doesn't blow out. Enjoy your incense for 20 to 40 minutes.
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Using an incense burner
For stick incense, the most common type of burner is a "boat", a long, flat piece of wood, stone, glass, or ceramic with an upward curve at one end. These burners often have a storage area for incense underneath. Alternatively, you can use a wooden or stone piece with holes drilled into the top to hold the stick straight up and down. If you're using a cored incense stick, place the wooden end into the holder. Solid incense sticks do not matter which end goes into the holder. If your censer holds the stick at a slight angle, ensure the tip is still over the censer to avoid any falling ash.
For incense cones, a good burner should feature a fanciful design, such as a log cabin or fantasy creature. It can also be a simple clay platform or metal holder. If you're using a backflow incense cone, which flows downward instead of upward, ensure you have the correct burner with a hole underneath to allow the smoke to flow down.
You can even make your own incense burner using a bowl and something grainy like rice or sand, or you can get creative and use clay. If you're feeling adventurous, you can try making a burner from a beer can by cutting it in half and using the top as a lid with holes punched in it for smoke release.
Remember to always burn incense in a well-ventilated area and be mindful of any flammable materials nearby. Incense burners can get very hot, so avoid placing them on wooden surfaces.
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Burning incense mixtures
To burn incense mixtures, you will need an incense bowl, white chaff ash, a koh press or small object, and your chosen incense mixture. Fill the incense bowl with white ash and compact it by tapping the bottom of the bowl gently. Create an indentation in the ash using the koh press or a small object, forming a "U" or other shaped impression about 1/2 inch deep and 1/2 inch wide.
Spoon the incense powder mixture into the indentation, filling it evenly without overfilling or compressing the powder too much. Tap the mold to loosen the powder and remove it in one quick motion to create an incense seal.
Finally, light one end of the incense trail and fan out the flame until you see a glowing ember and consistent smoke. Enjoy the aromatic experience! Remember to always practice caution and keep incense burners away from children.
For those interested in creating their own incense mixtures, it's important to understand the role of each component. Incense mixtures typically include fragrant materials, binders, and oxidizers. Natural plant-based binders like gum arabic or gum tragacanth hold the mixture together, while oxidizers impact the ignition and burning speed. The incense base is combined with fragrance and a small amount of water to form a dough, which is then shaped into cones, coils, or sticks. The formed incense is trimmed and slowly dried to prevent warping.
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Drying and storing incense
Drying Incense:
If you live in a humid climate, you may struggle with mould and slow drying times. To combat this, you can add charcoal to your incense mixture, which will speed up the drying process. However, be aware that this will also make your incense burn faster and may affect the workability of your dough. Alternatively, you can opt for coreless, thin sticks, which will dry faster and more easily. When drying your incense, place it on a wooden frame with a metal mesh screen to ensure adequate airflow from all sides. Using distilled water can also help with drying. If your incense is taking too long to dry and is at risk of developing mould, you can try baking it in the oven at a low temperature, such as 150°F for 20 minutes, to speed up the process.
Storing Incense:
Incense should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Avoid storing incense in plastic bags, as the chemicals in the plastic can react with the essential or fragrance oils in the incense. Instead, wrap your incense sticks in wax paper, craft paper, rice paper, or cotton fabric. You can then place the wrapped incense sticks in a cardboard or wooden box for added protection and to help maintain their scent. If you want to isolate different types of incense, you can use Ziplock bags, but be aware that potent aromas and oils may still permeate through. Glass jars with tight-sealing lids, such as canning jars, are also excellent for storing incense and maintaining the ideal moisture levels. Avoid storing incense near strongly scented products, such as mothballs or cedar blocks, as these can alter the fragrance of your incense over time.
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Frequently asked questions
To light incense sticks, you can hold one end of the stick or place it on an incense burner. Light the other end with a match or lighter, ensuring the incense is immersed in the flame until it ignites. Allow the flame to burn for a few seconds, then fan or blow it out. If you see a small glowing ember, the incense has been lit.
To make the smoke go straight up, it is recommended to use an incense burner to keep the incense steady and angled upwards.
Stick incense is the most common form of incense used today. To make the smoke go straight up, it is recommended to use incense sticks with a core in the center, as these tend to burn more steadily than those without.
