How to Use Resin Incense

New to resin incense and wondering how it's used? Resin incense is most commonly used by burning on special charcoal designed for this purpose, but did you also know you can burn resin incense without charcoal? Let’s take a closer look at these three methods below.

#1 Burning Resin Incense on Charcoal

Items Needed:
Resin Incense
Incense Burner
Charcoal
Salt or sand (optional)

Fill an incense burner designed for burning resins with a bit or salt or sand (optional) to help absorb heat. Place a charcoal tablet inside the burner and light using a match or lighter. The charcoal will begin to crackle and spark and ash will begin to form on the edges. Once the charcoal is fully lit and ash has begun to form (usually just a couple minutes), take a small piece of resin and place it in the middle of the coal. As the resin begins to bubble and melt, its smoke and fragrance will be released. Additional resin pieces can be added as desired and you can blend different resins to create your own custom scent. Never leave lit charcoal unattended or close to flammable materials and make sure your incense burner is on a heat resistant surface.

PROS: The ritual of this process dates back centuries and is great for your spiritual practice.
CONS: Burning resin incense on charcoal can create a lot of smoke which some people find undesirable.

#2 Burning Resin Incense Using an Oil Warmer

Items Needed:
Resin Incense
Oil Warmer (aka Aroma Lamp or Oil Burner)
Almond Oil
Tealight

Love the smell of incense but overwhelmed by the smoke? Try using an oil warmer to get the fragrance without the fumes! Add a small bit (approximately 1 teaspoon) of almond oil to the bowl of an oil warmer and then add a few pieces of your favorite resins. Light the tealight underneath (or plug in if using an electric warmer.) After a few minutes, the resin will begin to slightly soften, infusing the oil with fragrance and filling the room with a light scent. Use caution as the oil warmer can become very hot and never leave unattended while in use.

PROS: No smoke and you can use the resin/oil combo multiple times before it loses its scent.
CONS: Fragrance is much more subtle than burning on charcoal.

#3 Burning Resin Incense Using a Brass Burner

Items Needed:
Resin Incense
Brass Burner
Tealight

Looking for the best of both worlds? A brass resin burner has less smoke than charcoal and a stronger fragrance than the oil method. Simply add a couple small pieces of resin to the upper basket and then light a tealight underneath. The resin will quickly begin to melt and bubble, releasing its scent. I’ve found these burners work best with firmer resins such as Frankincense and Myrrh. Use caution as metal burners can become very hot and should never be left unattended while in use.

PROS: Less smoke than charcoal, stronger fragrance than oil method.
CONS: Screen can become clogged if too much resin is used at once. Softer resins like Copal should be used sparingly.

Which method of burning resin incense do you like the best? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!