How to Burn Frankincense

Last Updated: September 12, 2022 References

Frankincense has been used since ancient times, and it's made from dried tree sap.^{[1]
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Research source} The traditional way of burning this incense is to heat it over a hot charcoal disc. However, you can use other methods, such as heating it on the stove or in a resin burner. Use frankincense for things like increasing your mental clarity or cleansing a room.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Charcoal Disc

1
Purchase some charcoal discs for burning incense. Charcoal discs are formed pieces of charcoal made for holding incense or resin. You can find them at incense shops or at Asian or Indian markets. You can also purchase them online.
- You'll light a charcoal disc to burn your frankincense.
2
Set up a metal bowl or an incense burner to place the charcoal disc on. You'll need a place to set the charcoal once it's lit. It should be able to handle the heat of the charcoal once it's burning; a small metal bowl or pan built for that purpose works well. Place a trivet underneath it so you don't damage your table.^{[2]
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- You can use an incense burner if you prefer. Try pouring sand into the burner or bowl you use to help dissipate heat.^{[3]
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3
Light the disc with a match or lighter. Hold the disc with a pair of tongs so you don't burn your fingers. Hold a lit match or lighter up to the disc to set it on fire. It should ignite within 10 to 15 seconds. Move the lighter around the disc as you're lighting.^{[4]
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- Most of the time, the discs will catch on fire quickly.
4
Set the disc in the bowl or burner you've prepared and let it heat up. Use the tongs to move the disc. The slight indention should be facing upward, not downward, as that's where you'll place the piece of resin in a minute.^{[5]
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- Leave the charcoal to heat for about 7 minutes or so. It will turn light gray when it's ready.
5
Put a small piece of frankincense resin on top of the charcoal. You don't need much of the resin to create a lot of smoke and scent. A tiny piece of resin, not much bigger than a grain of rice, will do to begin with. You can always burn more when it stops smoking.^{[6]
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- Some people like to pour salt in the center of the disc, which helps the resin burn slower.^{[7]
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- If the coal is still hot after the frankincense burns up, you can add another piece to it.
- If you get too much smoke, you can take the resin off the charcoal and set it aside for a moment. Use a metal utensil to move it.^{[8]
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- These discs only last about 45-60 minutes, so light another one if you want to keep burning your frankincense.
6
Pour water on the charcoal if you need to leave. The charcoal will stay hot for an hour or so, and you don't want to leave it unattended. Someone may be tempted to pick it up, or it could start a fire if something falls on top of it.^{[9]
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- Pouring water over the charcoal can create a mess, so do it in the sink or outside. When moving the container, always use oven mitts to protect your hands from the heat.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Trying Other Methods

1
Place the frankincense on an electric stove burner. Put a piece of heavy-duty foil over an electric burner. Turn the heat up to high, and let the burner heat up. Then, place a piece of frankincense on the foil to begin the burning process.^{[10]
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- You can turn the heat down to burn the frankincense more slowly.
- Don't leave the burner unattended.
2
Put the frankincense in a pan and heat it over a burner. If you want, you can line the pan with foil to help with the mess. Set the pan over medium to medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, drop the frankincense in and let it heat up.^{[11]
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- You don't really want to use the pan for anything else but burning incense and frankincense.
- Pick a pan without nonstick coating, as you shouldn't really heat those by themselves.
3
Use a resin burner to heat some frankincense. Place frankincense resin into the cup of the resin burner, and plug the burner into the wall. Turn the incense burner on to 235 °F (113 °C), and let the resin heat up. Be sure to turn it off when you're done and keep it away from kids and pets, as the burner will get very hot.^{[12]
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- You can use a mortar and pestle to break up the resin more if you prefer.
- Use tongs or an oven mitt to take the lid off once it heats up, as it will be hot.
- You can place a foil cup in the burner to keep the main burner bowl from collecting gunk over time.^{[13]
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- Frankincense has many health benefits. You can use it as a massage oil, facial oil, hair care oil, topical treatment for arthritis, and aromatherapy.^{[14]
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- It can be used topically on inflamed muscles and joints and orally.^{[15]
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- It improves gut health and digestion and eases digestive disorders such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.^{[16]
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