How to Use Incense Sticks |
| Written by Anna Swillander | |
| Tuesday, 10 March 2009 | |
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Incense burning is considered a religious and a purification rite in many places. Incense, the practice of burning aromatic materials to release fragrance has been done for hundreds of years and in recent years, the practice is quite popular. Burning of incense is done either for aesthetic purpose or due to some medicinal benefits that go along with it. The influence of underlying cultures and cultural diversities has however changed the reasons for burning incense in recent years. Whatever the reason for incense burning, the practice has become popular in recent years. Incense burning today is very diverse with many materials being used. Oils, solids and other things that have a fragrance are being used. The large diversity means the need for appropriate incense burners is necessary. A solid can be held on the same incense burner as a liquid, like frankincense. Some liquid aromatics are added a charcoal powder base that is then placed on the incense burner. Others use synthesized materials. All these substances thus require their own incense burners. There are varying types of incense classified by the mode and degree of burning. The common groups are direct and indirect burning. One of the best known examples of materials that use indirect burning is myrrh and frankincense. Frankincense in the European context alludes to virtually any form or forms of incense. When placed on an appropriate incense burner, the frankincense material in its raw unprocessed form is burnt directly by having it placed on an incense burner that has coal embers. In direct burning, the combustible incense is placed on an incense burner and lit directly. Once the flame has been removed, the material will continue to smolder away burning the entire incense without the need to put a flame in again. The incense substance must therefore be made of a moldable substance that has to be finely grounded or even in liquid form. Frankincense coils can be burnt directly or by suspending them on an incense burner so that it burns completely in a coil-like fashion. Some incense sticks have a bamboo core for support while for loose powder, wood ash incense burners are used. When burning powder directly, it first has to be enclosed under another material before placing it on the incense stick and lighting it up. Other forms of direct burning use cored sticks, solid sticks and incense blanks. In incense blanks, scented dust is used as the fragrance substance. Incense burners and holders come in all shapes and sizes. They can be categorized on their representation as well as their use. Incense burners representing mythical creatures like dragons and mermaids are common. Others are representations of mythical gods and ancient fairytale creatures. A search online will show up a good number of these burners together with the pictures.
The Article Author:
John Stewart-Raji knows everything about incense, he consults the biggest incense shop online Tibetan Incense Shop.
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