Questions about Incense?

[ravynangel1980]

Hi,

I recently asked about beeswax candles so it got me thinking about resin incense. So far I've always used stick incense. I do think it would be better to use the resin incense and charcoal. I've always been intimidated by it. It's been so easy to light a stick of incense and then let it go. I've got some questions about using resin incense.

Do you have to use a whole block of charcoal or could you cut it into pieces?

How much incense do you need to put on the charcoal? I don't want to put too little and have to keep on adding more, but I don't want to swamp it either with so much that I have the whole place like a smoke house. Would it be like a teaspoon worth, a little more or less?

I think I read somewhere that some people will put the incense around the charcoal instead of right on top of it. Can you do that or not?

How long do you need to let the charcoal burn after you've lit it before you can put the incense in?

Generally how long will the incense last before it goes out?

I think that's it for now. Thanks so much. Take care.

God bless,
Sarah

[gtsecc]

Do you have to use a whole block of charcoal or could you cut it into pieces?
You can use just a piece of a coal - as long as it isn't so small it won't heat the resin.

How much incense do you need to put on the charcoal?
Well, a teaspoonful in a house is a LOT, but in a typical since church, it is a little.

I don't want to put too little and have to keep on adding more, but I don't want to swamp it either with so much that I have the whole place like a smoke house. Would it be like a teaspoon worth, a little more or less?
yeah



I think I read somewhere that some people will put the incense around the charcoal instead of right on top of it. Can you do that or not?
On top - around the side it might not burn.



How long do you need to let the charcoal burn after you've lit it before you can put the incense in?
If it is fast light ( saltpeter mixed in) you can go immediately

Generally how long will the incense last before it goes out?
5 to 10 mins

[eoe]

I LOVE incense. Right now I have 13 different types of resin incense and probably 15-20 stick types. When I quit smoking I found that I could really smell things again so it has been a real treat for me.

I've always been intimidated by it.

don't be. It is not at all difficult and you do not need to get a bunch of special censers or anything like that either.

It's been so easy to light a stick of incense and then let it go.
Very true. Stick incense is easier to deal with but you just do not get even close ot the same results as you can get with resin.

How much incense do you need to put on the charcoal?
It depends on what kind of effect you are going for and what size chunk of charcoal you have going. I will use between 3 and 7 pcs of resin at a time.

I don't want to put too little and have to keep on adding more
You will ahve to periodically add more - starting with more does not make it last longer - it just produces more smoke. From the time you add resin (depending on the resin) you will have about 20-30 mins worth of smoke.

Would it be like a teaspoon worth, a little more or less?
Less.

I think I read somewhere that some people will put the incense around the charcoal instead of right on top of it. Can you do that or not?

It depends on the type that you are using. If you are using the athonite style you put it around the charcoal. If you are using the RC/Anglican style hard resin blends you put them directly on top of the charcoal and only after it is super hot. The athonite kind is FAR more potent in scent and lasts longer. The Hard resin kind also has a tendency to "go off" at the end of the burning and smell like.. .well.. smoke. The athonite kind will do hte same if it gets too hot or goes too long.


How long do you need to let the charcoal burn after you've lit it before you can put the incense in?
If you are using the quick lite insta charcoal you can put the resin pecies around it as soon as the sparking is done.

Remember that I gave you the URL for monasteryproducts.org (http://www.monasteryproducts.org/product_info.php?cPath=10&products_id=923&osCsid=25023e1ba07dfcc52fb7826cdf583be4)? They sell athos brand charcoal in small home sized pieces for *cheap* you can get a whole box (175 pcs) for $10.75. The incense they sell is pretty good but some of it is a bit perfumy and sweet. Get small quantities and try them out (sarov forest and byzantium are my favorites from there so far). For higher quality incense try Holy Cross Hermitage (http://www.tcgalaska.com/holycrosshermitage/HTML/incense_main.asp) and for the top of the line stuff go HERE (http://www2.netdoor.com/%7Efrelia/incense.html).

So.. you can get some candles incense and charcoal all at the same place if you like.

As far as "what do I burn this stuff in" an old heatproof bowl filled with either salt or sand will suffice until you decide to get a hand censer.

(LOL gtsecc! I knew you were going to post too I was trying to beat you to it!:) )

[gtsecc]

My 2 favorites are
Anglican Incense - Evesham
Orthodox incense - Tsarista

[eoe]

Tsarista
HT HOCNA?

[gtsecc]

HT HOCNA?
Yep - they aren't Anglican . ;)
I am not sure fo the reason for their split.
http://htmadmin.phpwebhosting.com/incense.htm

[eoe]

Yep - they aren't Anglican . ;)
I am not sure fo the reason for their split.
http://htmadmin.phpwebhosting.com/incense.htm

I was not going to bring them up but they do make some amazing stuff. Fact is - if you buy incense from my church this is what you would get:blush:.

It is also the brand that light-n-life sells too.

I dunno what to think of it. Yes they are schismatic but does the schism rub off on the grains? I doubt it myself....

[ravynangel1980]

Hi,

Thanks so much. For some reason, using resin incense and charcoal always seemed intimidating to me. It just seemed so difficult and complex to get it right. That's why I always stayed using the stick kind. I didn't always feel lame using it. It did seem like using resin incense instead would be much better.

Eoe: Yes. I've got that link bookmarked. I've browsed through their products, but haven't looked in detail yet. Holy Cross Hermitage is the place I had first really thought about with the incense. I came across their website once and recently got their catalog in the mail. They've got the Athonite kind if I'm correct.

So with that type of incense can you put it around the charcoal or need to put it on top?

Basically I don't need to add too much because I'm going to have to add more later on anyway.

With one of the hand censers, do you need to put sand in the bottom of it and then place your charcoal on top? Or do you lie the charcoal right in on the censer?

Thanks again everyone. Take care. God bless you.

Sincerely,
Sarah

[Akathist]

I didn't want to fuss with the charcoal so I bought an incense burner that has an oil lamp and a tray that sits above it where incense can be put. I have to keep the wick in just the right height so that the incense burns. (It kind of melts and lets off smoke).

I have looked for a place that sells these things but can't find them anywhere. I keep forgetting to ask our Priest where he gets them at.