How to Burn Resin Incense with Charcoal Tablets

What is Resin Incense?

Resin incense is incense in its most pure and natural form. Resins are harvested from the sap, bark, roots, or wood of trees, shrubs and plants. Frankincense, Myrrh, Benzoin, Copal, Dragon's Blood, Palo Santo, and Styrax are among the most well-known resins and oftentimes the building blocks for aromatic resin incense blends.

How to Burn Resin Incense with Charcoal Tablets

Unlike traditional incense sticks, resin will not burn on its own.

You'll Need:

Shop Charcoal Tablets & Burning Supplies

Looking for charcoal to burn resin incense? We carry quick-light charcoal tablets in 33mm and 40mm sizes from Three Kings and Swift Lite, plus charcoal burners, tongs, sand, and resin incense to get you started.

  • Charcoal Tablets: Three Kings and Swift Lite quick-light discs in 33mm and 40mm, sold by the roll or in multi-roll packs.
  • Charcoal Burners: soapstone, brass, clay, and glass burners made to hold hot charcoal safely.
  • Rocks & Sand: heat-absorbing filler that protects your burner and your surfaces.
  • Charcoal Tongs: for safe handling of lit charcoal tablets.
  • Resin Incense: frankincense, myrrh, copal, and blends to burn on your charcoal.

There are many techniques for burning resin incense, this is just one of many. Resins will not burn on their own, at minimum they require charcoal tablets and a charcoal incense burner.

  1. Fill your charcoal burner 3/4 full with sand or rocks to absorb some of the heat. Then place your burner on a heat resistant surface, such as a ceramic coaster or tile, as the bottom of the burner will become very hot and may result in damage to your surface.

  2. Using tongs to hold the charcoal tablet, light it following the instructions provided with your charcoal. Place the hot charcoal onto the bed of sand inside your charcoal burner or onto the mesh screen if your burner has one (I prefer to flip the mesh screen so it creates a bowl-like shape). Allow the charcoal 5-15 minutes to fully come to temperature indicated by a layer of ash forming on the tablet.

  3. Using a metal spoon, add a very small amount of resin on top of the hot charcoal releasing the fragrant incense smoke. Repeat as desired until the charcoal is exhausted.

  4. When finished, allow the charcoal to completely cool in the burner before discarding. When in doubt, douse it with water.

CAUTION: At no time should you touch the charcoal tablet once lit or attempt to move the charcoal burner. Both will be very hot and will burn you. Do not leave burning charcoal or burning incense unattended. Allow for proper air ventilation in the room where you are burning incense.

DO NOT EAT. NOT INTENDED FOR CONSUMPTION.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND PETS.

Soul Niche is not responsible for the result of improper use.

Ready to start burning? Shop our charcoal tablets and resin incense to get everything you need in one order.