Resin Incense
Incenses come in so many different forms, from sticks to cones to even powders. However the closest you can get to burning the herb itself is to burn resin incense. Some popular resin incenses you may have heard of include dragon's blood, myrrh, copal, benzoin, and frankincense.
Just like its forms and its scents, there are also a plethora of reasons behind the use of resin incense. Off the bat, incense is a great alternative to candles. Candles are known to release hazardous chemicals such as toluene and benzene which can irritate the body and can lead to health issues if there is long term exposure. Incense is a natural alternative to candles and is made from a combination of spices, herbs, woods, resins, and gums.
Because the resins are 100% natural and just dried tree sap, they are safe for aromatic and even holistic purposes. Myrrh specifically is used to help calm nerves and bring peace to someone. It is great to use prior or during meditation to help with aligning and unlocking different chakras. Copal is very similar to palo santos and other cleansing tools. It is great to use as a ritual or space cleanser as well as a purification tool. Copal resin is known to help with spiritual journeys and help one get aligned spiritually and mentally prior to communications with higher beings. Frankincense is an energy booster. It helps with motivation and increases energy. Most importantly this resin is known to help with stress, anxiety, and depression. So beyond just the smell these incense are super useful for other reasons.
Resin incense is rooted in ayurvedic medicine. So their purposes help with healing the body. They are known to help with body aches, including arthritis. As mentioned earlier, it is great to help with mental illness and stress. In the case of Frankincense, it is said that if the resin is consumed it helps with digestion.
How do you use resin incense? There are multiple ways. The most common is to put it in a fire safe bowl, dish, or shell and burn the resin on top of some lit charcoal. Another method would be to use a double boiler incense or oil heater. This would allow you to put a tea light candle underneath it and put the resin on the top layer and allow it to melt and release its aroma that way. However, a warning, RESIN POPS. As it melts, resin tends to pop from the high heat, but it is not dangerous and it will not cause a fire, but it can be startling.
I don’t know about you but now that I have learned the multitude of benefits of resin incense, I am probably going to stop by Harry’s World to go pick up a pack from their many resin incense options.