Incense in Australia and around the world comes in different forms. It is known for its aromatic scent and in some cases, it’s alleged to help calm and relax.

With natural incense, this is sourced from a plant and can be in the form of a hardened resin (from specific tree species) or in the form of bark, seed, root or flowers.

Frankincense and myrrh, some of the most popular and ancient forms of natural incense, are both resin incenses.

Natural incense has been part of humankind's spiritual lives for thousands of years, as the aromas were believed to ward off bad smells or evil spirits.

Natural incense, such as frankincense and myrrh, start off as a sticky gum-like substance from small deliberate incisions made in the trunk and thicker branches of the Boswellia genus, for frankincense, and Commiphora genus, for myrrh. When exposed to the air, the resin starts to harden.

After a number of weeks, the hardened resin is harvested from individual trees and allowed to dry to prevent clumping before it is post harvested which includes cleaning, sorting, grading and packing for transportation.

Frankincense and myrrh are the most well-known resin incenses. They have been valued for their aromatic properties for thousands of years.

Frankincense comes from the genus Boswellia, a type of tree that belongs to the Burseraceae family. The more popular species you may be familiar with are Boswellia Sacra, Boswellia Carterii and Boswellia Serrata.

Boswellia Sacra is native to the Arabian Peninsula (Oman and Yemen) and horn of Africa, Boswellia Carterii is native to Somalia, and Boswellia Serrata is native to India, Arabian Peninsula and Africa. Boswellia Serrata is sometimes referred to as Indian frankincense.

Similarly, myrrh also belongs to the Burseraceae family, and is from the genus Commiphora. A popular species you may be familiar with is Commiphora myrrha. Did you notice the different spelling? Scientifically the species is referred to as Commiphora myrrha. Myrrh is derived from the Latin word myrrha.

Commiphora myrrha is native to the Arabian peninsula (Oman and Yemen) and to Africa (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and Northeast Kenya).

In times of antiquity, they were even considered more valuable than gold. Frankincense had been found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, the Ancient Egyptian pharaoh, and myrrh is also known to have been carried by the affluent in small pouches around their necks.

Sourced from plant materials such as resin, bark, roots and flowers, natural incenses have more volatile and complex aromatic compounds, with less risk of anything nasty lurking inside.

If you prefer warm scents that give a woody or earthy feel, then myrrh, sandalwood and cedarwood may be an option. They give complex undertones that bring a sense of welcome to any space.

Or, if you're after a pure resin incense that's a powerhouse for aromatic purposes, we suggest frankincense, with its notable citrus and pine aroma together with earthy undertones. Frankincense may be able to allay some of the effects of anxiety, through its effect on the olfactory centre in the head, according to a study from 2008 (CLICK HERE to read the source article).

When it comes to using incense in Australia, traditionally resin incense is burned using a charcoal tablet (also known as a disc or puck) and a charcoal incense burner. Charcoal provides an intense resin incense aroma.

Frankincense resin is typically burnt using a charcoal tablet (also known as a disc or puck) and a charcoal incense burner. This process releases the natural oil contained within the resin. It’s quite common to mix both frankincense and myrrh together, their aroma is very complimentary, creating yet another unique aroma to tantalise your senses. We often recommend 2-3 parts frankincense to 1 part myrrh but we encourage you to experiment and create your own favourite blend.

For a brief demonstration of how to burn resin on charcoal, CLICK HERE to watch our short video.

For a brief demonstration of how to burn resin in a tealight incense burner, CLICK HERE to watch our short video.

Or, if you’re looking for an alternative method that doesn’t require charcoal, you can also try heating resin incense in a tealight incense holder for a subtle and gentle burn. Choose from ceramic incense burners or brass burners made especially for tealight candles.

At Frankincense Pure we always put safety first. To safely burn incense in Australia, either on charcoal or in a tealight incense burner, ensure it’s out of reach of children and pets and that the area is well ventilated. Never leave your burner unattended and always ensure your burner is on a heat proof surface, away from all flammable items.

Step-by-step how to burn resin incense on charcoal

TO START, hold the charcoal safely with a pair of tongs (never handle the charcoal directly). Light the charcoal with a lighter or match (we prefer using easy light charcoals and a click flame lighter with a long reach). Hold the flame to the edge of the charcoal until it ignites. Don’t worry if it doesn’t work on your first attempt, keep repeating until you see orange sparkles travelling through the charcoal (there shouldn’t be an actual flame, only sparkles). A COMMON MISTAKE is when people assume the charcoal has ignited – when it hasn’t. Or it may be only partially lit and they wonder why the charcoal doesn’t retain its heat for long. In most cases, this is because the charcoal has not been fully ignited.

If you want to speed up this initial ignition process, continue to apply the flame from your lighter or match to the entire circumference of the charcoal until you’re happy it’s been fully ignited with orange sparkles travelling through the charcoal. This can take from 30 to 60 seconds. ONCE FULLY IGNITED, place your charcoal in your incense burner.

THEN - WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU WAIT ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES until the charcoal eventually turns grey. This provides the charcoal sufficient sitting time to reach the desired temperature to enable an even and longer burn time.

NOW – PLACE YOUR FAVOURITE RESIN INCENSE on the charcoal and enjoy the heavenly aroma!

The charcoal will generally stay warm, continuing to release the aroma of frankincense anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your lighting technique, rate of air circulation, room temperature, type of incense burner and brand of charcoal. During the single use of your charcoal, you may need to replace your used resins with new ones. The burn time per resin is dependent upon a number of variables such as the clump size, oil concentration, age, quality and origin of your resin.

Enjoy the welcoming and relaxing aroma of your favourite resin incense.

TIP: Some people prefer to place a layer of sand between the base of the incense burner and the charcoal to provide heat insulation. Or some people prefer to place a thin layer of sand on top of the charcoal, then place the resin on top of the sand. You may want to experiment to find what works for you.

At Frankincense Pure, we provide frankincense resin and myrrh resin in their raw natural form. Mixing your favourite frankincense resin together with other natural resins such as myrrh provides yet another unique aroma. To buy frankincense and myrrh, check out our collection at Frankincense Pure.