Pure Frankincense

الوصف

Frankincense is not burned like other incense. The resin is simply dropped onto a hot coal, where it burns / smolders, releasing its aroma. In a Muttrah souq, we bought a burner, charcoal, and frankincense. To burn frankincense, place one piece of charcoal in the burner. The charcoal, somewhat bowl shaped, is supposed to be "instant lighting." You light the bowl edge, and if lucky, the charcoal ignites across the surface. It usually takes me several matches. Sparks and bits of charcoal may fly out of the burner as the charcoal ignites. Place one or two pieces of frankincense on the charcoal, and it will begin to smoke / melt. If you put too much frankincense on at a time, it gets very smoky. The charcoal is good for about an hour, so you can add more frankincense as the pieces smolder away.

Just as any incense, frankincense is used to freshen the air. But it is used also used to freshen clothing, to repel pests, and for medicinal purposes. And in solid form it is used as medicine, and in food and drink. It has a very rich, evergreen-like scent. I have a small jar of it in my briefcase, and the most frequent comment about its scent is that it "smells like Christmas."