Olibanum Resin Incense

The Aeternum guide

Incense & fumigation

Raw resins, sticks or plants: find the scent that suits you and the right equipment for your practice.

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Raw frankincense · Aeternum photograph

Incense and fumigation: understand what you burn

Incense can mean an aromatic resin or a preparation made for burning. Frankincense comes from trees of the genus Boswellia: the harvested material hardens into grains or tears. A stick or cone is a different preparation, with its own composition and support. These formats therefore require different methods.

Fumigation involves heating or smouldering a material to release smoke and fragrance. With resin, you choose the material, amount and combinations; with a stick, the preparation is ready. Sage leaves and Palo Santo wood require other gestures again. Start with the format you will enjoy using, then compare scents.

In spiritual practices, smoke may accompany prayer, offerings, reflection or symbolic cleansing. These uses vary between traditions. Here we help turn your intention into a practical choice: a material, a holder and a method. Always open the product page to check the composition and particular features of an incense.

What would you like to explore?

Choose your starting point: find the formats that suit you and the equipment you need.

For straightforward use

Sticks and cones burn directly, without charcoal. Their shape and the holder you need make the difference.

Incense Sticks

What you need A holder suited to incense sticks, to catch the ashes.

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Cone Incense

What you need A holder suited to cones. Backflow cones require a burner designed for them.

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To choose a material and its scent

Resins and grains are heated on burning charcoal. They let you discover a single material or explore blends.

Resin Incense

What you need Burning charcoal, a burner suited to its heat and tongs.

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Start with a few grains

A small amount is enough on charcoal that is ready to use. Prepare a stable, heat-resistant holder, then follow the steps in the guide.

Read the full instructions
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For plants and wood

Sage comes as dried leaves, Palo Santo as small pieces of wood. They are used differently: consult the corresponding guide.

Sage Bundles

What you need A heat-resistant vessel to catch the ashes and rest the stick or bundle.

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Palo Santo

What you need A heat-resistant vessel to catch the ashes and rest the stick or bundle.

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A material, a scent: where do you begin?

Compare materials, their aromatic character and ways to explore them. These pointers help you choose; the collection also includes other available resins, grains and blends.

Olibanum Resin Incense

An amber scent associated with contemplation in many traditions.

Boswellia resin is a starting point for exploring raw incense. Try a few grains on their own to recognise the scent before combining it with another material. Its ancient religious uses explain its place in many prayer and offering rituals.

5,90 €

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Sumatra Benzoin Resin Incense

A gentle scent of vanilla and cinnamon for a warm atmosphere.

For a sweet, warm character, compare benzoin with frankincense. The Sumatra benzoin offered here has its own nuances: not all benzoins smell the same. Explore it alone before adding it to a blend to soften its fragrance.

9,90 €

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Myrrh Resin Incense

A warm, woody and slightly spicy scent.

Myrrh is another gum resin, from the genus Commiphora. Its character differs from frankincense: choose it to explore another aromatic depth. Start with a small amount and compare the two separately before combining them.

8,90 €

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Dammar Resin

A subtle scent with notes of wax and dry wood.

Explore this profile if you want something less sweet than benzoin. The first use is mainly about finding your dosage: start with a few fragments, observe the result and check the product page for the exact material characteristics.

8,90 €

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Storax

A gentle, balsamic and vanilla profile.

The name storax can refer to different commercial preparations. Rely on the composition and product description rather than the name alone. Its balsamic character offers another mellow nuance to compare directly with benzoin.

8,90 €

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Natural Camphor Resin

A very fresh, pronounced scent with a lively character.

Explore this material for its very pronounced character, using a measured amount. Camphor is crystalline and behaves differently from a gum resin. Follow its product instructions rather than choosing it solely because it is described as a resin.

12,90 €

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Manila Copal Resin Incense

Another aromatic material to explore in fumigation.

Copal refers to several materials and origins. This is the Manila copal described on the product page. Check that distinction when following a specific recipe. Explore it alone before combining it with frankincense or another resin.

5,90 €

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A single material helps you learn a scent; a blend offers a composition already prepared. Grains, colours and trade names alone cannot establish incense quality or origin. Compare composition, pack size and instructions. Photographs show its appearance, while the product page lets you check what you are ordering.

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Which incense for which practice?

Your intention can guide your choice, but it does not replace your taste in fragrance or the product instructions. No single resin is mandatory for each ritual. Here are three ways to build a selection without buying many products.

For symbolic cleansing

In some traditions, smoke marks the start of a ritual or a change of atmosphere. Choose a scent you enjoy and a simple, controlled gesture. Spiritual cleansing does not mean cleaning the air: combustion produces smoke and the room must be aired.

Read the full instructions

For prayer and reflection

Frankincense has historic religious uses and can be a starting point if you enjoy its scent. Prepare equipment before your quiet moment and use little: abundant smoke is not the aim. A stick also works if you prefer a simpler method.

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To make your own blend

Explore two materials separately first. Then try a small combination, record the amounts and adjust the resulting scent. Frankincense, myrrh and benzoin offer different characters to compare. For a traditional recipe, check ingredient names and composition before substituting them.

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How do you burn resin incense?

Place a small amount of resin on burning charcoal. Prepare your equipment before you begin.

  1. Prepare the holder

    Place a charcoal-safe incense burner on a stable, heat-resistant surface. Add sand as directed by the manufacturer.

  2. Light the charcoal

    Use tongs to light the charcoal, then place it in the burner. Wait for a thin layer of ash to form.

  3. Add a few grains

    Place a small amount of resin on the charcoal. The heat releases its scent; there is no need to add much.

  4. Finish and ventilate

    Never leave burning incense unattended. Let the charcoal cool completely and ventilate the room after use.

Supervise fumigation on a heat-resistant support made for the purpose, away from children and animals. Do not inhale smoke directly. Use small amounts, limit frequency and air the room afterwards. Natural does not mean emission-free: ADEME notes that incense can affect indoor air quality.

Read the full instructions

Equipment to get started

An incense burner, charcoal and tongs: the accessories for this method.

Questions about incense and resins

Answers to questions that arise before choosing a material or preparing your first fumigation.

Which resin should I start with?

Frankincense is a starting point for discovering a single resin. Benzoin offers a sweeter comparison and myrrh a different character. Choose an appealing scent and suitable equipment first; you do not need several bags to learn how to dose your first fumigation.
How does resin differ from stick incense?

Resin is an aromatic material heated on a suitable support. A stick is a preparation that smoulders after lighting, without separate charcoal. Resin lets you choose amounts and blends; sticks need less preparation. Check composition to compare products beyond their shape.
Can you burn resin without charcoal?

Some burners heat aromatic materials without charcoal. Check their instructions and compatibility with your chosen resin. A stick holder is not a resin burner. The method shown here uses incense charcoal in a heat-resistant vessel.

Read the full instructions
How much should I use, and why is the smoke too strong?

Start with a few grains or a small pinch, without covering the charcoal. Larger amounts quickly produce a lot of smoke. If the scent becomes acrid, stop adding material and air the room; do not keep going for more smoke. Dosage depends on the product and heat, with no universal amount.

Read the full instructions
Can frankincense, myrrh and benzoin be blended?

Yes, to explore their scents. Learn to recognise each alone, then make a small test and record proportions. There is no single formula for every use. For a recipe from a specific tradition, follow its ingredients and do not assume similar names mean interchangeable materials.
Can incense cleanse a home?

Smoke cleansing is a symbolic or spiritual gesture in some traditions. It does not remove air pollution or replace airing, cleaning or ventilation. Choose a measured practice and pleasant scent without trying to fill the room with smoke.
How should incense resins be stored?

Close bags or containers after use and keep them away from humidity, heat and direct sunlight. Label materials, separate them from food and keep them out of children’s reach. Retain the product name and instructions too.
How do I choose between sage, Palo Santo and resin?

Sage is a dried plant, Palo Santo is wood and resin is an aromatic material for heating. The choice concerns scent as well as method and support. Start with one format and follow its instructions; the guides below explain their respective uses.

How do you use your incense?

Choose the guide that matches your incense or your question.

Find the incense that suits you

Chosen your format? Explore the scents and blends available in our incense collection.

View all incense

Aeternum catalogue photographs. Scent pointers come from product pages; spiritual uses are presented as traditions. Check each product’s instructions before use.

Further reading: Kew · frankincense history and origins · ADEME · incense and indoor air